Some 10 years ago my first handgun was a Smith & Wesson Model 15 from around 1987, chambered in .38 Special. At the time I thought it was just some old revolver. Now I know what a beautiful example it was and how smoothly it functioned. But at the time, I had no experience with other guns, save for a Springfield XD 40 that was owned by a friend, and (sometimes working) Colt Python owned by another. My Model 15 was simply, a revolver. And it got traded off, as many other guns have since then.
I've owned other Smiths since then. A 9mm Sigma with a horrendous trigger, and that one quickly found other hands. An unremarkable aluminum alloy snubbie J frame in .38 +p was mine for a time, then it too was sold. I later found out that the frame had cracked at some point, either whilst I owned it or just afterwards. I believe it was quickly retired. Lastly I was taken with a lightly used 686+ with a 6" barrel (my first .357). A nice enough gun, but the timing was off to the point the cylinder wouldn't lock before the hammer fell. S&W took it back to address the issue and did so, but I never totally trusted it after that.
Then I decided to give those "ugly looking" Rugers a try, and have owned no other brand of wheel guns since. But I still can't seem to let go of those memories I have of the old Model 15, and wonder if I could find another S&W revolver - hopefully in a 4" .357 - that would feel as smooth as that gun felt, and fill that little hole that it left when I traded it away.
But every time I say to myself "Maybe a Smith this time...." I can't help but think about the internal locks (which I despise), the potential of the ejector rod loosening (which I dealt with more than once), the timing issue I had on the 686+, brass getting caught under the star (which only ever happened to me on Smiths), and the cracked alloy J frame. And it totally turns me off the idea.
I'd love to have a solid, reliable, and smooth service size 6 shot S&W revolver, that can take a steady diet of full house .357 mag loads. But I have trouble believing I can get that. Please convince me. Tell me about that one you have which has been dependable over the years, and a joy to shoot. I want to want a Smith and Wesson.