Why do we buy them

[edcowden69]

2024 manufacturing with spaceage materials and tolerance and computer controlled machinery. Years of experience ,testing ,and development. We have to live with MIM and cast and stamped parts. Factory choice is to sale the just barely exceptable product to make sure of a very large profit for all in the line of distribution. Custom parts and blue printing have become the normal thing to do if you want to have what should be from the Factory. I know the market has levels and the bottom of the line cuts corners for profit, but the custom models are using the same parts. I would think the Factory could easily find a way to give you a product equivalent to the best gunsmith and produce it at less cost. They can still sale the bottom of the line but still have a few top of the line products to offer. We buy the junk because we don't know any better or we understand it can be fixed.

[bigbrowndog]

NASA can’t figure out how to return and reuse a space craft or doesn’t want to. It took a private company to do it, but how much did it cost??? I’m sure we will never really know the real numbers. Automobiles are the same way, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Bugatti all still use the same rubber and plastic hoses and clips as Chevrolet and Ford do in their cheapest cars, costs cut into profits and profits keep a company afloat.
Even the so called best factory produced firearms, job out or have bigger manufacturers produce parts for them because it’s cheaper than doing it in house. There really are only a handful of companies responsible for making many many many of the parts used by factories to produce their guns. Major components like frames, and barrels are made by this handful of companies for most of the gun factories, because of costs. If you want a “custom” like factory made handgun, FA, S&W PC, or BFR Custom shop is probably your best bet, maybe this Spohr company that is mentioned on here by Chris can be included.

Trapr

[gnappi]

I worked for a multi billion dollar computer corporation and they had a saying that pertained to cost cutting...

"A couple of hundred million dollars here, a few hundred million dollars there, and pretty soon you're talking REAL money"!

So after we released a product they'd beat on us to reduce cost by pennies on every single part to save the first, second, and third million dollars in order to save some REAL money :-)

[gnappi]

Oct 29, 2024 12:20:40 GMT -5 edcowden69 said:

2024 manufacturing with spaceage materials and tolerance and computer controlled machinery. Years of experience ,testing ,and development. We have to live with MIM and cast and stamped parts. Factory choice is to sale the just barely exceptable product to make sure of a very large profit for all in the line of distribution. Custom parts and blue printing have become the normal thing to do if you want to have what should be from the Factory. I know the market has levels and the bottom of the line cuts corners for profit, but the custom models are using the same parts. I would think the Factory could easily find a way to give you a product equivalent to the best gunsmith and produce it at less cost. They can still sale the bottom of the line but still have a few top of the line products to offer. We buy the junk because we don't know any better or we understand it can be fixed.

Look at some classic S&W revolvers that sell at well above retail prices on current models. Lots of us vote with their dollars on older models but S&W turns a blind eye to it because enough buy new to make it worthwhile to stay the current course. 

[sharps4590]

I simply don't buy new.

[longoval]

Just buy from Freedom Arms and Spohr.

I enjoy the Rugers and Smiths just fine. I have no issues with investment castings, stamping or even MIM parts when used appropriately.

[tj3006]

I largely disagree.
It is not as much about profit as about lowering the cost to the consumer. I wonder what my old model python would cost if it was made today?
I bet 3500 or more.
The new ones at 1450ish are very good,
It is competitive pricing that drives cost cutting.
I am considering a new python, but might end up with a GP 100 instead cause 1450 is a lot of money when an 800.00 GP 100 is a very fine Revolver.
...tj

[edk]

Oct 29, 2024 12:20:40 GMT -5 edcowden69 said:

2024 manufacturing with spaceage materials and tolerance and computer controlled machinery. Years of experience ,testing ,and development. We have to live with MIM and cast and stamped parts. Factory choice is to sale the just barely exceptable product to make sure of a very large profit for all in the line of distribution. Custom parts and blue printing have become the normal thing to do if you want to have what should be from the Factory. I know the market has levels and the bottom of the line cuts corners for profit, but the custom models are using the same parts. I would think the Factory could easily find a way to give you a product equivalent to the best gunsmith and produce it at less cost. They can still sale the bottom of the line but still have a few top of the line products to offer. We buy the junk because we don't know any better or we understand it can be fixed.

How about this: 97% buy the junk because they don't know any better and thus that is all that's offered for sale. We (3%) buy the junk because we understand it can be fixed and no other businessman will tool up for that little market share.

That having been said it is possible to assemble an assortment of the earlier 3-screw and modern Ruger flattops, pre-lock Smiths from known better eras, etc. and be happy with them as-is.

[needsmostuff]

Some of it just might be the old "The older I get the better it used to be " syndrome.
I remember when S&W under Bangor Punta and Leir Siegler cranked out some less than optimum revolvers. The wisdom at that time was you had to buy pre-model number stuff to get a good pistola.
The highly vaulted JM marked 336 and Winchester 94 rifles everyone swoons over today? Yeah, they made some turds that would not shoot straight also.
Any product too remain completive must look for a more affordable way to make its widget. Mauser 98 and Springfield both needed to go to stamped metal over milled parts and the rifles are still fine.
I recently bought a new SP-101 that was HORRIBLE feeling right out of the box. But about 1 to 2 hours of putszing around with it got very nice.
Should you have to do this stuff to a brand new gun? NOPE! But until I am ready to spend 3 or more grand on a gun it's probably just the way it is.
Many here will take an adequately shooting firearm and send it off to a respected gunsmith. There they spend three times what they paid for it and wait a long time to get it improved upon.
That increased performance no matter how small does not come cheap.

[edcowden69]

I have lost hope in the majority of the manufacturers. I will only pay for quality and then still have to hope that I get something worth the money. Maybe I should not say this but I've just sold my new Colt Python because it's single action trigger was 5 pound 8 to 10 Oz. A Ruger SBH with .018 cylinder gap and .008 endshake is next to go. Both are new this year from the factories.

[jeffh]

Nov 9, 2024 9:38:21 GMT -5 edk said:

How about this: 97% buy the junk because they don't know any better and thus that is all that's offered for sale...

I tend to believe this myself.  I think that the majority of buyers buy the name without having a clue as to what they're actually getting.

[junebug]

Nov 17, 2024 15:32:10 GMT -5 edcowden69 said:

I have lost hope in the majority of the manufacturers. I will only pay for quality and then still have to hope that I get something worth the money. Maybe I should not say this but I've just sold my new Colt Python because it's single action trigger was 5 pound 8 to 10 Oz. A Ruger SBH with .018 cylinder gap and .008 endshake is next to go. Both are new this year from the factories.

An old gunsmith friend told me 30 + years ago [nothing is ready to run straight out of the factory]. TIME HAS PROVEN HIM RIGHT!!!
Most everything needs and benefits from a bit of TLC.