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Making Smith & Wesson Revolvers

Talyn

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member
Despite the modern handgun market's trend towards polymer-framed, semi-automatic handguns, Smith & Wesson has continued to support and produce many different revolver lines.

Making Smith & Wesson Revolvers

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I would consider buying one if it didn't have the trigger lock. I know they have one or two models without the trigger lock.

My dream revolver is the Manurhin MR73. But since I don't have $3000 plus to spend on a revolver, I'll probably get a Ruger SP101 or a Taurus 605 as my next revolver.

I don't know, we're looking to refinance our house. Maybe I can somehow get $3000 out of the deal. (I wonder what my wife would say about that?) LOL!!
 
Jimbo said:
I would consider buying one if it didn't have the trigger lock. I know they have one or two models without the trigger lock.

My dream revolver is the Manurhin MR73. But since I don't have $3000 plus to spend on a revolver, I'll probably get a Ruger SP101 or a Taurus 605 as my next revolver.

I don't know, we're looking to refinance our house. Maybe I can somehow get $3000 out of the deal. (I wonder what my wife would say about that?) LOL!!
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I agree the lock is a scar. The lock was an ill advised boondoggle. You can still get a non-lock S&W in certain models. I believe 70's era Smiths are superior in quality.

I would advise against a Taurus based upon personal experience
 
HayesGreener said:
I would advise against a Taurus based upon personal experience
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I appreciate the advice. To tell you the truth, the low price was kindof calling my name. And Taurus does get good reviews. But in a revolver, I want nothing but the best, because I don't want it to go out of timing or some other fatal error. I'm convinced that Ruger makes excellent quality revolvers, at least the all steel ones. That SP101 has been calling my name for a good while now.
 
Jimbo said:
I would consider buying one if it didn't have the trigger lock. I know they have one or two models without the trigger lock.

My dream revolver is the Manurhin MR73. But since I don't have $3000 plus to spend on a revolver, I'll probably get a Ruger SP101 or a Taurus 605 as my next revolver.

I don't know, we're looking to refinance our house. Maybe I can somehow get $3000 out of the deal. (I wonder what my wife would say about that?) LOL!!
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Refi and cash out option for $6000.
Let her pick a $3000 item.. 😉
 
Thanks for the read and interesting video Talyn,
Are a lot of good revolvers and brands out there. S&W can be one of them. Much can be a compromise on any of them though. Light weight for example is good in some areas while heavier weight is good in others. Same with barrel length, grip, capacity or other features like safety devices. Finding the right balance for a persons needs is usually the answer. Ruger revolvers are usually a good example of most in answers and balance of those differences in this direction, but that's just another personal experience and opinion too? Good initial product design, quality and customer service if needed are other concerns to weigh.
 
Wirenut said:
I would like to get a 686 plus, but with all the complaints about tool marks, canted barrels and other QC issues I will pass until things change.
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I bought a 686+ this year and saw none of the issues you list.

While one should always try to check out the items before they make a purchase, mine was bought from an out-of-town business and it arrived in perfect condition.

If one doesn't have first-hand experience(s) then it's not always wise to believe everything posted on the "net".

My .02
 
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Talyn said:
I bought a 686+ this year and saw none of the issues you list.

While one should always try to check out the items before they make a purchase, mine was bought from an out-of-town business and it arrived in perfect condition.

If one doesn't have first-hand experience(s) then it's not always wise to believe everything posted on the "net".

My .02
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I am on the Smith & Wesson forum and those are common complaint's about S&W QC issues.
i listen to forum members that own certain firearms about there concerns, just as I do here.
I haven't heard too much lately with inventories being slim.
 
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Wirenut said:
I am on the Smith & Wesson forum and those are common complaint's about S&W QC issues.
i listen to forum members that own certain firearms about there concerns, just as I do here.
I haven't heard too much lately with inventories being slim.
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Wirenut, Am sure there's the possibility of some misleading trolls there at S&W forum as well as here spreading bs. But, from long time users and members, I'd give lot more credibility to their concerns. W/o reading those comments that can sometimes boil down to just some personal issue, but if was actually shown to be common concern or fact? Yup, am likely all ears and eyes too.

I do appreciate and agree what you're saying though. Is likely your personal experience and sometimes anothers that lead to good or not so good experiences? Choosing a particular thing can be fairly difficult if something's not actually in possession to inspect. Even mass produced items can vary from batch to batch in all sorts of ways.
 
I have seen two revolvers out of the Performance Center in the past year with canted barrels and one with a poorly machined cylinder. I have always been a S&W fan and staked my life on them for many years. But am disappointed with their QC in recent years. I think their focus has been on miliary and police poducts and away from the classic revolvers. I am not interested in any of their revolvers made after the 80's.
 
I personally can vouch for S&W quality issues on there revolvers, bought a 629 several years ago, canted barrel, sent it back to S&W, got it back, still canted, sent it back the second time, finally got it corrected, my model 66, the reissue of it with the two piece barrel, ball/ detent crane lock up, after just 1 box of ammo it went out of time, didn’t send this back, my gunsmith who used to be a S&W warranty repair station fixed it and smoothed up the trigger for just $40.00, money well spent, so, yea, they have quality control issues, now my two current revolvers 625JM and my 610 seem fine so far. So what I have said did happen to me and wasn’t internet jibber jabber, it’s the truth.
 
You cannot just blame S&W either, back in 1980 I bought a new 6” Colt Python with the royal blue finish, beautiful gun, after a range trip brought it home to clean it up, went to clean the barrel and wow, all the lands were shot out, became a smooth bore in no time, sent it back to Colt which replaced the barrel but the blueing didn’t match and Colt said they don’t warrant the finish, so my point is, all manufacturers can and will have quality control issues, but it’s the way the manufacturer handles your issue.
 
Annihilator said:
You cannot just blame S&W either, back in 1980 I bought a new 6” Colt Python with the royal blue finish, beautiful gun, after a range trip brought it home to clean it up, went to clean the barrel and wow, all the lands were shot out, became a smooth bore in no time, sent it back to Colt which replaced the barrel but the blueing didn’t match and Colt said they don’t warrant the finish, so my point is, all manufacturers can and will have quality control issues, but it’s the way the manufacturer handles your issue.
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So disappointing
 
It's fashionable to point out a few QC instances, and then condemn an entire brand. So, considering the number of QC issues that have been reported here by various folks, how many here will say they'll avoid buying SA products*** ?? :unsure:

All manufacturing has some slip-ups, and it's everyone's option to either make sure what they are buying is up to snuff in person (Note above: one should always try to check out the items before they make a purchase), or to start trashing everthing.

If you buy something with a canted barrel/sights etc., when you have the chance to check it out before purchasing it, then that's your fault. If bought sight unseen then that's what warrenties are for.

***(Note: excluding the XD/XDm/XDS/Hellcats/etc that are actually made by HS Produkt in Croatia, and marketed by SA in the USA)

Disclosure: Besides the various HS Produkt-made pistols I have, the last SA items I have were made in the 80's & 90's. I have high hopes for the new SA-35 (with no QC issues) and hope to find one for msrp or lower. And I've had S&W revolvers for the last 30+ yrs. with no issues.

The OP was to inform on how S&W makes their revolvers, but this site is no different than the rest of the "net", and everyone is entitled to their opinion(s).

My .02
 
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So, let me get this straight, since my 629 had a canted barrel, it was my fault for not looking at it, but it’s not S&W’s fault for making it that way, and if I get this right, I should have dried fired the 66 a bunch of times to see if it went out of time. Ok, and my story is just like other crap you can find on the web, so I guess there is no sense in me posting stuff anymore since you can find it somewhere on the web…..
 
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Warranties are for a product out of spec. Not a product on earth doesnt sometimes come out of spec.
Most companies, a failure rate of 1% is acceptable tolerance of accepted failure

Unfortunately, the 1% barks louder than the bite of the 99%.

That way in all of life. Look at the 1% in control of the political discussion of the country. No different in manufacturing.

In my line of work, if my employees have a 1% falirue rate, I applaud them for a job well done
 
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