Opinions on S&W "Classic" lineup

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dont_matr

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I was browsing through the '07 brochure and noticed several models in the lineup that piqued my interest, ESPECIALLY the Model 1917. In fact, I am very tempted to order a blued version (my 686+ is looking a bit lonely with all the autoloaders surrounding it in the safe:( ). Aside from the evil lock, which I can live with, can anyone give me any info about these new 'classics'?

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Do they have hammer mounted or frame mounted firing pins? I don't see a pinned barrel either. It's not the same, sorry.
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Those would seem to be the main differences aside from the lock. They might look classic, but they sure aren't made like they used to be....
 
This is what a real ones looks like, not a wannbe model...:neener:

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Guess its not nice to gloat over the fact S&W can't reproduce a better looking facsimile of a revolver their company once made nearly a 100 years ago.

Bet Uberti of Italy could get it right if they would only start making the Triple Lock, 2nd model, 3rd models and stop there. :) The Italians could outclass S&W any day of the week...if they wanted to. :what:


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Jim
 
Anyone care to guess whether it's a round-butt and full of MIM as well?
Oh, and a two-piece bbl too.
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Don't have to guess :) It is a square butt with a one piece barrel. Hammer and trigger are MIM, and it does have the lock.

But why buy a new one when there are still lots of real ones out there?
 
Bet Uberti of Italy could get it right if they would only start making the Triple Lock, 2nd model, 3rd models and stop there. The Italians could outclass S&W any day of the week...if they wanted to.
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Who says we start a mass-email campaign? Does Smith still hold the patent for the original design, minus "the hole", or would there be a legal way around it?
But why buy a new one when there are still lots of real ones out there?
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One word: availability. I can't remember the last time I saw one at a gun show in my area.
 
One word: availability. I can't remember the last time I saw one at a gun show in my area.
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Edited: for some reason the link won't work... but I found 6 on Gunbroker in 90 seconds.
From well used to VERY nice, and the VERY nice one was STILL cheaper than the repos!

One of the pics of the Very nice one:
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Those would seem to be the main differences aside from the lock. They might look classic, but they sure aren't made like they used to be....
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Ohh let's talk about the M36 classic we have at the shop. Let's see, tool marks that weren't polished out of the cylinder flutes, and poor grip to frame fit. The bluing isn't as nice as it used to be, but it's still better than most handguns we have the shop, save a couple new polished blue FN HPs. Despite the non uniform grip fit, the wood is very nice. The two 29 classics we have don't have any tooling marks showing, neither has a grip fit issue, and the bluing is a bit nicer still on those.

Overall though it's a step in the right direction. At least we have the classic line now. It shows that S&W has started to listen to the consumer. Now if the locks and MIM parts go bye-bye we'd have a great thing well worth the price.
 
44and45,

How long is the barrel of the top one in that pic? Also, how hard it is to get a 4" barrel put on one that came with a longer barrel?
 
Geister, the top picture is of a 2nd model in .44 special has a five inch barrel.

Here in is the problem with attaching a different size barrel, finding a decent gunsmith that knows headspacing, the barrel/cylinder gap is critical to lead splattering against the top strap and onto the cylinder flutes.

Getting all that right takes a savy gunsmith. S&W won't work on these old guns, doubt they've got the skill to handle them anymore.

Do you actually have a four inch barrel for this type of revolver? :what:

Jim
 
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