Good evening. About a month ago I posted some pictures of my exploded 629. I just received a letter from Smith and Wesson that they found no defects in workmanship or materials. Because they value me as a Smith and Wesson customer they will ship me a new 629 for $689.00. Needless to say I will be shooting factory loads or start reloading myself. What do you guys think of the offer? I haven't seen any new ones for under $800.00. I also see a lot of negative reviews about newer model 629s. Thank you for your advice.

P.s. The title of my previous thread was "629 explodes" if you want to see the pictures or read the story

You were shooting someone else's reloads I take it? I'd take the offer if you have the money. That's a harsh lesson but I'm glad you weren't injured.

I think they are being more than fair, I remember your old thread. Has far as the new 629's, I have all the engineering changes to this model. From the early pinned and recessed up to the newest -7's(don't think they are at -8). If the lock doesn't bother you, the new 629's won't let you down when it comes to an accurate shooter. And the fit and finish are as good as ever.

I had a -6 and the quality and accuracy were fine.

One time I traded for a Hi Power. It can with a big Planters Peanut can of reloads which were described as 'hot'. They had the cone end cast bullet. I shot some in the Browning and then I loaded some into my Model 39. After a few shots I noticed something sticking out from the right side of my 39. Cleared it and checked it. Broken extractor. The Browning would handle them fine but they were way too hot for the 39.
Lesson learned is you need to load and shoot your own hand loads.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

It's a generous offer, I would accept it if you want another 629. Glad to hear the situation worked out.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I would do it. 629 is one of my favorite big boy guns.

Can't I just unlock the revolver and get rid of the key or lock it in the safe? Could a gunsmith get rid of the lock. I don't have much use for a lock.

Just leave it unlocked and forget it.Thats what I did with my two.

Seems like a pretty fair deal. I'd probably take it.

Here's a link to the original thread for those needing the backstory:
629 explodes

Leah, you can take the lock out and just put the parts aside with a product made by one of our own forum members, Bullseye Smith:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...9-fs-plug.html

Good luck on your new 629, and be safe!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

A very reasonable offer considering you get to decide whether you wish to keep the new gun as a shooter or a future collectable. Comes with box, parts & papers ! Ya can just pick up any old #29 as a shooter. After all - you deserve a Christmas present too........

And 'Thanks' for letting me spend your money.....)

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'I know nothing'.. Sgt. Shultz

Yes, you can disable the lock and buy a plug for the hole. Or you can leave it unlocked and forget about it. I don't like the lock but I am over it, I've put literally thousands of full power 44's through 629's and 329's without a problem. I'm not saying it can't malfunction, anything mechanical can. Its just that it hasn't been an issue for me.

Another option...

If you want something other than a 629, they will likely let you switch to another gun at the discounted price for that model.

When one of my guns was deemed unrepairable under warranty they told me they would send a same model replacement. I opted to change to a different model and paid the slight discounted price difference.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

I'd take the S&W offer as one doesn't see them that cheap, ever.

As to the safety lock, perhaps a drop or two of super glue or Locktite into the mechanism will ensure that the safety doesn't get activated without your knowledge. Bad situation if you need the gun in a hurry, only to discover too late that the safety has been activated!

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Bill

A 629 for $689 is a GREAT offer . . . a new 629 (bought this year) Classic 5" and love, love it - way more than $689. Graciously accept their wonderful offer immediately; you won't be disappointed.

R

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Rachel
Grande Torina

Have you decided?

As for the lock, I put the key on my keyring and ignore the lock. I never thought that I would buy one with the lock but I wanted an 8 shot and they don't grow on trees much less show up in LGS cases in rural Ohio.

No defects in material or workmanship found. I thing S&W is being generous. I would thank them for the nice offer and accept.

I just sent the money order. Evidently I don't get my revolver back. She said something about A.T.F. rules wouldn't allow it. They are going to send my grips back. I don't get why I can't have it back? It would have made anice paperweight but really people have offered me money for the barrel, hammer, etc. Either way, I can't wait to get the revolver and get the lock plugged. Thanks to 2hawk for that advice and also for putting a link to the original post,which I wanted to do but didn't know how. Appreciate it.

Great deal go for it.

I won't be shooting any hot reloads out of any of my s&w revolvers.

l own a 629-4 power port and more recently PC Hunter 629-6... Fit and finish on the -4 are flawless.. The Hunter is a different story. From the 'PING' when its dry fired due to the lock and those little casting lines on the 'MIM' parts trigger/hammer....NOT so flawless

Why would you turn this offer down? Would you rather have a box of scrap metal instead? I guess I'm not following why you would even ask this question on a forum.

OK, but that doesn't make much sense. Do you mean that you've decided to give up shooting your overloads?

S&W revolvers shoot SAAMI-spec ammo just fine. They don't handle double-charges any better than Rugers - both end up as scrap metal.

There's your answer. If you want a new 629, which apparently you did when you purchased the original gun, send S&W a check and tell them thanks a lot.

Don't worry about the lock. Unlock it and put the key somewhere so you don't lose it. If you just have to, you can disable the lock yourself - if you plan to threaten bears with the gun, or something like that.

Take it, and say thank you. S&W is very generous.

Not that it really matters , But ATF does not play a role in this. You gun sent to them, they say no, they send it back to you. They offer a new gun with a different SN # that will go to a dealer, dend them the check, background check/ccw/permit ( whatever your state is, then you get your new gun. The old one has nothing to do with the new one. They may have some internal policy that they do not want to send it back. enjoy the new 629, Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Worst case: buy the 629 from Smith and sell it, or trade it for something you want that's worth a whole lot more!

Just pick whatever you want and place an add that says; "WTT NIB, unfired, 629 for such-n-such...".

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But then, what do I know?

S&W can legally send you a replacement firearm with a new serial number directly to you without going through an FFL.

I think you meant, "S&W cannot...".

Different gun, different S/N, different BATF gun transaction. It is just as if you are buying a new gun at a gun shop. However, if they repaired YOUR gun it could be shipped directly to you. You have already done the BATF dance for that S/N.

I went through this exercise last year with a warranty replacement and S&W asked which FFL dealer I wanted the new gun to be shipped. S&W will even reimburse you for the FFL fees if it is a warranty replacement.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

The lesson I have derived from this thread (besides the fact that S&W is a class act) is that I will never, not ever, shoot someone else's reloads unless I know that they are good, i.e. commercial reloads.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

Really? Sure about that? S&W made no mention of that when I had a frame replacement. The $25 FFL fee came out of my pocket.

Nope I meant CAN, if you don't know what you're talking about then you need to read the ATF regs. Whether S&W will or not is a different story but they're legally allowed to replace your firearm with another and send it straight back to you.

The only reloads I shoot are mine. I don't even use commercial reloads unless you restrict them to Black Hills. Gun show commercial reloads are usually just Bubba reloads by some guy you will never see again.

With regards to knowledge of or interpretation of the ATF rules, I stand up and proclaim I do not know what I'm talking about. However, I have no plans to waste time reading any boring ATF regs. If you say the ATF regs allow it, I'll take your word for it as I assume you are fully versed in them.

I'm just relaying S&W's interpretation of the rules, or at least their policy as of last year when I had my revolver replaced under warranty.

The S&W rep I dealt with said the rules required it and I had no reason to think he was incorrect.

The first time back to S&W they "fixed" my gun and returned it directly to me. The second time back for repairs it was deemed unrepairable and the replacement gun had to be sent to the FFL dealer of my choice.

For dla: although S&W offered it, I declined having them reimburse me for the FFL transfer fee. I think my dealer only charged $15 and after several months of back and forth with S&W it wasn't worth the aggravation. Maybe S&W's policy has changed.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Apologies, my response was a bit over the top. I know some companies will follow the rules and send the replacement directly to you as I had a gen 2 glock frame replaced a few years ago with a gen 3 and they sent it directly back to me. Some companies will, some wont (S&W apparently). No worries, carry on.

Just for the record. I had to ship a form from my local gun dealer to Smith & Wesson with my money order. They will send the revolver to my gun dealer and he will charge me a transfer fee which Smith & Wesson will reimburse me for. I wonder if my new model 629 will have the old serial # & Smith & Wesson will melt the old one down?
Smith & Wesson and their customer service department have been great to deal with and I am very happy with them. Can't wait for my new revolver. I have been buying ammo. Factory ammo that is.
Thanks to everyone for their help and advice. I will be sure to use this forum again if I have a question. It was helpful.

Expect a different S/N.

OBTW, you owe us a picture of the new gun when it comes in. Of course you know the time from now until it arrives will drag on and on...

Congrats!!

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

My 629 Mountain Gun has been terrific. I fire heavy (SAAMI Spec) loads before taking it backpacking and it has never hiccuped. I and my friends have dragged it up hills and down dales and banged it around pretty good and it's fine.
Mine has the lock and after a few years of carrying it in the mountains I stopped carrying the key. Never had a problem, but I might look into removing it since it is pointless.

I did buy a S&W 327 TRR8 in mid-2011 that had a faulty frame. S&W would only send a replacement through a FFL. They, and the FFL-holder said that since it was a new serial number it was another gun and had to go through BATFE. Sucked to pay the fee, but I got a new, detail-examined gun.

The offer from S&W does sound like a good deal.

Leah....Smith & Wesson is not giving you anything.....$689 is likely the price they charge their distributers....As for your old gun,, They have no right to keep it ...ITS YOURS...Were it me l would ask for it back and if they refused,l would consult a lawyer well versed in firearms law. NRA would be a good place to start looking for one

Hey guys, I have no idea what ATF regs say, but about three years ago, S&W sent me a new gun in exchange for a defective PC revolver that I had purchased a couple of weeks before. It was Fedexed directly to me, without going through a FFL. The letter said they destroyed the frame of the gun I had sent them and replaced it with the new one. Perhaps their policy changed and they now require the services of an FFL.

Think of it as a trade in. S&W found no evidence of defect in the original gun, but they offered a discounted replacement as a good will gesture.

If S&W wants to make retaining the old gun a condition of getting a discount on the replacement they can do so.

I believe the Federal Law allows a manufacturer to replace a gun with one of a different serial number but not all states necessarily agree. I expect it is S&W's position to use the most restrictive law for their policy rather than try to keep up with each jurisdiction's requirement.
Technically I believe you could ask for your destroyed gun's return... if S&W did not include it's trade in as part of their offer... If I were a manufacturer I'd sure like to remove my destroyed product from public view, no matter whose fault it turned out to be.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

Because the gun is unserviceable and therefore unsafe, it will not be returned to you. The liability would be enormous for them if they were to give you back your gun in an unsafe condition and something happened.

You don't have to have a question or need help to hang out here, this is more like a pub than a doctor's office.

Be sure to post pictures of your new gun and tell us how you like it.