No crazy wish list but they could probably do a limited run every year for one of the big distributors who can commit to a large purchase. Very limited selection, noting too "custom", and does not compete against S&W's 1911's or the relativy large number of third gens already on the market.
Suggestions:
3913NL
1066
Clone of the WVSP 45 they did a few years back.
That's it. Three very popular models. Nothing crazy like a 952 or the .356 guns or shorty 40's. Little risk for smith and the distributor. Make 1000 of each every year. Let the distributor handle the marketing. Don't put them in the catalog or corporate web site. See how they move from the distributors. Increase price each year depending on how they sell prior year. I would start MSRP of $730 for the 3913, $850 for the 45, and $1000 for the 10mm. I know you guys are not going to like my prices, but I am speculating a rational business case. Smith is not going to make these to sell at $500-$600. I might even be a little low. But they have to also be limited in quantity too. All these guys who say they wish smith would make this or that have a bad track record of not buying when something is brought back either due to price or some other manufacturing compromise that is declared as a deal breaker.
It's a big risk and smith wants to manage it's brand away from the third gen guns, so it had to be done very quietly and address only those that know what they want.
Sig Sauer occasionally does this with their German pistols. Once in a while a few dozen "discontinued" folded metal slide 220's or 228's show up or configurations not normally found in the USA.
Overall, the question to answer for S&W execs is what does this do for the brand and the value of the company? Does it say to investors that they are addressing a small, dedicated segment with lower return legacy guns, or does it send he message that smith is unsure of it's current product line. These are careful considerations to take regardless of if smith can make a nominal profit off of such a run. Remember they want to be known as having full confidence in their 1911 and M&P brands.
