I've been buying new S&W revolvers at a rate of about one a year since 2018 or so. I tend to buy higher-end models like Performance Center, Scandium/Titanium, limited production items or something else semi-special. I haven't bought one yet that didn't have a serious problem that didn't go back to S&W. Some of them have gone back multiple times. I have added more and more to my pre-purchase checklist, but some of the problems like shortened firing pins and ground-down strain screws can be hard to determine without fully stripping the gun. Even so, I will tell you I don't lament the locks. I don't lament the two-piece barrels. I don't lament the MIM parts. Those things have never caused me problems.
At one point, I started buying Ruger. I had the exact same experience. Had one that had to go back to Ruger twice.
Colt is back in the revolver business. They were just getting restarted when I started buying revolvers and offered little at the time. Since then, they've added quite a bit to their lineup including the Python and the Anaconda that are highly appealing to my tastes. But guess what? Colt's introduction of the Python was plagued with egregious quality-control issues. There were examples of awful machining, and the whole loose sideplate screw issue with the slipping hands. I think it's widely recognized that they've fixed those issues on current production, but they still have terrible rear sights. Wilson Combat just introduced replacement sights to address the problem. So if I spend about 67% more than the typical price of a similar S&W, I have to add to that over $100 more for Wilson sights.
The Colt is a nice gun, but for what it costs, it's possible to find a nice S&W, fix all the problems on it, and have quite a bit left over for customization like grips, moon-clips, cylinder chamfering, cutting the muzzle crown, sights, EDM trigger and hammer, and even having a gunsmith stone the sear surfaces and polish the internals. Besides the high initial cost, Colts are still very limited in their chamberings, the availability of different barrel lengths is limited, and they only come in stainless steel.
The conclusion I draw is that a quality revolver is a project gun. Unless I found a flawless Colt or a Korth that met all my desires just as it came from the factory, I would expect to have to do a little work on the gun to get it to where it needs to be. S&W has always been the best basis for a project revolver and it continues to be. The aftermarket and gunsmithing support for Rugers and Colts and even Kimbers or whatever just isn't as deep.
I'm looking to buy a revolver now. I have a 686 at S&W to fix a problem with some heavy machine marks they left on it the last time I had it at the Performance Center for some upgrades. When I get it back, I am determined to sell it. I'm not happy with it anymore and it's moving on. It's been replaced with a 586 that I already own. That one has had its own issues including light strikes due to a shortened firing pin (0.490"). I'm not totally satisfied all the problems are solved yet. I've been considering a Colt, a different S&W, Ruger... If S&W quality is slipping, there just isn't an obvious alternative on the market. There has always been other choices, but they come with their own issues and limitations.
