Howdy
First of all, you need to realize that some of us are old guys and prefer the way S&W built revolvers in the pre-MIM/lock days.
Yes, the quality in those days was absolutely better, there is no question about it. It is also undeniably true that modern manufacturing methods, including MIM parts have helped drive the cost out of making S&W revolvers. In other words, if they were still making them the old way, they would cost even more than they do today.
It is a double edged sword.
I have two Smiths made in the current MIM/lock era. I bought this 617-6 used a few years ago. It was made in 2003. Besides being butt ugly (remember, I am an old guy and prefer the elegance of the pre-MIM/lock revolvers), there is nothing mechanically wrong with it.
I bought this Model 686-6 brand-spanky new last year. It was the first brand-spanky new S&W I had bought in 40 years, almost all my others have been bought used over the years. I bought it for two reasons - 1st, I did not own any L frame Smiths, and 2nd, it was in a local shop and the price was right.
But when I took the 686 to the range the first time I found I had to crank the rear sight way over to the right in order to get it to print where it was pointing. That is not right, a revolver should print where it is pointing with the rear sight reasonably centered.
Here is a photo of the yoke of the 686. What we are looking at is a barrel that is canted slightly. Not screwed in perfectly vertically as it should be. This is as far as the yoke will close, because the barrel is canted slightly. In the 'good old days' of pre-MIM/lock revolvers, this never would have made it out of the factory, the barrel would have been screwed in properly.
There were some issues with canted barrels a few years ago, but I haven't heard any recent complaints. There are always lemons produced, so check it over if buying in person.
Notice I said that I just bought this revolver brand new last year. And as I said earlier, this would never have made it out the door in the old days.
Here is a photo of the yoke of the 617. Not quite perfect, but much better than the 686. Just checked the rear sight of the 617. Almost perfectly centered to keep the gun printing where it is pointed.
Now, just for the fun of it, here are a couple of photos of the yoke closure on a 32-20 Hand Ejector that shipped in 1916. Sorry for the smudgy vertical line, that is a reflection, not an imperfection. But look at the joint. That is the way they left the factory when S&W was paying close attention to detail. You don't have to go back to 1916 to find this kind of quality, they shipped like this right through the 1970s and 1980s.
So.......Does the yoke have to snug up as tight as in the old days? Probably not. Are you likely to get a new 617 with a canted barrel? Probably not. But now you know what to look for.
P.S. In recent years it has become obvious that it is less expensive for S&W to cut down on in house inspections and address customer complaints as they come up, rather than shipping perfect (and more carefully inspected) products in the first place.
