Airweight with "minor cylinder drag"

[cormacf]

Cabella's has an Airweight in their used section for $399 that looks to be pristine, but it's listed as having "minor cylinder drag." It's not at my local shop, so I can't view it in person, but I was wondering if you have any thoughts. If it's just on its way to developing the S&W drag mark, I don't care. I just want a functional, light CCW weapon for +P rounds that will probably get shot 100-200 rounds per year, with my 686 being my primary range gun. Any thoughts?

Leanign toward just ponying up the extra $50 for the new version with full warranty.

 

[Reinz]

For me, I’d rather pay the extra $50 for a sure thing-ish rather than gamble on the used one.

 

[cormacf]

Thanks. That's what I needed to hear.

Even my 686 needed to be sent back to the factory for an extractor issue after 200 rounds (though it's been solid ever since).

For me, I’d rather pay the extra $50 for a sure thing-ish rather than gamble on the used one.

 

[mcb]

If you are in the store simply ask a sales person to get it out for you. They will let you handle it. If not I would walk away from any handgun I could not handle before putting my money down.

$399 for a used 38 Special Airweight is sort of step. $399 for a used 357 Magnum Airweight is also sort of step but that in not due to the value (that's a good price) but how mean that little revolver is.

 

[WestKentucky]

Depends which end is dragging. One is a really cheap spacer. The other is a much more in depth fix. I wouldn’t want to take the gamble to save $50. I would take the gamble at half-price of a new gun though.

 

[Thomasss]

There is no such thing as "a deal" from Cabela's. If they say there is a problem, then there is an expensive problem. Otherwise they would fix it themselves and sell it for more $.

 

[cormacf]

There is no such thing as "a deal" from Cabela's. If they say there is a problem, then there is an expensive problem. Otherwise they would fix it themselves and sell it for more $.

Good point! I'll stick to my local shop for deals. I should have snapped up that Silver Snipe for $400 while it was there... Lesson learned.

 

[Stophel]

You mean from the cylinder stop rubbing on the cylinder??? That is completely normal. The cylinder stop rides on the cylinder. It WILL get the ring around the cylinder. In short order. That's the way it works.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Good point! I'll stick to my local shop for deals. I should have snapped up that Silver Snipe for $400 while it was there... Lesson learned.

Airweights are pretty notorious for cracked frames below the forcing cone too- this could result in extra effort being required to open/close the cylinder, a salesman might describe this as "drag".

 

[Riomouse911]

My new-to-me auction win Model 48-3 is costing me an additional $192.00 for repair after I fired about 40 shots. I last shot it in March due to Covid it wasn’t accepted back to S&W until June. I still don’t have a repair and return date. This auction buy of one of my grail guns has turned into a bit of a nightmare.

As the guys said, RUN. If Cabelas is selling what was a $325-dollar-new .38 Airweight as used for $399, and up-fronting in the description a possible issue with the function, the future owner should plan on another $200 or more to fix it.

Good luck with your search, and stay safe.

 

[DocRock]

I know prices are crazy at the moment, but late 2018, I paid $325 at expensive LGS for a brand new one. So, I would find it hard to pay $399 for a brand new one now, let alone one with "minor cylinder drag".

But that was then...

 

[bannockburn]

I would probably pass on this particular one given that you can't look it over first to determine if there's an issue or not.


Mine has not been used a lot and there's just a hint of a turn line. No problems to report.

 

[edwardware]

Cabella's. . . listed as having "minor cylinder drag."

It's probably developing a cylinder stop mark (tuen line). . . but I'd skip it based solely on "Cabela's".