[fini]

The best factory trigger goes to pre-WWII Colts. I read an old article where it was said that if your colt acts like a S&W, you've got a very sick colt. The colt design ensured that the colt trigger was much slicker. The problem was that a gunsmith was supposed to do a tune-up every 5000 rounds because they were so complex and they were hand fitted. I used to own several and their trigger pulls were vastly superior to contemporary S&W revolvers. Having said that, the S&Ws were hardier. But both were put together like watches (a lot of hand fitting).

Both companies used to spend as more time polishing the inside of their pistols than they spend polishing the outside of current pistols. Now current pistols have better designs, closer tolerances (computers) and superior metals, so current pistols can take beatings that would devastate those old pistols. But as a work of art, you can't beat pre-WWII pistols.

I opened an old "1905 S&W" that was made in 1911. On the outside, it was beat up and used hard. I removed the side plate, expecting a similar look. The inside was finely polished and looked like the inside of an old pocket watch (highly polished). The backside of the side plate had the decorative spiral polishing design that you frequently see on 19th century watches.

[yarddog]

At one time I owned a very large collection. Just about all S&W revolvers have great single action triggers and very good double action.

Around 1987 a large number of police trade-in .38 revolvers flooded the market. I bought a really nice Colt official police for $95.00. I believe it was the finest revolver of any I have owned and that is saying something.

I am not sure it is possible to make a better double action than that Colt. Also a nice single action. My Brother had a very old Colt New Service .45 Colt which had a similar action.

BTW that old Colt Official Police was also almost off the scale accurate.