Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey

[Nyles]

The double-action trigger as it appeared on the Beaumont-Adams 1855 was perfected, it was strong, reliable and effective in both DA and SA. The "prototype", if you will, was the Deane & Adams 1851. American makers didn't produce anything comparable until 1884. You can say that American companies perfected the swing-out cylinder revolver, that's accurate, and the swing-out design is the best at handling a powerful cartridge while still being reasonably fast to reload. The only non-American swing-out cylinder revolver produced that wasn't heavily based on American designs was the French M1892 and I wouldn't rate it as highly as a Colt or S&W.

I think S&W does make an excellent revolver, in fact the trigger is widely considered better than a Colt. A Colt stacks towards the end of the pull in DA, a S&W is consistent throughout. A Python is in a class all it's own, when introduced it was practically handmade, but as far as production guns S&W made a technologically superior gun as soon as they introduced the Military & Police and Colt never really caught up. There's alot to be said for Rugers though, they're all coil springs and it makes them alot tougher.