Are the newer 686s bad compared to the older smith's?
Bad in what way? To hear some talk the 686 is the crème de la crème of 357's although the GP100 and Blackhawk certainly match it step for step.
What I mean is not in the same class as far as smoothness accuracy overall quality. Some of the old-timers talk it's like only the old Smiths are worth anything and if it has a lock on it forget it it's garbage
See my post a few posts back. The advent of MIM corresponds roughly to the lock guns and many don't like MIM. I think the new guns are plenty good but prefer the look of the old guns. By the time you get done modifying new ones to look like the old ones, you might as well have paid extra for an older model.
