The older Smiths were worth collecting. Now they're ugly and overpriced. I don't think there was a stainless revolver prettier than the old Model 66. Chromed hammer, chromed trigger, stamped sideplate, nice rear sights and front sights that were part of the barrel. Now the thumb latch has been redesigned, the hammer and trigger made using a metal injection molding process, tapped on front sight, cheapened rear sights and a stainless finish that looks like it's been sandpapered. All this and a few hundred dollars more!
Taurus makes beautiful guns, but their tolerances are too often off. So I go with Ruger. I was at a shop lately and saw a fellow looking at a 686 and a Ruger GP-100, both 4-inchers. The S&W 686 was $250 more than the 686 and the guy looking at them asked why.
I thought it was a great question!
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