I was just thinking the other day. Sure when it comes to snubnose revolvers, which are great and I can give you all sorts of reasons why they're so great, we have all sorts of options in all honesty.
But I then remembered something I read once where the author talked about a "fightin' size" gun, which is a bit of an oxymoron when it comes to handguns, but he maintained that K, L, and N frame sized revolvers were unquestionalby going to be more effective guns on the whole. I have to agree. These frames are easier to shoot and they facilitate more effective calibers.
But let's look at what's happening in the industry:
Smith and Wesson has gone to those internal locks nobody cares for. I don't hate them or distrust them but I'd rather they weren't there. They're eliminating a lot of the little touches that made their revolvers Smith and Wessons. When's the last time we saw a pinned barrel on a brand new Smith? When's the last time you saw a brand new Smith that had a forged trigger? Also, call the Peformance center sometime and ask for a 3" barrel. You will be asked to get in line.
Bianchi refuses to make speed strips in more than one size, namely the size for .38 casings. They could easily produce strips for .44 casings but they will not.
Colt has nearly quit making revolvers altogether. Like Smith and Wesson they've let their quality die. Even with the popularity of the snubnose the Detective Special is gone forever. The Python is dead and that is truly sad.
When is the last time you heard about a new caliber for revolvers? Not that new calibers are necessarily good, but honestly I can remember the 9x19's rise to prominence, and I can remember the .40, .357 Sig, 10 mm, and now the .45 GAP coming out in my lifetime.
Taurus for a while there was looking like a shining beacon of hope. Their internal lock system is much more elegant. Their quality is improving, and they offer many designs that meet the needs of CCWers. But their catalog is shrinking and fast. For example all variants of the model 445 are gone now. They have quit making 3" barrels. They do not make very many offerings in a 4" barrel in a caliber larger than .357 Magnum.
Ruger still has some life in it but their catalog isn't that large. Their internal lock design is probably the best yet. They make a few things very well, which I suppose is far better than making many things poorly. Truthfully if I bought a brand new revolver I'd lean heavily towards the Ruger models.
I've started another thread, and thanks for the help by the way, looking for holsters for full size frames because I just could not find any!
Your options are dissappering, the choices are getting fewer, the accessories are becoming less common, and the innovations in ammuntion aren't as forthcoming. Manufacturers could easily give us more options and they choose not to, and a lot of good models are being abandoned for no apparent reason. Not to mention the lockwork of most wheelguns hasn't changed in 100 years. Not that there's any reason to change it, but it just shows how stangnant the market is that no one has tried anything new in so long. I mean honestly where is the Gaston Glock of the wheelgun?
Why are they killing off the full sized revolver? Honestly it's like a conspiracy. I honestly feel that in 10 years I'll be using a DAO service pistol and my revolvers will sit in a safe, because the ammunition will be impossible to find and their collector's value will start climbing.
But I then remembered something I read once where the author talked about a "fightin' size" gun, which is a bit of an oxymoron when it comes to handguns, but he maintained that K, L, and N frame sized revolvers were unquestionalby going to be more effective guns on the whole. I have to agree. These frames are easier to shoot and they facilitate more effective calibers.
But let's look at what's happening in the industry:
Smith and Wesson has gone to those internal locks nobody cares for. I don't hate them or distrust them but I'd rather they weren't there. They're eliminating a lot of the little touches that made their revolvers Smith and Wessons. When's the last time we saw a pinned barrel on a brand new Smith? When's the last time you saw a brand new Smith that had a forged trigger? Also, call the Peformance center sometime and ask for a 3" barrel. You will be asked to get in line.
Bianchi refuses to make speed strips in more than one size, namely the size for .38 casings. They could easily produce strips for .44 casings but they will not.
Colt has nearly quit making revolvers altogether. Like Smith and Wesson they've let their quality die. Even with the popularity of the snubnose the Detective Special is gone forever. The Python is dead and that is truly sad.
When is the last time you heard about a new caliber for revolvers? Not that new calibers are necessarily good, but honestly I can remember the 9x19's rise to prominence, and I can remember the .40, .357 Sig, 10 mm, and now the .45 GAP coming out in my lifetime.
Taurus for a while there was looking like a shining beacon of hope. Their internal lock system is much more elegant. Their quality is improving, and they offer many designs that meet the needs of CCWers. But their catalog is shrinking and fast. For example all variants of the model 445 are gone now. They have quit making 3" barrels. They do not make very many offerings in a 4" barrel in a caliber larger than .357 Magnum.
Ruger still has some life in it but their catalog isn't that large. Their internal lock design is probably the best yet. They make a few things very well, which I suppose is far better than making many things poorly. Truthfully if I bought a brand new revolver I'd lean heavily towards the Ruger models.
I've started another thread, and thanks for the help by the way, looking for holsters for full size frames because I just could not find any!
Your options are dissappering, the choices are getting fewer, the accessories are becoming less common, and the innovations in ammuntion aren't as forthcoming. Manufacturers could easily give us more options and they choose not to, and a lot of good models are being abandoned for no apparent reason. Not to mention the lockwork of most wheelguns hasn't changed in 100 years. Not that there's any reason to change it, but it just shows how stangnant the market is that no one has tried anything new in so long. I mean honestly where is the Gaston Glock of the wheelgun?
Why are they killing off the full sized revolver? Honestly it's like a conspiracy. I honestly feel that in 10 years I'll be using a DAO service pistol and my revolvers will sit in a safe, because the ammunition will be impossible to find and their collector's value will start climbing.
