How tough are the *&* 629s?

I assume, since the subject is S&W's, and you didn't specify otherwise, that you are/were referring to 5-10 new S&W revolvers per week. I'm tickled to hear that S&W revolvers are selling so well. Based on that, I'm going to take the logical leap that many, many people have been very pleased with, and purchased, S&W revolvers over the past eight years - or otherwise all of those new revo's would have just piled up in the saferoom. As I'm sure you're aware, data tends to become more reliable as the sample size increases. The quality of S&W revolvers must be increasing - otherwise what shop could sell so many over the years? 7.5 (avg) revo's X 50 weeks X 8 equals 3000 handguns. Wow - I stand corrected and I'm very happy for Smith & Wesson.
 
Ahem...I like the 629. The one I handled a month or so ago was current production. Felt good, fired good. Prob'ly 'cause I'm not an expert! :D
 
GeoJelly,

Yeah, all those poor suckers paying premiums for 5-screws or P&R guns... Don't they know they'd feel more pride of ownership from a MIM flat-hammer gun with a cheesy sheet-metal pop-up safety gizmo next to the hammer? :p

Rickmeister,

Just 'cause the ol' grey mare ain't what she used to be don't mean she ain't still plenty good enough... ;)
 
I wasn't referring to you, Tam (I'm sure you know your stuff).

Ack!!! :D

Sorry. You dropped your guard. ;)

No harm done... I hope.
 
Last edited:
You know, you see this so few other places in the gun hobby; no 1911 buff will claim that a plastic-MSH 1991A1 is as well-made as a pre-Series 70 gun, few USP buffs question the price differential between their USP and the discontinued P9S, no one asks why older Winchester Model 70's command a premium, but suggest that a certain revolver manufacturer has dropped the ball with some cost-cutting measures and/or manufacturing shortcuts, and you'd think that you just insinuated that a Glock isn't perfect... :p
 
Again I am impressed - now we have several thousand 5-screws or P&R revolvers cycling through your AO. I didn't realize Tennessee was such a haven for the old, high quality S&W's? Uhh - I think this is the point in the script where anyone who has made...ahem... possibly exagerated or unsubstantiable claims "fess" up. I believe the comment was something like "...unbox and function check ... five to ten new ones per week. Not 5-screws, not P&R's. I certainly don't want this to turn into a personal attack or personality thing - but, I'm sorry, I can't just stand on the sidelines when, to put it nicely, the stuff starts to get ladled out kindof deep.
 
I must have missed the "thousands of 5-screws" comment I made, perhaps you could show me?

Or are you just so determined to insist that no cost-cutting measures have been made over the last two decades that you'll twist anything I say to suit your purposes?

I said 5 or 10 new guns/week.

As a seperate matter, there'd be the stuff that gets traded in, sold to the shop, brought in for repair or appraisal. Plus guns owned by me or by folks I have known. Stuff I've looked at at shows. you know, the kind of stuff you look at as a hobbyist, in addition to the stuff you have to do at work.

All I said was "Based on all the wheelguns I've seen, new and old (and gave an approximate sample size of the new ones), quality has generally trended down". Make of that what you will, sir.
 
Ma'am - I based my (perhaps flawed) assumption upon your reply, to my comment about selling 3000 S&W revolvers, which went something like: "Yeah, all those poor suckers paying premiums for 5-screws or P&R guns." If in one post I refer to 3000 S&W buyers, and in the next post you refer to "... all those poor suckers..." then I assumed, probably incorrectly, that there was some connection between your comments from post to post. Anyways, I very much enjoy TFL and I certainly don't want to be banned for being honest and making credible and non-inflamatory statements, so I must accede to your leadership. However, I believe your comments about sheet metal parts, etc can do nothing but convince otherwise unknowing buyers to not buy S&W's. Thus, on your high horse of knowledge and forum leadership, you, no doubt, will have pleased the Chuck Schumer's of the world, when Heaven forbid, Smith & Wesson crumbles due to a lack of business.
 
Any chance we could stop the b**ching and actually answer the question? Ya'll could PM all this bickering to each other, and save space on the thread that was actually asking a question.
 
Some of us are fed up with the anti Smith sentiment perpetrated by some people on this board. Mike must be biting his tongue right now.

The fact that some of the children still choose to use the * in place of a letter is getting seriously old.

So is always bring up the comparison to 5 screws.

Buy a new 629 with confidence, and leave the BS behind. You'll never look back.
 
I dunno how many handguns I've owned during the last 50+ years. Maybe a hundred or so? Probably a bunch more? Ain't sure. Shot almost all of them; loaded my own ammo for almost every centerfire there is.

So what.

On comparative quality over time among any or all handguns, I'll happily defer to anybody working in a gunstore or who works gunshows week-in, week-out. They're in the realm of handling, looking and evaluating as part of their job. Doesn't matter whether or not they ever shoot or do gunsmithing...

Art
 
I apologize to the non-moderators for "cluttering" this thread. I am very happy with my three Smith & Wesson M-629's and two P&R M-29's. I examined approx 10 new S&W's while in the States on vacation in May - and although I was tickled with what I saw, that does not make me an expert. To the extent that I can, I will continue to buy new S&W's, and unfortunately, I doubt that I will have the time nor other resources to wear out any of my S&W N-frames. I also enjoy shooting Glocks, CZ's, Rugers - you name it - thus attempting to wear out any particular handgun will prevent me from enjoying the others. I will continue to do whatever little bit I can do to ensure that Smith & Wesson stays in business - and we can all vote on that by buying their products when we find it appropriate. Finally, we should all learn to listen to, and continue to learn from, our gun store clerks. They are on the cutting edge of technology and most of them I have encountered have impressed me with the depth and breadth of their firearms-related knowledge. No - these folks aren't the losers of we all know from yesteryear - these folks are in the business of handling, looking at, and evaluating firearms all the time. They are professionals. I salute them.
 
Are 5 screws superior to the current production of S&W revolvers?

It all depends on what you're looking for in that S&W revolver. On one hand, the required skill in workmanship and degree of hand fitting made the older 5 screw a more difficult gun to produce. Yes, the quality was there, but this does not make the newer guns worse.

Consider this: The DA S&W revolver as we know it has been evolving since it first saw the light of day. S&W has taken advantage of re-engineering their revolvers to make it less labor intensive and simultaneoulsy, reduce production costs. This includes elimination of the screw for the cylinder stop spring and the screw that secures the top of the sideplate (leaving us with three screws). They also simplified the sear from the long, teardrop configuration to a simpler (MIM/stamped/casted?) part. This meant a reduction in filing, honing and stoning - less man hours. While we lament the modernization of the design and the discarding of old world techniques, would we be willing to pay the extra money if S&W hadn't modernized?

Also consider that metallurgy has advanced tremendously since S&W made the first DA/SA revolver. S&W's metallurgists can examine a revolver and tell you how many rounds have been shot through it. So can any other gun maker's metallurgist. Guns of today are made with superior steels and alloys than were available in Teddy Roosevelt's time.

In some respects the newer guns are very much superior to the older 5 screws. However, the older 5 screws still have a claim near and dear to us. It represents a simplier time and a physical link to our past. It inspires us to work up to the standards those gunbuilders of the past. It set a yardstick by which other S&W may be measured.

In closing, it all depends on what you're looking for in a particular gun. Would I buy a new S&W over an older one? Depends and right now, I can't stuff anything into the safe from fear of something dropping out when I open the door. :o My criteria would be whether I want a new gun for a newer, hotter load - something that couldn't be done with an older gun without fear of ruining it, or whether I want a collector's piece, an item of nostalgia, or just a plinker for mild loads. Both old and new have their place among us. Respect them both. Peace.
 
The *&* thing is so ridiculous. This is a forum where people gather to discuss firearms. Smith and Wesson is a firearm manufacturer. Why anyone would think that bastardizing the name with asterisks accomplishes anything is beyond me. Even if they are your enemy, do you not call your enemy by his name?

I guess I just never got it.

None of my ranting over this is personal, in spite of what some may think. I can still discuss many topics with the same people I disagree vehemently with, and I enjoy doing so. But I will not sit idle while people try to convince people not to buy new Smiths.

Now for something completely different. I bought a COLT today. I'll post about it in a new thread later tonight.
 
tiny collection...

Well, I only own 4 Smiths. Two five screw's (pre-28 & pre-17), a 1979 "28", and a 686-5. They all look great and perform admirably. I'll let you all know when I get my first bad one. :D
 
I currently own a 629 Classic which I bought new in late 2000. Also owned a 29 Classic - made around 1995. The accuracy of the 629 is very impressive - as was the 29. I would match them up against any S&W 44's made during the "Glory Years" in the accuracy dept. The accuracy of both revolvers amazed me more than anything else. True , I may have a 4.25 lb trigger pull but it is still very crisp - no creep and I can shoot it well.

As far as durability - I usually use Hornady or Sierra bullets and have no fears of using any of their published loads for 44 revolvers. I never try to invent my own loads even with the Rugers I have owned. If I felt the 44 Mag was not powerful enough using my available data I would simply get a more powerful gun - maybe a 300 Magnum.
 
One of my 629's is a "Euro Sport" which I bought here and brought back into the States (on an ATF Form 6) in May. I only had time to put two boxes of factory ammo through it - and fired it single-action only - but I was impressed. It has a patridge front site and bead-blasted finish - and the lockup, carry-up, and crane retention is perfect. My only complaint is the off-center placement of the German proof-marks. I did thoroughly check it out before I bought it and wouldn't have bought it had it not been mechanically perfect. My only regret is that my finances force me to stay over here at least five more years - while everyone else continues to buy, and shoot, more great Smith & Wesson's.
 
If, instead of Smith and Wesson or S&W, everyone on this board employed the jaded *&* acronym for anything other than to look cheeky, we'd all be referring to eachother with names like G**J***y and T****a.

Cheers,

R***meister

:p
 
The * thing makes me think of the movie Beetlejuice. If you say his name three times, he will appear and create all kinds of havoc.

Smith and Wesson. Smith and Wesson. Smith and Wesson.

Hmmmm.......all it does is make me want to go to the gun shop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top