[willmartin]

Assuming proper care and cleaning?

It's a model 649 bodyguard, .357 magnum. I mostly shoot .38 specials and .38 +P's from the gun. Seems like a good tough gun - is it composed of long-lasting quality?

[zammyman]

Depends how many rounds you put through it... over time it will get less and less accurate.

[politicaldookie]

It has a much better chance than you do.

[jaydubya]

It has a much better chance than you do.

+1

Cordially, Jack

[20nickels]

Will my S&W last forever?
If you shoot lead instead of jacketed.

[parisite]

Your grandchildren will thoroughly enjoy it long after you are gone.:)

[SlamFire1]

Heck it is an all steel revolver. Shoot standard load 38 Specials an it will last forever.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14773&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

I remember talking to S&W Customer service. Asked them about the durability of their K frame revolvers. They knew of a training facility, which was using M10 or M66's (I forget) and standard 38 spl ammo. The things had around a quarter of a million rounds through the revolvers. They were still shooting.

It is not unreasonable to expect to have to replace mainsprings, cylinder hand springs, maybe firing pins, once in a quarter of a million rounds.

[Old Fuff]

I don't know that your revolver will last forever, but I have fired cap & ball revolvers that were made during the 1850's and they were still fully functional. The material in your revolver is much superior.

[Oro]

Will my S&W last forever?

The oldest one I have is 1916. It has seen at least one war and lots of use since then (evidenced by the thick turn line and peened locking notches). It's trigger action and timing is as smooth as any coming off the assembly line today. Like OldFluff said, the steel in yours is better, and the CNC machines leave little room for error. With proper care, yours will last a VERY long time.

1) 1916 vintage S&W, still running like a proverbial Swiss Watch:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd275/kamerer/S-W/455%20HE/IMGP3202-1.jpg

[willmartin]

Lead vs jacketed... does that mean FMJ vs JHP? Sry I'm still a noob in plenty of areas, terminology especially.

[Oro]

"lead" means no jacketing or plating whatsoever, just plain lead. "SJHP" or "FMJ" of "JHP" all would be "jacketed" - that's the "J" in the initials. Whether it's fully jacketed or semi-jacketed doesn't matter much in this case, the ogive tip doesn't encounter the barrel, only the shoulders of the bullet, which is where the jacketing is on any type of jacketed bullet, semi or full.

Copper jacketing is harder on the barrel, but prevents the lead from building up.

Lead is more efficient (more velocity for less powder), much cheaper, but since it's softer, leaves deposits in the barrel, and also creates a health hazard on indoor ranges when not properly ventilated.

There is more to the merits of one vs. the other, but this is it in a nutshell. Trade offs, trade offs...

[S&Wfan]

I'm afraid it will only last until the anti-gun folks control Washington enough to take all the guns from us. Then, they'll melt down all our guns that give us so much pleasure.

[Peter M. Eick]

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/eickpm/lowsn_1.jpg

I was shooting this April 1930 Heavy duty a week or so ago. It is in great shape and has been shot a lot over the last 80 years. I can only say I take care of it and those that held it before I did also took care of it. The key is a bit of TLC on a routine basis.

[madcratebuilder]

This S&W is over sixty years old and still going strong.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/PICT0003Medium-3.jpg
This one is well over onehundred years old, while never a target revolver it still shoots very well.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/swhammerless01.jpg

[Stumper]

The Final Judgement/Progression of Entropy will get it in the end but it should last long enough for you.

[rswartsell]

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/rswartsell/SWTopBreak2.jpg

1892, and

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/rswartsell/HPIM2226.jpg

1910. How old do you plan to get?

[Elvishead]

For real?

[EnsignJimmy]

S&W longevity?

1907 with factory refinish:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/froobas/SW_Safety_HammerlessTH.jpg (http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/froobas/SW_Safety_Hammerless.jpg)

It still shoots real good. I've never experienced a FTF with it, and it lives (fully loaded) in my nightstand. Should any desperado ever choose to interrupt my nightly slumber, the holes it'll poke in him ought to give him enough pause for me to get my rifle.

So will your S&W last forever? Of course not. It will likely, however, comfortably outlast your grandchildren.

[Sebring Pop]

Simply put YES

Smith & Wesson has a warranty policy for free repairs for the life of the gun.

Thanks Pop

[moooose102]

nothing made by man will ever last forever. but it will certainly outlast you, and your kids if it is properly cared for.

[peetee32]

thanks for posting pics of those vintage revolvers, they are amazing. fully functional works of art.
i come from a family of non gun owners, but plan to teach my son about gun saftey and some day hope to pass on my S&W 686p to him.

[chriske]

What moooose102 said.

[Peter M. Eick]

By the way Sebring, S&W will not work on pre 1957 guns already. Thus their lifetime warantee is good for about 50 years. Not that it is bad, but it certainly is not "lifetime".