November 13, 2017, 01:02 AM
dfletcher1801quote:Originally posted by guardianangel762:
When did the quality die? I shot a Model 57 from the 70's. Beautiful glossy blue barrel a grip that bit into the hand but was not too aggressive and I shot 6 rounds under 3" at 25 yards with it. I did something similar with my dads Model 10 from 1969.
When did they stop being well made into the rough triggers I seem to feel from the ones from today.
My first post on the Sig Forum and it's going to be about Smith revolvers .....
I've been buying Smith revolvers since about 1972. And I recall back then (under the Bangor Punta name) that many of the old timers told me how Smith quality had gone downhill, that actions locked up on their own and that when the sideplates were removed "metal filings" poured out. Nothing, they said, could compare to the Smiths of the 1930's and early 50's. Funny that we now look back to the 70's as when Smiths were so much better than they are now.
I would say that by comparison the older folks back then were right to a degree. The internals of the 30's to 50's Smith I own are smoother than those of the 70's and 80's.
Having said that, of the 40 or so Smiths I own only one is a new manufacture. It's a bone stock 442 (no lock) that I use for CCW. If I have to use it, like my Sig 938 it's replaceable. The new Smiths do not appeal to me because of their cold rolled pins, spray paint finishes, shallow bluing, matte finish where there used to be fine checkering, mottled MIM parts instead of case hardened stock steel and of course - the lock. Whether the lock fails or not, can be filled is beside the point for me. Because of it the slope of the frame from rear sight to grip top is changed, it's most apparent on the J frames. It looks odd as heck to me and I don't like it.
But, I do think current Smiths are made to closer tolerances than the older Smiths. And the MIM parts, while they don't respond (IMO) to polishing as well as steel stock do come out of the factory fairly smooth. Unfortunately Smith uses geometrics so their hammers, triggers, DA sear and such can be assembled rather than fitted. The gun feels OK, but it won't ever feel great.
The two piece barrels are a good example of what I mean. They certainly are well made - but they shouldn't be on a Smith revolver to begin with and that's why I don't buy them and I suppose why others don't either.