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Well there's hope! One could have them polished off!
What are they smoking at S&W?
- Thread starter jareds06
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Well there's hope! One could have them polished off!
bmcgilvray
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The older ones still shoot very well, are sturdy, and are easy to look at.
Took a tour of the S&W factory back around 2000. Recall seeing pistols rotating on a circular disc and a lazer shooting down to add the logo and markings. I believe they were semi autos though. How long has the roll marking been gone? Wish I knew more to contribute though.
Smith & Wesson is a stock holder owned Co. (SWBI, on NASDAQ)
smithra_66
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Laser engraving, while I'm sure it is much faster, looks terrible, I agree.
Winchester and Remington shared that fate as well. While both may still exist on paper, Winchester is simply an importer of primarily Japanese goods ( the quality is rather good however) and Jury is still out on Remington's current resuscitation.
Colt is now owned by CZ and at least thus far, this has not resulted in any serious quality drop ( although the current production python is nothing like those of the old days)
My opinion and this is only an opinion, is that Smith nolonger sees the revolver market as strategic.
It's a declining market and they are content to just squeeze what they can out of their product line while there is still some money in it.
Smith has name recognition for It's revolvers and seemingly counts on that.
It's a declining market and they are content to just squeeze what they can out of their product line while there is still some money in it.
Smith has name recognition for It's revolvers and seemingly counts on that.
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At what point will the executives at S&W wake up and do something?? I do not believe they are unaware of all their QC problems. After all the years of poor QC you would think they would have hired expert QC guys to vastly improve the situation. They don't - just business as usual. No matter how much one loves and is an aficionado of S&W there is just no denying their massive QC issues!
As noted earlier it's all about the 'Benjamins' satisfying the shareholders and the Board of Directors i.e. the bottom line.
The automatics are in higher demand and they likely only have so many CNC machines so they're dedicated to the higher volume products rather than the lower volume higher specific profit items such as revolvers - IMO.
The automatics are in higher demand and they likely only have so many CNC machines so they're dedicated to the higher volume products rather than the lower volume higher specific profit items such as revolvers - IMO.
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I hear ya! That said, there are STILL Revolver lovers out there and I'd bet Colt is grabbing many of them. What they are currently producing at the Colt Factory is of excellent quality, gorgeous fit and finish and all the kinks on their new revolver products seem to have been worked out. It's almost as though S&W just doesn't care.
SnidelyWhiplash
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The manufacturing state of the art has evolved and is constantly changing. That doesn't necessarily mean better quality control but more efficient ways of manufacturing to take as much of the human element out of it as possible.
Every manufacturer has to find its own place in the modern gun market and how best to serve that market. I personally don't believe the powers that be give a rodent's rectum about past history of the brand beyond advertising hype. The market in used guns doesn't interest them...they're only interested in selling new product.
Every manufacturer has to find its own place in the modern gun market and how best to serve that market. I personally don't believe the powers that be give a rodent's rectum about past history of the brand beyond advertising hype. The market in used guns doesn't interest them...they're only interested in selling new product.
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Hi, this is not a factory error, this is how the classic series are shipping now. I saw multiple of them in a cabela's, one at a gun show, and personally owned a S&W 586 classic that looks about as bad as that.
Note this was in november and that must have been when they started doing the laser engravings like this as the ones I had inspected prior to that point had been rollmarked, many of the ones I had seen on gunbroker at the time were also rollstamped although I remember some of the barrel markings were laser engraved instead of stamped. Now they are all laser engraved and quite poorly in my opinion.
I thought they would have fixed this by now or that it was temporary, maybe the rollstamp machine was down for a bit, but this is months later and they're still shipping like this so one can assume this is the new normal
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That is awfull. Just as a counterpoint here is a sample of Laser Engraving done well.
Thank you for posting this! I always point to Beretta as an example of laser engraving done correctly. A lot of their really high end stuff is obviously hand engraved but most of their blue collar production guns are laser engraved and it looks fine because they do it as one of the first steps after machining, that way the successive layers of surface prep and finishes help fill in and cover up the "scarring" that laser engraving tends to leave on the metal. They also use a typeface and style that suits laser engraving, which is generally smaller, thinner fonts. S&W copied the block text of the rollstamp and tried to bruteforce it into the laser machine. By contrast my Italian 92s are some of favorite handguns to look at with crisp clean engraving that almost looks rollstamped after the parkerizing and then bruniton is applied over it.
Last time I was in the factory, there was a sign "NO SMOKING".
Now you know why 1960-80 N frames are $1500-$2000.
QUALITY and Craftsmanship !
QUALITY and Craftsmanship !
Inland7-45
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Earlier this year our LGS had some new J frames as well as used guns of the same specs. I was looking at a 642 and a 637 and was considering buying the 642 when I noticed a 2" blue round butt model 36. Nothing special. No box , some holster wear. Just a run of the mill Chief Special from 1976. While I liked the feel of the newer alloy guns and the 642 especially has a lot going for it I bought the used 36.
I joined SWCA because I want to help preserve the legacy of Smith &Wesson from days gone by. I won't argue that there are'nt some positives about the newer guns. But if I had to choose between a brand new model 36 Classic and a holster worn 50 year old 36 with 10-15 % of the finish gone I would take the old used 36 any day. Old Colts and S&W had really nice lines. The change in frame profile which is really noticeable on the J and K guns is a deal breaker for me.
The real profits for S&W is polymer framed autos. Times have changed and like many other manufacturers S&W has had to change with them. Over the last 2 years I have bought 9 handguns. Two Colts and 7 S&Ws. The oldest made in 1915 and the newest 1976.
I have the 1970s 36 , an older Cobra , a 67 a 64 and an 18-3 for holster guns that get carried and shot a lot. Everything else is a collectible that I shoot occasionally and appreciate.
Someone who buys a new S&W revolver will still get an accurate dependable gun that the factory will stand behind for sometime to come. There are however a lot of pre 1982 S&Ws that I don't have and would like to own. So that is where my disposable income will go.
I joined SWCA because I want to help preserve the legacy of Smith &Wesson from days gone by. I won't argue that there are'nt some positives about the newer guns. But if I had to choose between a brand new model 36 Classic and a holster worn 50 year old 36 with 10-15 % of the finish gone I would take the old used 36 any day. Old Colts and S&W had really nice lines. The change in frame profile which is really noticeable on the J and K guns is a deal breaker for me.
The real profits for S&W is polymer framed autos. Times have changed and like many other manufacturers S&W has had to change with them. Over the last 2 years I have bought 9 handguns. Two Colts and 7 S&Ws. The oldest made in 1915 and the newest 1976.
I have the 1970s 36 , an older Cobra , a 67 a 64 and an 18-3 for holster guns that get carried and shot a lot. Everything else is a collectible that I shoot occasionally and appreciate.
Someone who buys a new S&W revolver will still get an accurate dependable gun that the factory will stand behind for sometime to come. There are however a lot of pre 1982 S&Ws that I don't have and would like to own. So that is where my disposable income will go.
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It's quite sad they would start doing these awful engravings on otherwise nice N frames. I remember telling myself the new N frames would probably be the only new Smiths I would consider buying due to the expense of vintage models but also because the N frames didn't have their back broken to fit the lock like the J's, K's, and L's . The lock I don't mind, but the radical change to the shape of especially the J's and K's really annoys me. So I guess now I'd have to buy a Pre-2023 S&W Classic N frame if I were to get one, lol. A new era of Smiths to collect! P&R, Pre-Lock, now Pre-Laser
ordnanceguy
Member
Jared:
I would not have been happy with that gun either. However, before we all pile on and pronounce recent S&W guns as junk and that the company has forgotten how to make quality firearms and lost its way, let's take a deep breath, step back and acknowledge that firearms today are still (mostly) manufactured and inspected by human beings. Humans are imperfect. Mistakes can be made even with the best of intentions and best of manufacturing processes.
Over the years S&W has made many MILLIONS of quality firearms and continues to do so. That is a big reason why it is still in business while many of the older American gun makers are dead, on life support or have sold their name to foreign companies. (Winchester, Remington, Colt, High Standard, etc.)
No manufacturer is perfect. That is why S&W has a customer service department and offers a strong warranty. In my experience S&W will own up to their mistakes and fix them or otherwise satisfy the gun owner.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Andrew Gore, the Handgun Product Manager at S&W. He appeared as one of the featured speakers at last month's S&WCA Symposium. He was there for the entire event. He actively solicited ideas and input from the members present on how to improve their products, discussed the new Tennessee plant and what new products should be considered. He took in all the displays and enjoyed seeing 19th and 20th Century examples of S&W manufacturing skill. He is a "gun guy" and not the here-today, gone-tomorrow MBA management type. He struck me as being keenly interested in manufacturing quality products which can be sold competitively and that also reflect the rich heritage of fine firearms that has kept the company in business since 1852.
I'm sorry that you had a problem with your revolver. Bring it to the attention of the appropriate people at S&W and let them address it for you. OK, now we can all exhale!
Regards,
Charlie
I would not have been happy with that gun either. However, before we all pile on and pronounce recent S&W guns as junk and that the company has forgotten how to make quality firearms and lost its way, let's take a deep breath, step back and acknowledge that firearms today are still (mostly) manufactured and inspected by human beings. Humans are imperfect. Mistakes can be made even with the best of intentions and best of manufacturing processes.
Over the years S&W has made many MILLIONS of quality firearms and continues to do so. That is a big reason why it is still in business while many of the older American gun makers are dead, on life support or have sold their name to foreign companies. (Winchester, Remington, Colt, High Standard, etc.)
No manufacturer is perfect. That is why S&W has a customer service department and offers a strong warranty. In my experience S&W will own up to their mistakes and fix them or otherwise satisfy the gun owner.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Andrew Gore, the Handgun Product Manager at S&W. He appeared as one of the featured speakers at last month's S&WCA Symposium. He was there for the entire event. He actively solicited ideas and input from the members present on how to improve their products, discussed the new Tennessee plant and what new products should be considered. He took in all the displays and enjoyed seeing 19th and 20th Century examples of S&W manufacturing skill. He is a "gun guy" and not the here-today, gone-tomorrow MBA management type. He struck me as being keenly interested in manufacturing quality products which can be sold competitively and that also reflect the rich heritage of fine firearms that has kept the company in business since 1852.
I'm sorry that you had a problem with your revolver. Bring it to the attention of the appropriate people at S&W and let them address it for you. OK, now we can all exhale!
Regards,
Charlie
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You guys are missing out on a huge opportunity!!!!!!! All these so called blemishes are "unique" "one of a kind" "rare" "factory one off" collector items. Just look on GB. You'll see what I mean.
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