I don't buy "new" guns. But I have bought several "used" revolvers that were all but new. Smith & Wesson's all, and all I'm thinking of had the lock and the dreaded MIM parts. I didn't see a thing wrong with those guns. Fit, finish, performance all was equal to or maybe better than the classic ones I've owned. The finish might have been different, but there have been differences in the finish over the years anyway. I know I've had a 21, 24, and 27 all with locks, and still have a 642 Ladysmith.
Now I sold all but the 642, which is my wife's gun actually. There was nothing wrong with them, I was just ready to move on to something else, or simply reducing my inventory.
I AM considering a new, in the box Model 27...I'm not sure which "dash" they're up to now, simply because I haven't bought a NIB Smith & Wesson since about 1979. A "new" 27 is less expensive than a classic one, and they have a 4" barrel available that is pretty rare in the classic 27's. I'm sort of a sucker for a 4" barrel.
Sure, I'll check it out before I buy it, but then I'd do that before I bought a cheap 22 rifle.
Now I sold all but the 642, which is my wife's gun actually. There was nothing wrong with them, I was just ready to move on to something else, or simply reducing my inventory.
I AM considering a new, in the box Model 27...I'm not sure which "dash" they're up to now, simply because I haven't bought a NIB Smith & Wesson since about 1979. A "new" 27 is less expensive than a classic one, and they have a 4" barrel available that is pretty rare in the classic 27's. I'm sort of a sucker for a 4" barrel.
Sure, I'll check it out before I buy it, but then I'd do that before I bought a cheap 22 rifle.