S&W warranty only applies to original owner?

[TargetTerror]

I purchased a used 686. I had always thought that S&W stood 100% behind their products, but apparently that is only for the original buyer

The cylinder suddenly became really hard to open. It will close fine, rotate fine, and fire fine, but when I go to open the cylinder it feels like it is catching on a lip somewhere. Any ideas? If it is something small and simple, I'd rather fix it myself than have to pay S&W.

 

[Master Blaster]

Obviously you havent called S&W, call them.

They fixed two revolvers I bought used for free including free prepaid shipping. If it was made after 1989 it has a lifetime warranty, first secon third owner. Instead of ranting call them.

 

[TargetTerror]

Actually, I did call them. They told me it wasn't covered.

 

[rcmodel]

Check the ejector rod and see if is is coming unscrewed. Normally, that is the only thing that will cause what you describe.

If it is loose, take it out and degrease the threads inside & out with spray auto brake cleaner. Then apply one small drop of BLUE Lock-Tight, and tighten it down tight.

Use a piece of leather to protect the knurling from pliers damage.


rcmodel

 

[TargetTerror]

Check the ejector rod and see if is is coming unscrewed. Normally, that is the only thing that will cause what you describe.

Bingo! That was it!

Thanks RC, that was a 10 second fix, versus a 5 week PITA warranty claim. I owe you 1.


The warranty, however, does make me a little nervous. I had always planned on buying used guns, since if anything were to happen, I thought it would be covered. Now when I look closely, I'm finding that most manufacturers only warranty for the ORIGINAL owner. NAA is like this too. Does anyone know what Ruger's policy is regarding used guns?

 

[rcmodel]

It ain't fixed if it only took you 10 seconds!

Without degreasing and Lock-Tight, it is just going to come loose again the next time you shoot it.


rcmodel

 

[mainmech48]

Face it: you bought a used machine. Caveat emptor applies here just as it does on, say, a used car. It was up to you to make a contigency deal with the seller in case anything turned up on the firing line that you might've missed in your examination before you paid for it. Why should S&W have to accept more obligation to a second, third, or whatever buyer after the original warranty terms have expired than Ford or GM would?

If you'd bought a 10 year old Crown Vic and it wasn't running like new, would it be reasonable for you expect Ford to fix it free?

Any beef you have should be directed to the fella you bought it from. Otherwise you should expect to pay for your own mistake.

 

[rcmodel]

There is nothing at all wrong with buying used guns.
Oftentimes, it is the only way to get what you want, because what you want is no longer being made.

I collect old Winchesters, pre-WWII Colt Woodsman pistols, and older S&W's, among other things.

All have long been out of production, and in the case of the Winchester company, is not even still in business.
Getting correct parts if you need them is a crap-shoot, let alone a factory warranty!

All you have to do is a through check-over before buying, and an understanding that once you walk, that guns repair work or defects is your responsibility, not the former companies, or in most cases of a good-faith deal, even the guy you bought it from.

And no company can cover factory parts & repairs free forever!
Once a gun, or any other product is out of production, and they run out of parts, you are on your own again, no matter who made it.


rcmodel

 

[TargetTerror]

Mainmech, I agree with youn to a point. I bought the gun 1 year ago, and it has been absolutely fantastic. The issue is not that I bought a used lemon, but that, in the course of shooting the gun, a problem developed.

The problem with the car analogy is 1) guns are designed for a much longer service life than cars and 2) when a manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty, I fail to see how it makes any difference how many owners the product has. Is a second owner more of a liability than the original owner? And if S&W will fix a gun a buy from them now if it breaks in 50 years, why should that change were I to sell it to my friend after, say, 25 years? The term of the original warranty is LIFETIME (as long as you own the gun), which cannot expire.

But, to go along with your analogy, I believe Hyundai now offers a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty on all of their new cars. I don't know the terms of the warranty, but I fail to see why it shouldn't apply to a 2nd owner provided they buy it within the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty period.

 

[rcmodel]

In the unlikely event that S&W is still making the exact same guns 50 years from now that they make today, I could see them fixing your 50 year old gun for free.

But that is very unlikely.

I'd say if you break your 50 year old antique S&W in 2057, they will have to give you a brand new plastic/ceramic space-pistol replacement that shoots non-fatal sound waves or something.

They ain't gonna have parts for todays guns 50 years from now, if history is any indication.

(If we even still have legal handguns in the U.S. by then, which is also very unlikely!)


rcmodel

 

[Master Blaster]

So far tthey have fixed two used guns for me free of charge, a 617 made in 1991, and a 686 made in 1999, the later was a salesmans sample (range gun) bought for $300 from target master in 2000, when I called them both of the previous owners had sent in the warranty card so they knew I was at least the second owner.

Don't know why the policy would have changed since 2002.

 

[cowboy117]

I have bought several used that still have the un-filled out warrenty card with them.Should i fill them out and send them in?There is no place on them to list where they were bought.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I thought don't ask, don't tell was Smith's policy. They don't usually ask. Even if you're paying for the repair, their rates are amazingly low. The hangup is shipping. If you send your gun to them, Fedex is gonna rob you to the tune of $60 or so, one way. Sweet talk the customer service guy into sending you a label, and life is sweet. Even if you're paying, return shipping is only $14.

 

[DMK]

Just curious, how do they know you aren't the original owner?

 

[TargetTerror]

Just curious, how do they know you aren't the original owner?

He asked how long I had it, and I said I bought it used 1 year ago. I figured I would be up front about it being used, as they would figure it out soon enough. It is a 686-4, which is a pre-lock model. I was probably too young to even hold the gun when it was used, let alone be the original owner.

 

[pinkymingeo]

At the bottom of S&W's warranty registration web page, there's a statement that registration is not required for warranty purposes. The warranty also doesn't specify that proof of purchase is required. Most guys I know never send in the card, or register online. It's an honor system thing. I have a suggestion, though. Should they ask you how long you've had it, tell them "a while" or "a long time" or "forever" or words to that effect. No need to lie. No need to shoot yourself in the foot, either.

 

[def4pos8]

Hey there!

I just posted my most recent Smith warranty experience on another thread. Mine was VERY positive. It may have helped that I purchased a used revolver via Smith-WessonForum.com. In a significant, probably actionable way, they aided/abetted my purchase.

Whatever. . . .

They did right by me, and I was the second, or third, or fourth owner of that particular revolver. Of course, being an Old Fart, educated when folks actually had to hand-scribe letters, I might be able to communicate with enough efficiency to convince them to just fix the bloody gun and ship it back to me!