The Jap revolver was in that fire 30 years ago and was taken to a gunsmith who said it was fine. I don't know how many rounds have been put through it. I'd guess at least a few hundred due to scarcity of the ammo, but I was looking at it a couple of months ago and admiring my bluing skills. It actually looks original.
Working for almost 20 years in a dept with over 30,000 members that were armed entirely with revolvers back then I can honestly say I know personally of only one individual with any sort of problem. From time to time I did see at our gunsmith's shop revolvers that did need some sort of repair. In those cases the officers were given loners to use till repairs were made. I spent many hours over the years talking to our dept gunsmith and never once heard a word mentioned that an auto was more dependable, though during many situations they could be advantageous and I as well as many others wanted to be authorized to carry one, especially after a friend of mine was killed in the LOD while attempting to reload his revolver and the perp with a BHP came around the vehicle and shot him. The gunsmiths always said revolvers were more reliable and no one ever disagreed.
Today my son's taken my place and carries a Sig226. He had a defective mag that caused him a problem and sees incidents with other officers at the range all the time both with Sigs and Glocks. I never seen anyone pulled off the firing line when I was active with a gun that didn't function. He says it happens all the time.
Sorry, but experience in LE and handling revolvers for well over 40 years has shown me what work horses they are and what little maintenance is required to keep them going. I knew men who never cleaned their revolvers once, except maybe wipe them down, for almost 30 years. My partner used to tell me that when he shot it that's when the barrel was cleaned. I told him he was nuts. I've been with guys at the range who had more lint in their guns than you'd find on a tailor's shop floor. You ain't do'in that with an automatic and that's a fact.
This Smith's been in the rain, snow, ice storms, beach patrol with sand blowing on it for almost 20 years. It was issued to me in '68 and I still carry it in the woods and sometimes shoot it. It's also been used as a club in an emergency. I always maintained it and still have the original box. I've never had a single problem with it. Guess I'm a stubborn old fart, but love autos too.
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