Not Happy...S&W 642

[kansersurvivor]

So I'm stoked. I am heading to the local gun shop to pick up my very own, brand new 642 no lock. I get to the shop, and ask them if they would match another local shops price on the same gun. They would not come down the $50 to match the others price. However, they would take $10 off. So then I ask to see the 642 they have in stock. I get it in my hands and right away notice that the darn things been fired. Not only that, it was never cleaned and then put back in the display case. I look at the tag again, and clearly checked on the tag is the "NEW" box. Not the "USED" box. I ask if this is the only one they have, or is it just the display. They confirmed its the only one they have. They could not tell me how many rounds had been fired through it, but did tell me that it had never been registered to anyone before. :banghead:

SO, tomorrow I will order my new 642 from another shop about 30miles away. It will be cheaper, and brand hammer new.

I really try to keep my money local...but I'm no yokel.





Such a buzz kill for the evening.

 

[Remllez]

I'm not sure but the factory used to test every other cylinder as part of quality control.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There was an extensive debate about this on the forum recently. I totally agree with you, if the gun is shot other than testing in the factory it's no longer NIB. Others feel the owner has the right to play with the gun and then sell it as new. (yeah, right!!)

I think you are totally correct in buying from the other shop.

 

[kansersurvivor]

I'm familiar with factory testing. This was way more than a few test shots. The cone was black, and the frame around the cone had finger prints in the powder residue. The cylinders all had residue that would not easily wipe off. There was a very visible ring around the cylinder also. Noticeable muzzle residue.

Never seen a factory gun come with powder residue from factory testing.

I should have taken a picture.

 

[savit260]

In the auto world, that would be called a "demo" and sold at a discounted price. Very dishonest of the shop. Not cool.

 

[InkEd]

Last time I would shop there.

 

[LawofThirds]

Yup. I've even seen that at a big box shop. "Brand New" 617 with a couple bulk pack's worth of crud all over the cylinder, forcing cone and yoke. Was told it was "factory test fired". Strange how the 317 right next to it had the very faint rings of a single shot from each chamber.

 

[Stormin.40]

Just picked up a new 642 myself, yes it was test fired by the factory with the empty shell in the S&W box. The gun did not look used or even dirty, to be as noticable as Kansersurvivor said then it was clearly fired by someone and should have been discounted.

I have been disappointed by local gun shops in my area as well, I understand they need to make a profit and I am willing to spend more to purchase locally but there is a limit.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

.


Aren't most new pistol's test fired at the factory?






Is this true with rifles too?


.

 

[PabloJ]

.


Aren't most new pistol's test fired at the factory?






Is this true with rifles too?


.

In European counties with proof laws yes in United States no. American companies have no obligation to test fire their guns if they choose not to do so.

 

[BADUNAME37]

When I got my 642, it had been fired three of five holes. The cylinder had two shot together, a non-shot hole, a shot one, then a non-shot one.

I figured they ran three cartridges through it.

The crazy thing was, the first time I shot it, I fought with the ejector rod and opening the cylinder, like the cylinder was jammed! When it finally opened, a rod and spring flew into the woods, spring and all!

I got out my metal detector and tried for over an hour (with mosquitoes trying to carry me away), to no avail.

From what I could see there was a part missing, so they sent me the part that was missing only to find out that the threads were somehow stripped in the remaining piece in the center of the cylinder! I was livid!

I had to ship it back.
While they had it, I asked how much to "smoothen the trigger?" They charged me $85 to make the trigger pull uniform on every cylinder hole, chamfered the openings to the holes on the rear of the cylinder and on the hand (star?). Anyway, I am totally content, I can feel very slightly as I cock the three different things happening and every single hole is identical in feel with those three different happenings (cylinder rotates, locks in place, ready to fire).

I suppose if one looked close enough at the work, they may complain, however it is really tight, the tolerances are extremely close and the gun shoots extremely well, so I have no complaints at all!

 

[GRIZ22]

Its been some time but when I was at S&W they test fired all revolvers with a cylinder full and 5 or 10 rds in every semiauto. Haven't bought a new S&W for a few years but everyone I've bought new showed evidence of testfirng even commemeratives.

 

[BADUNAME37]

In that case, someone between the factory and the store where I ordered it from shot the gun three times and screwed up the ejector mechanism. Someone where the gun was sitting in the distributors.

The box was not sealed, it was just the hard plastic box with a catch on each side.

Oh well, I'm happy, they treated me right!

 

[DeepSouth]

Being as I have a cleaning kit, it wouldn't have bothered me. But thats just me.

 

[GRIZ22]

The box was not sealed, it was just the hard plastic box with a catch on each side.


I have never gotten a new gun with the box sealed. Its common for a dealer to open the box and insure that the serila number on the box is the same as the gun.

 

[TonyB]

I was shopping at a gun shop years ago. Apparently I was in stealth mode, the guy behind the counter thought he was alone. He proceded to take out various revolvers and play with them, flicking the cylinder closed and doing the cowboy twirl, dropping a few in the process. I never bought a gun there after that. A year later they were closed.

 

[Bula]

Being as I have a cleaning kit, it wouldn't have bothered me. But thats just me.

Really? I have a real hard time paying New prices for Used firearms. They definately showed you what their shop is all about. Let your money do the talkin'-I'd shop elsewhere.