New Smith & Wesson Bolt Action rifle?

[Zachary]

Guys, take a look at this link:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/iBoltBrochure.pdf

It looks like Smith & Wesson has decided to enter the bolt action rifle market.

They tried getting into the rifle scope business a few years back....and failed.  I must say, however, that their scopes were not all THAT bad.  Instead, I think that they were overpriced.  Most noteably, however, Smith and Wesson, to the best of my knowledge, did NOT manufacture their scopes, but instead had someone else build them, and S&W just put their name on it.

I say this because in S&W's brochure, they advertise that the barrel on their new bolt gun is made by T/C.  Hmmmmm.  That's interesting because, almost as soon as Winchester closed its doors, TC went to the drawing board and created their first bolt gun - the T/C Icon.  As such, I wonder if S&W is having someone else build their new bolt gun or, at the very least, if other people are making various components and assembling them under the S&W name.

So, what do you  guys think?

Zachary

[Graybeard]

I think S&W is a handgun manufacturer and everything else with their name on it it made by someone else other than S&W. In this case likely by TC if that is TC is even making the bolt guns with their name on them. I have no info really to say if they are or are not but they have been making rifle barrels and frames for a long time so might be other than the wood. I don't think TC has done the wood since the factory caught fire. That's not unusual these days tho as stock making is more an more becoming a specialized job done remotely from the actual gun manufacture. Supposedly the main reason for S&W buy out of TC was so they could get into the long gun business thru TC.

[nomosendero]

Nice bolt handle.

[SuperstitionCoues]

It looks very interesting...interesting indeed.  I like the optional recoil "mule" in the stock - might come in handy for me after yet another back surgery. 

S&W bought T/C a few months ago.

[Zachary]

S&W bought T/C a few months ago.

I didn't know that.

Zachary

[clattin]

If memory serves....S&W used the Howa 1500 gun with their name on it many years ago....I think it was even called a S&W 1500.  Curious that this new entry doesn't look like it even offers a wood stock and only has the 3 calibers.

"I-Bolt"......"ICON"....do I see a pattern here?

Chris

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

      Well I followed the link and took a look and I must say I am not impressed and that's without even knowing the price. There is nothing in the new super-dooper plastic rifle which would appeal to me. I did notice that the bolt shroud seems to be similar to a certain old German rifle .......................  the name of which is avoiding me just now ............................ Ahh could it have been Krico?

     Now going back to the S&W catalogue and looking and the whole rifle in profile the stock shape is all wrong and seems to be miss fitting angles. Heck even the awful Remington 710 looks better and that is saying something.

[35Rem]

What's that funny looking growth on the back of the bolt?  They should have that looked at!

I really like the Quick Detach scope rings on a sightless rifle, too....(Page 2)

[Zachary]

What's that funny looking growth on the back of the bolt?  They should have that looked at!

Honestly, and as most of your know, I don't really care what a rifle looks like.  I am generally an accuracy and quality/fit& finish freak - hence my love for Tikkas & Sakos.  I know that many consider Savages to be ugly, but I really don't see any real ugliness to them.  However, for the first time that I recall, I and honestly say that I find this new Smith & Wesson "I-Bolt" to be ugly.  I too have no idea what they were thinking when they placed that "funny looking growth on the back of the bolt."  But, then again, it's more than that.  To me, I just don't get a warm feel regarding the whole rifle itself.  Again, I don't really care for looks because, if it shoots very well and is of good quality/fit & finish, then I'd buy one - just like I would buy any other rifle.  However, if it can't shoot, then there's no reason for me to have an ugly rifle.  That would be kinda like having an ugly wife that can't even cook!

Zachary

[nomosendero]

What's that funny looking growth on the back of the bolt?  They should have that looked at!

Honestly, and as most of your know, I don't really care what a rifle looks like.  I am generally an accuracy and quality/fit& finish freak - hence my love for Tikkas & Sakos.  I know that many consider Savages to be ugly, but I really don't see any real ugliness to them.  However, for the first time that I recall, I and honestly say that I find this new Smith & Wesson "I-Bolt" to be ugly.  I too have no idea what they were thinking when they placed that "funny looking growth on the back of the bolt."  But, then again, it's more than that.  To me, I just don't get a warm feel regarding the whole rifle itself.  Again, I don't really care for looks because, if it shoots very well and is of good quality/fit & finish, then I'd buy one - just like I would buy any other rifle.  However, if it can't shoot, then there's no reason for me to have an ugly rifle.  That would be kinda like having an ugly wife that can't even cook!

Zachary

Zachary, the Feminazi's are going to be after you!! 

I am sure not impressed with the groups this rifle shot in the Shooting Times test I read today. I noticed that the I Bolt is avail. only in long action
for now & the TC Icon is avail. in short action calibers at the present, how bout that! 

[Zachary]

Well, I have never held an ICON in my hands - only seen pictures in magazines, etc.  As such, I can't yet comment on the ICON's quality/fit & finish.  However, as far as just looks go (which, again, means very little to me in comparison to accuracy and quality), I must say that I find the ICON to be a good looking rifle (except for that butter knife handle which I personally don't like).

Zachary

[Graybeard]

I suspect TC is going to find out not many folks do like that bolt handle.

[Zachary]

You know, that gives me an idea.  Actually, I have been wondering what people think about that butter knife bolt handle.  I'm gonna do a new topic and see what people think.  I'm really curious to see what other people think.  Should make for a good topic.

Zachary

[Rangr44]

Since the only boltgun T/C makes is the ICON, and since S&W as bought out T/C Arms, I would guess their "new" boltgun is (ta-ra) an ICON.

Their previous Model 1500's, etc, were first Swedish Husqvarna (HVA) Mauser's, then Japanese Howa's - both of which S&W bought marked as S&W's for resale, since S&W didn't own either of those companies.

I once owned a S&W Husqvarna lightweight, with a schnobble forend in .30-06, that was pretty decent.

[Zachary]

I know this forum is for bolt action rifles, but my father bought my brother our first shotgun - a Smith & Wesson 20 ga. auto.  I must say, that gun has been extremely reliable and is one of our favorites.  In fact, my brother and I fought over who was going to keep that gun for many years.  Well, let's just say that I just let my little brother keep it.

Still, I have never owned, or even shot, an S&W rifle, so I really can't comment on their reliability or performance.  I just hope, for S&W's sake, that their new "I-Bolt" performs better than it looks.

Zachary

[30-30man]

Hope they are better than the pocketknives they stamp their name on.  Chinese junk can't sharpen for _____, you know the rest........................

[oneshotonekill]

Since the only boltgun T/C makes is the ICON, and since S&W as bought out T/C Arms, I would guess their "new" boltgun is (ta-ra) an ICON.

Nope its a completely different action design.  Its basically a rem 700 clone, tubular style action where the Icon is a flat bottom design.  My first thought was that it was probably an Icon in S&W trim especially with the name "I bolt" & "Icon" but after looking at the write up in Shooting Times it is a completely different animal.  The one tested by the Shooting Times staff didn't shoot anything into much less than 2" and they had problems with the bolt release system engaging when they cycled the action.  Apparently they designed the bolt to release by opening it up then pushing it in 3/8" and turning the handle down and pull straight out.  There is a recess that the bolt rotates into so when you cycle the bolt if there is any down pressure on the bolt handle guess what happens it falls in the recess.  What a poor design.  This rifle is supposed to be the reason why S&W bought TC.  They were looking for a barrel manufacturer to make barrels for the I-bolt and liked TC so much they decided to buy the company.

[lik2hunt]

Oh yea, that is one ugly rifle alright! What were these guys thinking? I'd much rather spend the bucks for an "Icon" than an "Ibolt". I'm pretty impressed with the Icon. This S&W monster doesn't impress me at all.
That stock is butt-ugly, the bolt has some major problems, heck I can't even figure out half the gas pumps I pull up to, I'd really have a hard time figuring out this bolt sequence. What if I needed a quick snap second shot. Th fit and finish looks cheap.........nope I'm not impressed at all.

[poncaguy]

I think the Remington , 798 I think, anyway, the ones imported from Turkey I believe, are very good looking bolt action rifles. The S&W will be a flop, IMHO. I have`2 Steven 200's and a Savage Model 12 target rifle, and I like their looks..........

[jvs]

This new offering from S&W is nothing more that the company trying to put something in the Bolt Action market with their name on it.  It has been years since S&W tried to sell a Bolt Action Rifle, and since acquiring T/C, it is a perferct project to try.  Whether it will be popular enough to make it is another story.

And to tell you the truth, anything that keeps S&W out of the hands of Hypocritical Foreign ownership, like what was tried (and failed) a few years ago, is a big plus in my book.  There was a big Uproar when S&W was bought out and ended up in foreign hands.  And rightly so. 

[kenjs1]

As for the icon - from what I am seeing it looks to have most of the features I might list if I were ordering a custom rifle.  There seems to be an awful lot to like when you dissect the sum of parts.  I haven't held one yet but if it felt as good as it read on paper I might be tempted.

[MGMorden]

If memory serves....S&W used the Howa 1500 gun with their name on it many years ago....I think it was even called a S&W 1500.  Curious that this new entry doesn't look like it even offers a wood stock and only has the 3 calibers.

"I-Bolt"......"ICON"....do I see a pattern here?

Chris

iAnything is cool these days.  Apple computer started a bit of a trend and a lot of other companies have been riding the wave.  Course I suppose they could have gotten the inspiration from elsewhere.  Doubt we'll ever know .

As to this gun, it MIGHT would be interesting to me, if they made a wood stock version.  I own no synthetic stock rifles and very few synthetic shotguns (I duck hunt with my shotguns so those get beat up more than I'd like a wood stock to experience), and I don't really plan on ever buying synthetic stock rifles.  Maybe it's an irrational stigma, but just the way I grew up rifles had wood stocks; bb-guns had plastic ones. 

[30-06man]

 I like the way it looks. And on the t/c bolt another is included when you buy it. I do like the t/c better

[Nessmuk#1]

I personally would like a revolver rifle in 500 S&W.

[30-06man]

yeah i would too but i got other things i am getting before it like  a varmint gun and mountain gun and some good optics