ORIGINAL: metaldonnieg
It hasn't been discontinued but I had a chance to get a brand new S&W .357 snubby (exact model escapes me) about a month ago for $250and I passed it up. Supposedly he just wanted to get rid of a few and was selling them at a loss or so a friend's dad who knows the owner of the shop was telling me.
You probably just saved yourself a trip. I don't see any gunshop selling S&W for almost $100.00 below wholesale! I'd say your friend or his dad was mistaken on the price.