Smith and Wesson's new production revolvers - Quality?

Klondiker

Klondiker

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
89   0   0
Location
Alberta for now, back to the Yukon someday
I'm looking for your experience with Smith and Wesson's new production revolver's. I've done quite a bit of poking around on the web and i'm finding mixed reviews. There seems to be a consensus that since the early 80's QC has gone down.

I'm looking at their line of classic revolvers. They now have frame mounted firing pin, frame safety...... In particular the Model 25 or Model 27.

I had a S&W model 28 Highway Patrolman (early to mid 70's production) a few years ago which i have regretted selling ever since, definitely one of my biggest mistakes. It was simply awesome.

What do you think, are these new revolvers worth the price? Or worth it period?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Klondiker said:
I'm looking for your experience with Smith and Wesson's new production revolver's. I've done quite a bit of poking around on the web and i'm finding mixed reviews. There seems to be a consensus that since the early 80's QC has gone down.

I'm looking at their line of classic revolvers. They now have frame mounted hammer, frame safety...... In particular the Model 25 or Model 27.

I had a S&W model 28 Highway Patrolman (early to mid 70's production) a few years ago which i have regretted selling ever since, definitely one of my biggest mistakes. It was simply awesome.

What do you think, are these new revolvers worth the price? Or worth it period?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Older ones were much better made. The do not make them like they used to. I have a 629 but am searching for a nice mint 29 or 29-2, ill snag a model 28 too if i can find one. Once i get back on the EE that is... the wait is killing me.!
 
im lucky enough to have old stuff and new stuff .
Q/C gone down some .
the biggest let down to me is the cost cutting measures they have taken .
loss of the pinned barrels, and recessed cylinder, but the Quaity for the most part is there .
and as for the frame mounted firing pin,
well I like a spurred hammer myself . but the Colt python has alwase had a frame mounted firing pin and some Consider the python to be the best revolver in the world, so I wouldnt worrie about that .
I think people just don't like when they cheap out on manufacturing. me included .
still, I have a model 19-4, K frame, (pinned and recessed) with a spurred hammer,-near mint.
A N frame 627 model of 1989 .
And a re-introduced 2012 model 586 L frame and I just love em all .
 
As stated above nothing is as it used to be. They make better now, and worse. Every company that I know of has made cuts to cut costs and then of course the quality goes down.

In S&W's case the new guns are still very well made no matter what you might read or hear. Most of the bad stories are always my friend or my dad or my uncle had this problem or that problem but it was never there gun.

I have 25 plus guns of the new versions and I have yet to have one problem with any of mine. On the other hand I have had some problems with older smiths that I have bought used but of course I have no idea how they were treated before I got them. They have all been fixed and now work as they were meant to in the first place.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the old guns were a nicer blue and maybe they were a little smoother to shoot but don't worry the newer guns work great and if you take care of them they will last longer then you do.

Graydog
 
graydog said:
As stated above nothing is as it used to be. They make better now, and worse. Every company that I know of has made cuts to cut costs and then of course the quality goes down.

In S&W's case the new guns are still very well made no matter what you might read or hear. Most of the bad stories are always my friend or my dad or my uncle had this problem or that problem but it was never there gun.

I have 25 plus guns of the new versions and I have yet to have one problem with any of mine. On the other hand I have had some problems with older smiths that I have bought used but of course I have no idea how they were treated before I got them. They have all been fixed and now work as they were meant to in the first place.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the old guns were a nicer blue and maybe they were a little smoother to shoot but don't worry the newer guns work great and if you take care of them they will last longer then you do.

Graydog
Click to expand...

I think the Glory hole bothers most folks. Only issues Ive had is some extractor wobble on a 629 and I had a 460V that the firing pin spring broke twice. I had to send it to Murray charlton to be fixed twice under warrenty.

Here is a neat video on some smiths and the quality by God of the revolver himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4cynaHNe44
 
GunGuy34 said:
I think the Glory hole bothers most folks. Only issues Ive had is some extractor wobble on a 629 and I had a 460V that the firing pin spring broke twice. I had to send it to Murray charlton to be fixed twice under warrenty.Here is a neat video on some smiths and the quality by God of the revolver himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4cynaHNe44
Click to expand...

I remember your thread about that, I've been watching my 460V for the same problem, so far so good. Why wouldn't MC just send you a new spring instead of shipping the whole gun to him?
 
09outlander said:
I remember your thread about that, I've been watching my 460V for the same problem, so far so good. Why wouldn't MC just send you a new spring instead of shipping the whole gun to him?
Click to expand...

First time he wasnt sure what was wrong, as the firing pin would stay inside the frame and would not come out. Which caused the cylinder to stick if you had rounds loaded, thats how i discovered it, while shooting at the range. First range visit was 60 rounds when it happend. So i called MC and he said send it in. I did that, he changed the spring and firing pin and sent it back. I took it too the range again, shot 10 rounds and same thing happened again. So i sent it back to MC again, he put a new spring and firing pin in again and got rid of a burr that was there. I didnt live fire it after, just dry fired it and it appeared to be fixed. MC told me that he live fired it before sending it back to me and everything was ok. I have since traded the gun for something else, but i ended up on the bad end of that deal.
 
trebor2880 said:
I think it's like anything else: "They don't make 'em like they used to."
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more...

As I always say, products used to be about quality and longevity... buy something high quality and give it to your grandkids someday. Now it's about planned obsolescence... make stuff only last a few years so people continue to buy the new models.
 
Sambaru said:
Couldn't agree more...

As I always say, products used to be about quality and longevity... buy something high quality and give it to your grandkids someday. Now it's about planned obsolescence... make stuff only last a few years so people continue to buy the new models.
Click to expand...

I know what you're saying, it's a throw away society for the most part. It really is unfortunate.
 
There is a real issue with the newer S&W revolvers by a lot of people nowdays. It is the dreaded lock which is located on the left side of the frame just above the cylinder release catch.

It was the same thing when Smith & Wesson stoped pinning the barrels and recessing the cylinders. All kinds of people started saying the guns would blow up and the barrels would fall off. Well guess what it didn't happen.

The new guns are just fine, maybe not quite as good but still just fine.

Graydog
 
My new S&W 4.2 629 44mag is very good quality. Had several 44 mags in the past and this new one with the left side lock is the best yet. Very tight lockup. Very accurate if you do your part. Still would like a Stainless 5.5 Redhawk though.
 
I've been lucky but some of my friends have not been so.. my confidence in Smith & Wesson has been shaken especially with the excessive repair times when something goes wrong.
 
Klondiker said:
I'm looking for your experience with Smith and Wesson's new production revolver's. I've done quite a bit of poking around on the web and i'm finding mixed reviews. There seems to be a consensus that since the early 80's QC has gone down.

I'm looking at their line of classic revolvers. They now have frame mounted firing pin, frame safety...... In particular the Model 25 or Model 27.

I had a S&W model 28 Highway Patrolman (early to mid 70's production) a few years ago which i have regretted selling ever since, definitely one of my biggest mistakes. It was simply awesome.

What do you think, are these new revolvers worth the price? Or worth it period?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I was waching Mickulek's Model 29 video on Youtube. He mentioned that the myth of older S&W better than newer fabrication is not true.

I like him so I would give some credit to that comment, but would still keep in mind that he is sponsored by S&W...

My first S&W revolver was a 6" 686 with factory adjustable front sight, purchased in 1995. It shot very good and never had issues with it. I now have a 5" 686 purchased in 2011, appears to be at least the same quality as my older 686, if not better...
 
Smith is a Year out on Performance Center guns -- one doesn't get a backlog like that without 1) good QC and 2) Demand

I've got a relatively recent revolver -- one aspect one needs to be sure of is that if one is comparing apples to apples and not judging a scandium framed gun for life etc against a steel gun.

Model to Model - I would say 'maybe' apple to apple the older guns where "nicer" but I don't think its significant, and I think the new guns are "better".
 
Last edited:
I own/owned both the older (60s/70s)smiths as well as the newer production models.They are all good,but as a generalisation,the older models are far better finished than the newer models,the amount of polishing and deep blueing just isnt seen on the newer guns,however,I feel that the fit and tolerances on the newer models are better,probably as a result of better production methods.I have a model 27 which is really put together well,definitely tighter than a early 70s model 29 I have.I havent had a opportunity to own older smiths from the 30s/40s/50s which were supposed to be the best that Smith and Wesson have made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom