Smith and Wesson Custom Shop...6 month wait, ugh

[Robotron2k84]

So in really getting into the new 500 Mag that I purchased, cleaning it for the first time was an eye opener.

S&W does little to no actual finishing on these guns, it would seem. I’ve confirmed that the crapola buffing on the frame (tons of swirl marks) and appearance of what looks like rust under the crane (it’s not) is a typical and normal example of how a new Smith is delivered, these days. Sad.

So, I called them up and asked what the turnaround is on a high/bright polish. Six to ten months...are you kidding me? It takes them the first two just to log the gun in from receiving and turn around a quote to do the work.

Last Smith that I ever buy. I’ll make it look beautiful, but these jokers are not taking me for any more of their products.

Ugh.

[Fatcat]

Your decision to stop purchasing a company’s products based on a department’s based long turnaround time is your decision. But I wouldn’t write off them off solely on that. IMO, S&W is still the king of the American revolver manufacturers. If You’re looking for a higher level of finishing than what’s coming off the assembly line, there are a lot of companies that offer those services.

Take a look at the work from this gentleman.

https://www.patriotgunpolishing.com/smith-and-wesson-revolver-polishing

[FalconLair]

i've bought 2 brand new Smith & Wesson's the last 3 weeks, a stainless model 686 plus and a model 19 blued

i also have 3 Ruger GP100's purchased over the last few years

i had always read that one of the main differences between Ruger revolvers and S&W's was the finish and quality - im not really seeing it, especially with the 686 - i had to some polishing on my own in order to smooth out a few areas around the trigger guard, same as i had to do with my Ruger

the finish on my blued model 19 is pretty good, i'd say better than the finish on my 2 blued Ruger's but there isn't an overwhelming difference

spent some decent time polishing and buffing up the 686, im happy with it now - you'll probably be better off doing it yourself - good luck

comparing to my Ruger though i'd say the S&W still needs a little more work

S&W 686 plus



Ruger GP100

[SnWnMe]

If you guys really think that Smith quality has "declined", you need more experience with their late 60s- to 70s era guns when Bangor Punta owned them. Some of them straight out didn't work. I've had a few very desirable models go through my hands that I just had to let go as well.

Smith has been like this since the late 60s and they're actually a tad better with their lifetime warranty protecting you the buyer since the 90s (even if you weren't the original owner).

[Robotron2k84]

[DEPUTYBILL]

Of course it depends on the circumstances when you buy the gun, but I generally inspect the gun before I purchase it. If I see a problem I just pass on the gun.
Some issues may not be apparent until shooting, but issues with finish and other appearance problems should be seen on inspection.
The other option would to have the FFL you purchased it from return it for replacement.

[Robotron2k84]

True enough, and it is on me, ultimately. But, the lighting in the LGS is not as good as what I have at home and there is no natural light in the store. Seriously, didn’t see how bad the finish was when I was there; not until I got it home and started to work on it. Prior to that it was still in the case from when I picked it up after DROS.

I looked at the link from Fatcat and they look pretty good. Any personal experience with that outfit?

['ol shooter]

If you guys really think that Smith quality has "declined", you need more experience with their late 60s- to 70s era guns when Bangor Punta owned them. Some of them straight out didn't work. I've had a few very desirable models go through my hands that I just had to let go as well.

Smith has been like this since the late 60s and they're actually a tad better with their lifetime warranty protecting you the buyer since the 90s (even if you weren't the original owner).

They were pretty spotty in quality back then, to be sure.
I have a 66 bought from a friend in the late 1970's that had lots of end shake.
I have Armory training on S&W and some tooling, and ended up removing the shake by stretching the yoke and then had the barrel turned back to remove the excess cylinder gap.
It's a tight, great shooting gun nowadays.
The 19 I bought new in 1978 had a minor timing issue, solved by fitting a thicker hand to correct cylinder lag.
My 29 I just got lucky with, no issues on a 1976 year gun.
I have a few newer ones, a 617 that I had to re-cut the atrocious throat on, and a 442 with no issues at all.
It was an NRA raffle gun with laser etched NRA markings on it, so maybe they took care to make sure it was right the first time.

[dfletcher]

If you guys really think that Smith quality has "declined", you need more experience with their late 60s- to 70s era guns when Bangor Punta owned them. Some of them straight out didn't work. I've had a few very desirable models go through my hands that I just had to let go as well.

Smith has been like this since the late 60s and they're actually a tad better with their lifetime warranty protecting you the buyer since the 90s (even if you weren't the original owner).

I remember buying Smiths in the Bangor Punta days and the "old timers" - who were then probably younger than I am now - would say the Smiths were lousy. That they popped off the side-plate and "metal shavings" spilled out. Or the trigger couldn't be pulled even once. These are the guns we chase after now.

Truth is, the 1970 made Smiths were rougher than the 1950 versions. Current Smiths are probably more consistently manufactured to tighter tolerances and the MIM hammer & trigger are cleaner out of the box. Down side are the various economies taken with finish and things such as cold rolled pins, matte where checkering was used.

[jon94520]

I remember buying Smiths in the Bangor Punta days and the "old timers" - who were then probably younger than I am now - would say the Smiths were lousy. That they popped off the side-plate and "metal shavings" spilled out. Or the trigger couldn't be pulled even once. These are the guns we chase after now.

Truth is, the 1970 made Smiths were rougher than the 1950 versions. Current Smiths are probably more consistently manufactured to tighter tolerances and the MIM hammer & trigger are cleaner out of the box. Down side are the various economies taken with finish and things such as cold rolled pins, matte where checkering was used.

[03fatboy]

Smith and Wesson Custom Shop...6 month wait, ugh

Post up some pics when you get it back!

[dfletcher]

If you guys really think that Smith quality has "declined", you need more experience with their late 60s- to 70s era guns when Bangor Punta owned them. Some of them straight out didn't work. I've had a few very desirable models go through my hands that I just had to let go as well.

Smith has been like this since the late 60s and they're actually a tad better with their lifetime warranty protecting you the buyer since the 90s (even if you weren't the original owner).

I remember them well. Thumb cocking some of those 70's made Smiths was like dragging a garbage can over railroad tracks. I'll generally still buy them but the amount of "Wet or Dry" paper used to smooth things out is a heck of alot more than current made models.

It seems to me the amenities of the 80's and prior Smiths were much nicer than the current spray paint and economical types. But tolerances are much better and uniform nowadays.

Still haven't bought (and won't) anything with that darn lock though.

[mausercat]

That is so true. My Father's pinned and recessed model 27 he bought new in 1977 has top strap checkering which is completely uneven. The right hand side is good but the portion left of the sight is looks like it was started and never finished. My father did not inspect the gun carefully before he took it home, but he did not want to return it because it was a very good shooter.

If you are talking about guns built up to the 50's those are very nice guns. The 70's are terribly finished. My father took the gun to Pachmayr when they were in downtown Los Angeles and they smoothed out the inside and it has a great trigger.

The new guns are really not that bad. I think that they are better than many of the 70's guns.

[SloChicken]

Send here

https://www.geminicustoms.com/sw-revolvers/

[oddball]

Try ordering something from Colt's Custom Shop. I recently looked into having a custom SAA made from them, never mind the ridiculous price, timeline is 2 years, more likely longer.