When it comes to a revolver, Colt had the best fit and finish. No Smith & Wesson matches a Colt in appearance. A Colt just has a look to it that makes a S&W look plain and a Ruger very utilitarian.
However, Colt is long gone. Smith & Wesson still makes revolvers, but they don't have to compete with Colt anymore. Without competition from Colt, S&W can lower the standards on fit and finish. You could argue that S&W has to lower their standards, otherwise everyone would buy Rugers rather than S&Ws.
New S&W revolvers are nice, but they're not as nice looking as the old ones.
These days, you'll be hard pressed to find much difference between a Smith & Wesson revolver and a Ruger revolver.