"You're cheating yourself out of the joy of owning a perfectly good weapon by subscribing to the false presumption that *****all***** stainless steel S&W revolvers will fail like this one did."

No, I'm quite sure most don't. I just prefer not to be holding the one that DOES when I need it to save my ... er... derriere.

One less thing to worry about, and cleaning a blue-steel revolver is no problem for me!

John

Not hijacking the thread, but what's so wrong about that?

1) American universities have been training the world's engineers for the last 30 years. These are the men & women staffing those foreign companies now.

2) The basic designs of the guns haven't changed in much longer than that. Most of the innovation in design comes from the foreigners.

3) How much skill does it take to punch the numbers into a modern CNC machine and have it spit out parts, no matter what country it's located in?

Sad fact is this: The Chinese, Turks, Brazilians, Russians and anyone else can turn out product that's as good (or bad) as the contracting company is willing to pay for. I have seen some really nice Turkish shotguns lately, and some really bad ones. They will build you a gun to suit whatever market or price point you want to sell to.

If you think the Turkish arms industry is a bunch of barefoot kids in white robes using hand files in a dirt floor factory, think again. Some of these facilities are more modern and better equipped than their American competitiors.

Blame American companies and workers for the results of their business models and labor practices and demands, but don't discount the fact that there are some seriously nice foreign gun makers.

BTW, did you know that Taurus (and Rossi) have been based in Miami, Florida for almost 20 years now?

Of which neither Taurus nor Rossi qualify. I've tried many Tauri over the years. None quite met expectations, even at their reduced price point. Some have failed miserably. More notably, one of our larger LGS has quit carrying Taurus after years of unhappy customers. They finally tired of the dramas.

Hitting the paper from the 7 yard line at night, without a barrel, is pretty good shootin'.

__________________
Why, I aughta.....

Having the barrel go further down range than the bullet sounds like a joke from a Sledge Hammer episode!

Best,
Rick

Quite a bit. You need to try it some time. Oh, it'll spit out parts, all right. Scrap parts, unless you know what you're doing.

That's crazy. Never seen anything like it. I suppose the user didn't realize the barrel was off due to it being "night fire" training, but I'm sure the flashfire must have been a sign. I've always regarded S&W revolvers as some of the finest every made, but something like this sure makes me wish Colt were still making them.

__________________
Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

I just posted a question about the age of some used S&W revolvers just purchased. Glad they are old! What does a 2 piece barrel look like - how does one know?
LittleChickie
p.s. It just fell off?????????

Naw, how old are you, those are obviously brittle stress fractures from the stainless being over torqued in order to line the front sights up, probably no lube on the threads or frame, and stretching the threaded section as you turn it into the frame. I have seen Ruger Super Red Hawks with the same problem, more prevalent with castings than forgings but stainless is brittle and far less ductile than carbon steel. Now having said that the carbon steel was softer on older Smiths, the reason forged head golf clubs have more "feel", but also get marked up quicker from play.

A friends S/A TRP had the slide seize on the frame due to running it dry and the stainless "galling". He listens to Ole Billy now and runs her wet!

Hi: There is a recurring theme on this thread if one susses it out. S&W QA is pretty spotty and they are apparently willing to live with it that way.

There's simply no excuse for this and other failures that are regularly reported here (and I've only been a member for a few months). I love the S&W revolver; it's a classy piece regardless of the model. It's historic and modernistic packaged in a very appealing way . . . but not with regard to quality.

I have a 617 that is shooting flawlessly (~2-300 rounds) and have a 686P 357mag/38spcl w/4" barrel that I'll pick it up in a few weeks. However, this corporation is rapidly raising my concern to the point that I'm unsure I want to buy or use their products because of poor quality.

They are going to experience a real tragedy and then expect their quality/safety record to become public and don't be surprised if it's pretty nasty.

I'm surprised there isn't some sort of regulatory oversight that is (or should be) climbing up their backside.

Have fun, be safe and great shooting,

R

__________________
Rachel
Grande Torina

Don't make 'em like they used to...........

I am thinking, maybe the timing might have been off for a while and not noticed,and continuous shooting resulted in wear and tear which caused the barrel to do what it did.

That +p is the same as a 357 in most ways.............

Not !

__________________
NRA Instructor

That statement got my attention too. Where's Saxon Pig on this? He could write a book about the myth of today's +P ammo...and I could add a chapter or two. (smile)

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

After two pages of this thread, I think revolver59 has touched on what actually happened with the revolver in question... the barrel started cracking and coming loose from the frame as shown on another revolver in another picture. The "floppy" barrel would be pointing a slightly different way each shot, causing a shotgun pattern instead of a group. When it finally let go on the last shot or two, it was obvious that the problem was the barrel! Also, if the shooter was instinctively pointing right at center of mass at 7 yards, the shots would probably be more accurate without a barrel than those through a barrel pointed off in some weird direction!

The fix? Use a barrel that is turned up firm and pinned in place. Oh yeah, S&W did that for 100 years, why the heck did they fix something that wasn't broken?

Froggie