What Chip said. I have a 6" no-dash 617 and have turned down some obscene offers for it. If you troll sites like GunBroker, you'll find those old girls in like-new condition bringing bids approaching $1,000.
Some of the newer stuff is good, too. I have about a dozen S&W revolvers made between 1985 and 2001 and there isn't a bad one in the bunch. A lot of S&W fanatics get in heat and on point over the older guns with pinned barrels and recessed cylinder chambers but that stuff doesn't do anything for me. Even the later MIM hammers, triggers and cylinder releases aren't hateful. I have several 629s with forged parts and one with MIMs and can't tell any difference when shooting them. Likewise, I have numerous 686s with forged and one with MIM and they feel the same, too.
Now the internal lock and its ugly Hillary Hole - no, thanks.
Ed