Well, I posted earlier about getting my first revolver. This was ordered online and picked up at my LGS. I'm new to revolvers and wasn't really sure how to properly inspect. I was going to take to the range today so I was really going through it last night and cleaning and oiling it and watching videos on how to do it. After looking down the sights really good I noticed the barrel sight was slightly tilted to the right. I thought it was just me and so I handed the gun to my wife and asked her to look and tell me if she noticed anything about then sights. She said, yeah it's leaning to the right....so I'm not crazy...well...not with this issue. I tried to take some pics to show. Am I being picky? This is almost a $1k gun...also after careful inspection I noticed a small chip in the metal to the right of the hammer...

I'm just wondering if I should send in to be fixed?

If it was me, I would send it in after talking with CS. Barry

I don't see any front sight issue looking at your photos. I'm not saying there isn't an issue. I just don't see it.
If any of these things truly bother you, do call S&W and find out if they'll take your gun in for any possible repairs or replacement.

I don't like the chip, but that would necessitate a new frame. If it was mine, I might be ok with using a silver-colored Sharpie or leave it alone. Every handgun I have gets carried and they all pick up various blemishes over time. Or if it was mine, it might just bug the heck out of me.

I've had a few guns/frames replaced by Glock and S&W over the years, but not due to cosmetic issues. I'm not saying cosmetic issues aren't important. I'm just saying it'll be up to each owner and be between that owner and the manufacturer on a case-by-case basis as to how things get handled.

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66/642/640/627/586/60/638/686

It will shoot to the left....perhaps past the point of being corrected by the adjustable rear sight, especially at greater target distances.

The artifact on the frame at the edge of the sideplate is usually the result of someone carelessly cycling the action or "dry firing" with the sideplate off. When you do this, and the hammer is not held in proper alignment by the sideplate, the hammer can strike the edge of the frame as it moves down into battery.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

All that really matters to me is "how does she shoot?" I would take her to the range, shoot and adjust the rear sight if necessary and have fun with her.

The target will never know the difference.

I'd send it back for the ding alone. Could it have happened at the LGS? There's a dealer around here who piles up his new guns right on top of one another, his case looks like a scrap yard. Dings and scratches everywhere. I always bought one "in the back".
I have a Colt SAA that was sent back for sloppy finishing and they returned it with a dent in the topstrap. It went back again and they replaced the frame.
Your gun will need a new frame with a new serial number.

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Sure you did

The LGS I go to is owned by someone I trust...not saying it couldn't have happened there but I've purchased guns from him and through multiple times... The gun was purchased through Tombstone Tactical online and I'm not sure it wasn't on display in their store either....I did just contact smith and Wesson CS and they already sent me a return shipping label...I just didn't want to make mountain out of a mole hill but after having issues with my Glock 42 I'd rather take care of issues quickly...all gun companies I've purchased from have had standup CS and that makes purchasing a little more reassuring..thx for advice...will give update after its sent in a and received back.

Based on the photos, I did not really see a barrel cant either. However, the rear sight blade looked like it was not quite level with the top of the frame, i.e., right side looked a little lower than the left side, as viewed from the muzzle end. I just bought a new 686 with a rear sight that also looked less than perfectly level. I turned the windage screw a few clicks to get the sight notch centered over the top strap, and it now looks more level.

Yes, I would have also sent the gun in for the frame ding. Since you will get a new frame, the SN will be different and you may get charged another FFL transfer fee when it comes back. See if S&W will reimburse that fee, was not your fault.

Yeah, I wish I could've taken better picks...when looking down the sight it looks like the front sight is just more to the right but it is tilted at an angle and that just bothered...it's like it's is out of plumb...so even moving the rear sight would still cause the tilted angle...kinda like the leaning tower of Pisa....it's more noticeable on my end...kinda hard to show with pics...yeah if I have to do a ffl transfer they haven't informed me...if I do...well....I may eat the cost and learn my lesson with S&W and guns I can't touch before I buy.

That little frame dent is no big deal. I have seen a lot of Smiths with issues there where the sideplate used to have a screw, usually the sideplate is a poor fit or bulged in that area. A front sight or rear sight that is not squared up is critical to me in that it affects accuracy.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I had a 642 replaced due to a cracked frame. The new gun obviously had a different serial number, and had to be sent to my FFL.
S&W paid for my transfer fee, $40, they'll pay for yours. If you need to, just send them a copy of a bill from your FFL.

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Sure you did

Send it back! My 929 was canted the same and I ran out of sight travel,unable to center the group.

Is the barrel canted or is the sight leaning over? I'm looking at the top strap and the top of the rear sight. Seem pretty parallel to me.

I can't really say that the barrel is canted but that the sight is leaning to the right or left (if looking straight on in the pics)...like the sight is bent.