Smith & Wesson Retools Image as Lawsuits Falter

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Wednesday, October 16, 2002 | VANESSA O'CONNELL and PAUL M. BARRETT

[TroutStalker]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- For a brief time, one of the most fabled names in the gun business looked set to play the role of peacemaker.

In March 2000, Smith & Wesson, a unit of British conglomerate Tomkins PLC, agreed to settle a raft of government lawsuits by promising to restrict the marketing of its handguns. For gun-control advocates, it was a stunning victory. President Clinton hailed the pact as historic, asserting it would sharply reduce the flow of handguns to criminals.

[Psycho Francis]

K frames are the only S&W's I have. 37 of them....

[toddst]

Should I purchase an S&W .357 longnose or stick with my plans to get a model 1911?

From my perspective it depends on what use you intend for the gun. Both have their merits and limitations. I will be glad to make a recommendation if you provide more information on your intended use.No doubt others on FR will also.

[Redbob]

" In numerous conversations with retailers and others, Mr. Scott says he emphasized his commitment to gun owners' freedoms."

Don't be so quick to "welcome them back into the fold."

S&W have never repudiated or otherwise "unsigned" the disastrous agreement they signed with the Feds.
Sure, as long as the GOP controls the executive branch they're OK, but they've never severed their ties to HUD, and a change in admisitrations could put them right back in bed with the gungrabbers.

Don't believe me? Call them yourself and ask; you'll get a runaround, but the final answer is, "Well, NO."

[Gorzaloon]

K frames are the only S&W's I have. 37 of them...

They are hard to pass up, since the police went to Wunder9's, etc.

They really are works of art. The part that impresses me is the coverplate on the right hand side that covers the lockwork. That joint has to be a thousandth or two all around, max on some of these, and it is a fairly complex shape, too.

[Psycho Francis]

I've always been a fan of the K's. Little large for some hands, but like you say, they are works of art. From a bygone day, I might add. All of mine date from the 50's & 60's.

[Jack Black]

One result of the buy out is that all Smith and Wesson revolvers now have a little "safe-T-hammer" lock on the left hand side, right under the cylinder release lever. These are sometime referred to as the "pimple lock". I haven't shot a "pimple lock" enhanced revolver, but they add a bunch of unneeded parts and reduce the simplicity, beauty and reliability of the gun. They are an obvious place for grit to get into the mechanism.

Along with the apology I'd like to see the pimple locks removed, or at least made optional, for those of us who have no use for them.

For semi-autos I don't think they are as good as HK, SIG, Glock, Kimber and Springfield.

[dasher]

I'll do anything and everything I can to avoid buying an internally locked gun of any kind. I'm glad my 686 is an old one with the firing pin on the hammer where it belongs.

[TEXASPROUD]

I'm going to make you hurt with the next statement. I acquired for $150 a very nice S&W Hand Ejector .44 Special Model 1926. It has that old time long action that is like oiled glass, single action break is 3.0 lbs. It was very popular with Peace Officers in Texas and the southwest.
Keep your powder dry