Smith & Wesson model 629

[RWMC]

Am I just expecting too much when there is already a beginning cylinder line on a brand new $1500 Smith & Wesson model 629 Performance Center revolver, and I haven’t even shot it!?!?!?Not to mention the halfway job they did on installing the front sight into the dove- tail, or the Smith and Wesson stamp on the lower right side of the frame which 1/2 of it is twice as deep as the other part of the inscription.
My thoughts are that it is not worth half the price that I paid for it, or am I just expecting too much in today’s current workmanship at the factories?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Turn lines are not necessarily an indication of a problem so much on a S&W as they are on, say, a Colt.
However, the other issues you mentioned are legit and are typical of the "craftsmanship" with new production.
There is a reason folks pay large premiums for old pre-lock S&W revolvers.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've only bought one new production S&W revolver (Model 57 blued) and thankfully it came through with no blemishes or problems.
I would be like you RWMC and be complaining about it to anyone who would listen.
Turns lines unfortunately happen quick with a Smith revolver.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Agree with the others above. I prefer older S&W's for many reasons.

Best to inspect anything one buys these days! If you don't like it in the store leave it there.

I am no longer sure what their "performance center" does anymore. Sure it NOT the same as it was a decade or 2 ago.

 

[Slamfire]

Am I just expecting too much when there is already a beginning cylinder line on a brand new $1500 Smith & Wesson model 629 Performance Center revolver, and I haven’t even shot it!?!?!?Not to mention the halfway job they did on installing the front sight into the dove- tail, or the Smith and Wesson stamp on the lower right side of the frame which 1/2 of it is twice as deep as the other part of the inscription.
My thoughts are that it is not worth half the price that I paid for it, or am I just expecting too much in today’s current workmanship at the factories?

I have an 1986 manufacturer M624 where the barrel stamping depth is uneven. Does not affect trigger pull or how it shoots on target.

A comment from a gunsmith at Clark's Custom Guns in Louisiana. We were specially talking about S&W M41's, and this gunsmith had worked on at least two thousand of them. He said, today's M41's are better machined and made out of better alloys than any previous versions. And while that does not mean they are more reliable or more accurate, they are better built and use better materials.





And that is something I agree with. Today's pistols are CNC machined, so parts are amazingly consistent in dimensions, the materials we have today have fewer residuals. Overall the process controls on today's factory floor are beyond the comprehension of a 60's, 70's, 80's, even 1990's production engineers, though by the late 1990's, all the pieces were developed, or being developed.

I do not know the specifics of your sight issues, a picture would be helpful, and if the assembler goofed it up, you are due better. However, do take the pistol out and shoot it. If the trigger is good, and it shoots well, it is a good gun.

This is extremely accurate 44 Magnum, the chamber throats are tight, so I have to cut the loads, but the results on target are worth it. It is towards the end of the firing pin on hammer production, something I do prefer over the frame mounted firing pins.

 

[roval]

i wonder how their quality control will be once they move to Maryville Tennessee. since not all of their "seasoned " workers are moving with them. with all the frequent complaints, it might make for an improvement training a mostly new workforce and maybe implementing new processes. heck, LEAN processes have been mainstream for most institutions for at least a couple of decades now. i am curious to see how the guns will be the first year or two after the move.

 

[RWMC]

It sure makes me miss my old in frame 5 inch barrel model 27 that I owned 34 years ago. Thank you for all of everyone’s comments and suggestions

 

[RWMC]

i wonder how their quality control will be once they move to Maryville Tennessee. since not all of their "seasoned " workers are moving with them. with all the frequent complaints, it might make for an improvement training a mostly new workforce and maybe implementing new processes. heck, LEAN processes have been mainstream for most institutions for at least a couple of decades now. i am curious to see how the guns will be the first year or two after the move.

Well at least the company is moving to a better state.

 

[RWMC]

I always thought that when even a double action revolver has a drag line around the cylinder, that this is a sign that the action is out of time?

 

[The Glockodile]

You can get rid of them with 1,000 to 2,000 grit sandpaper.

STAINLESS STEEL MODELS ONLY, of course!

Open the crane as though to reload, spin the cylinder in a direction wherein the cylinder doesn't slam shut, let sandpaper bush against cylinder as you're spinning it, comes out as good as new.

That being said, its presence on a "new" revolver may suggest someone's played with it a bit.

As far as the other things are concerned... Smith & Wesson appears to be going down the "Ruger Fit and Finish" path!

 

[roval]

You can get rid of them with 1,000 to 2,000 grit sandpaper.

STAINLESS STEEL MODELS ONLY, of course!

Open the crane as though to reload, spin the cylinder in a direction wherein the cylinder doesn't slam shut, let sandpaper bush against cylinder as you're spinning it, comes out as good as new.

That being said, its presence on a "new" revolver may suggest someone's played with it a bit.

As far as the other things are concerned... Smith & Wesson appears to be going down the "Ruger Fit and Finish" path!

i get the thing about wanting a fresh canvas regarding the turn line on a new gun. but if there is already one why fix it. it will just get it again after you start shooting it.

 

[The Glockodile]

I have no problems with mine.

Perhaps the owner wants to enjoy having a "new" firearm, and wants to know that the wear marks were earned through his shooting.

Just a quick, cheap solution which provides the (necessary at times) illusion, that's all.

 

[243winxb]

I always thought that when even a double action revolver has a drag line around the cylinder, that this is a sign that the action is out of time?

This is normal for revolvers.

The newer 629 & 29 have an endurance package . This alone makes them better then the early ones.

Both my early 629 & 29 had the cylinder rotate backwards after firing, with heavy W296 loads.

 

[Master Blaster]

It's normal for Smiths, it's normal for Colts and it's normal for Rugers to get a turn line when you shoot them. It does not indicate any problem. Now before anyone jumps down my throat and tells me Colts do not get a turn line because the cylinder stop only drops in the slot at the last moment. Take a hard look at your DA colt cylinder and notice the very long lead in groove before the slot...

Please do yourself a favor and do not sand the cylinder. If you need to polish off the turn line get some FLITZ and a Q-tip. But the turn line will come back if you shoot or dry fire the gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

I believe the PC revolvers are fit and tested at the factory more than standard production guns so it wouldn’t surprise me if it has a bit of a turn line at the counter. All of my S&W’s have one, as do my Rugers and both Colt DA’s, so I guess I just expect to see them like chamber rings on the cylinder face.

It’s a bummer that the fit isn’t perfect on your 629, especially for a factory premium product like yours. If you’re not happy you certainly would be expected to send it back to the mother ship to make it right.

Stay safe.

 

[Dave T]

To answer the OP's question, no it is not worth $1500. My opinion but none of the new S&Ws are worth what they are asking for them. YMMV.

Dave

 

[roval]

It’s a bummer that the fit isn’t perfect on your 629, especially for a factory premium product like yours. If you’re not happy you certainly would be expected to send it back to the mother ship to make it right.

Stay safe.

and then be prepared to wait a minimum of 6 weeks without any update

 

[Rock185]

RWMC, I wouldn't be particularly concerned with a turn line, as all the new S&W revolvers I've purchased since the '60s showed evidence of having been fired at the factory. That being said, IMHO the Performance Center, that used to produce firearms of superb quality, I've owned several, no longer exists. Current PC firearms are, I believe, just guns with a different feature or features than regular production firearms, and engraved with the venerable PC logo. But, for better or worse, of no higher build quality than might be expected of any other new S&W revolver. So, Can't say I'm surprised that you have found issues that concern you on a $1500.00 "PC" revolver. Best of luck in dealing with today's S&W...

 

[Slamfire]

i wonder how their quality control will be once they move to Maryville Tennessee. since not all of their "seasoned " workers are moving with them. with all the frequent complaints, it might make for an improvement training a mostly new workforce and maybe implementing new processes. heck, LEAN processes have been mainstream for most institutions for at least a couple of decades now. i am curious to see how the guns will be the first year or two after the move.

This is only speculation, but I assume the worker skill level will be dumbed down. Older weapon production lines, the assemblers at the end had to file parts to fit. Therefore, they had to understand the timing and working of the mechanism, and correct for out of tolerance issues. These assemblers really understood where to file, what to contour, and what it took to make the weapon function correctly.

Today's production lines, parts are built so precisely, that assemblers at the end do not have files, do not adjust anything. They simply screw parts together, and assemble the firearms. They don't need to know how the weapon functions, as they will not have to correct for out of tolerance parts.

Pretty much this is true in automotive repair. Used to be that mechanics understood carburetors, transmissions, engines, that they could diagnose and troubleshoot vehicles. These guys often were very high skilled. Now days, all a mechanic has to do is read the computer screen and follow directions. The vehicle is hooked up to a computer, and the computer tells the human what tools to use, what parts to take off, and the sequence. The computer reads the faults sent by the vehicle sensors, and follows its software. And the human, just does what he is told by the machine. Does not need to understand anything more than righty tighty and leftie loosie.

 

[halfmoonclip]

For awhile, Smith was putting a dab of plastic on the very top of the locking bolt, to avoid the cylinder circle. They gave up on it, apparently.
Moon

 

[cfullgraf]

i wonder how their quality control will be once they move to Maryville Tennessee. since not all of their "seasoned " workers are moving with them.

On one hand, I'll agree. I retired from a consumer goods paper company and one of our equipment manufacturers moved their production operation from Wisconsin to South Carolina. After a few years, they moved the facility back to Wisconsin.

But, FN has a good facility in Columbia, SC. So, give S&W and Tennessee the benefit of the doubt. The auto industry has a strong presence in the state. and as Slamfire said, computer controlled machining is a major part of gun production these days.

Besides, Maryville, TN is in my back yard.

FYI, it is pronounced "Murlville" in these parts.

 

[Scout21]

That being said, its presence on a "new" revolv far as the other things are concerned... Smith & Wesson appears to be going down the "Ruger Fit and Finish" path!

I don't keep up with the revolver forum much. Is Ruger known for slipping on it's fit and finish? How long has this been going on and does it only affect their revolver line?

 

[The Glockodile]

I don't keep up with the revolver forum much. Is Ruger known for slipping on it's fit and finish? How long has this been going on and does it only affect their revolver line?

Is this your first Ruger? Ruger has always been marketed as the "working man's gun". They have always reduced costs by eliminating what they considered to be frivolous finish work and it was their selling point compared to S&W and Colt. So the things you're pointing out here are typical of the brand. The problem is that S&W doesn't do a lot of that any more either.

You have to remember, that mantra goes back to 1949. Back when Colt and S&W were the pinnacle of firearms finishing. Back then the difference was more profound than it is now. The Ruger Standard Auto was their first commercial firearm and it was made more affordable by using a tubular receiver on top of a stamped sheetmetal grip frame. At a time when Colt and S&W autos were all milled steel.

This is one of the reasons why Rugers are so popular as custom guns. Not only do their designs make for excellent conversion platforms, they leave a lot of room for improvement in the fit and finish department. Their designs usually leave plenty of "meat" there to work with.

There was this 7 - shot GP100 in .357 Magnum that was shipped over by Sportsman’s Warehouse which I nearly purchased once (4473 denial). I was glad I didn’t end up getting stuck with it - THAT one would’ve required lots of work.

I think they went a little too far in dissing “the working man,” from the price standpoint alone.

The “blemishes” on my revolver have resulted in cuts that bled from basic handling, from areas on the pistol I wouldn’t have expected.

Very limited experience on my part, but CraigC mentions it in his quotes above.

The number of bubba man - hours I put into it to clean things up, for the price I paid - well, not quite acceptable in my book.

Sell it as "a working man's gun," match it with "working man's prices."

This probably concerns revolvers, which inherently require more work.

Semiautomatics, hard to go wrong with a cookie cutter, dime a dozen, no human hands involved CNC approach - so probably not as much.

 

[CraigC]

I always thought that when even a double action revolver has a drag line around the cylinder, that this is a sign that the action is out of time?

Nope. A DA is going to get it no matter what.

 

[Master Blaster]

This is only speculation, but I assume the worker skill level will be dumbed down. Older weapon production lines, the assemblers at the end had to file parts to fit. Therefore, they had to understand the timing and working of the mechanism, and correct for out of tolerance issues. These assemblers really understood where to file, what to contour, and what it took to make the weapon function correctly.

Today's production lines, parts are built so precisely, that assemblers at the end do not have files, do not adjust anything. They simply screw parts together, and assemble the firearms. They don't need to know how the weapon functions, as they will not have to correct for out of tolerance parts.

Pretty much this is true in automotive repair. Used to be that mechanics understood carburetors, transmissions, engines, that they could diagnose and troubleshoot vehicles. These guys often were very high skilled. Now days, all a mechanic has to do is read the computer screen and follow directions. The vehicle is hooked up to a computer, and the computer tells the human what tools to use, what parts to take off, and the sequence. The computer reads the faults sent by the vehicle sensors, and follows its software. And the human, just does what he is told by the machine. Does not need to understand anything more than righty tighty and leftie loosie.

View attachment 1077354

I'm pretty sure it requires some skill to run CNC manufacting/ machining. And I know I was able to work on my first two cars, a 1967 mustang and a 1977 VW Rabbit myself. Parts were real easy to change, plug wires, plugs, distributor cap , rotors etc. Many folks could even set the timing and make adjustments to the carb .
I could tune, and change the oil filters and fanbelts and do brake jobs myself on the mustang and the Rabbit.

Not true for my 2020 Accord 2.0t which is infinitely more complicated, and has difficult to reach parts, computer control systems that require special equipment etc. So there are still highly trained mechanics out there.