Fun and games from the gunsmiths at Smith and Wesson.

[harmonic]

This guy sent in a four inch barreled model 29-3 with a broken hammer strut. (That's the firing pin that protrudes from the hammer, ala earlier models.)

The factory notified him that the barrel to cylinder gap, as well as the forcing cone, was out of spec. They told him they would not return it to him unless they replaced the barrel. Only, they didn't have any four inch barrels. Only six inch barrels. If he didn't authorize them to replace the barrel, the best they could do was give him some credit toward a new Smith, cause they weren't going to return it to him out of spec.

Here's the thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/530103904/m/1551084772

Even though it was his property they wouldn't give it back unless the necessary repairs were made. So he authorized them to replace the old barrel. Only to do so they said they had to cut the old barrel off, thus destroying it.

That scares me about their repair department. I've read of guys sending in a pinned and recessed gun for work, and getting back a pinned and non-recessed gun. I've read of guys sending a gun in for work, and getting back their gun, only with the S&W logo on the wrong side.

If ever I need work done on an out of production Smith,
I think I'll find a reputable gunsmith not connected with the factory. Those guys are spooky.

 

[hso]

Most reputable gunsmiths will not repair a gun that is otherwise unsafe to shoot. It just isn't professional, or smart from a liability standpoint, to fix problem A and return a gun with a recognized "kaboom" problem.

 

[Jim Watson]

That is a lot of crap. I do not understand and rather doubt the bit about "seized in the frame so it had to be cut off." A competent gunsmith could get the barrel out, set it back a couple of threads, adjust the gap, and recut the forcing cone. He would also have to shorten the extractor rod by the amount of barrel setback. That would have been more work than just sawing off the old barrel , picking out the stub, and screwing in a new one, though. Time is money and parts changing is faster than real repair.

Oh, by the way, Harmonic, he had a broken hammer STUD. That is the fixed pin in the frame that the hammer rotates on, not the hammer nose firing pin of that vintage gun.

 

[goon]

Actually, unless it's under warranty, why not use a local smith?
Or figure it out and do it yourself?

Generally, when I send a gun back for repairs I get a gun back that is still in need of repairs.
I've only ever had one fixed that satisfied me enough to keep it (Kahr P-9).

 

[Onmilo]

One has to remember when dealing with older firearms, that the company that made the firearm does not necessarily keep obsolete parts in stock, nor do they continue to produce them.
Because this is a litigeous society they are forced to repair the firearm to their current specifications but are not required to keep parts on hand to do so.
Catch 22.

Smith and Wesson could have sent the firearm back to the individual without conducting repairs if he had sent a release of liability.
Unless Massachusetts carries a law on the books allowing them to do so, they cannot legally keep the individuals personally owned firearm if he does not want them to do so, they have to give it back, repaired or not.

Older firearms keep gunsmiths in business.
Keep your older firearms and keep us working.
Only send newer firearms with "Lifetime Warranties" back to the factories.
As a gunsmith, I don't even touch "Lifetime Warranty" firearms, they all go back to where they were made.
Older guns, bring them to me.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

"I've read of guys sending in a pinned and recessed gun for work, and getting back a pinned and non-recessed gun. I've read of guys sending a gun in for work, and getting back their gun, only with the S&W logo on the wrong side."

This would make me wonder about the credibility of the writer, not the credibility of the factory. I have had three guns repaired by the factory. The first was a S&W M28 from Lubbock PD that was about 30 years old and broke the "hammer strut" or "trigger pivot pin". They sent it back to me completely refinished with a factory letter stating that my gun was now "back to spec." No charge. I have a Model 29-2, same problem, fixed, no charge. Two years ago I had a Smith 5967 which they only made 1400 of back in 1990. I had put about 75,000 rounds through it since then and the rails on the frame broke off on one side. They sent it back with a new frame, same serial number (and different trigger guard). NO CHARGE! I guess now they have made 1401 of those 5967s and I have the only one with a round trigger guard. Sounds like to me that the people that posted that baloney just want to complain and bad mouth S&W.

 

[Poper]

Originally posted by goon:
why not use a local smith?
Or figure it out and do it yourself?

My local gunsmith and I have an agreement:
I won't work on guns if he won't design buildings.

So far, so good!

Poper

 

[DENALI]

Hey, it's a no brainer. The factory's have always done this, and they will continue to do this. It's a liability issue and nothing more. There are reason's why competent gunsmiths exist, and this is one of them......

 

[230RN]

Anybody have an idea about how much it would cost to either replace a 6" NICKELED barrel on a model 19, or to repair it?

There is a slight cutout on the underside of the barrel at the forcing cone to clear the cylinder axis pin which split and has spread out to the point where it binds on the cylinder axis pin --which is how come I noticed it.

Replacement cost (NICKELED) = ? (rough guesstimate)

Can it be welded and the forcing cone re-cut?

--Terry