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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 02-02-2018, 07:01 PM
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Default New 629 barrels canted

Just spent over 1/2 at my LGS looking at new manufacture 4" 629s. Had given up trying to find a pre-lock in my area for under 1-large. They only had four, but every one of them had the barrel canted slightly to the left (the ribs were noticeably out of line with the rear sight. The salesman acknowledged this as well. Am I being too picky? Maybe I just need to be more patient.
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Old 02-02-2018, 07:22 PM
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p8riot, I applaud you. You took the time to check each one and didn't settle for less than excellent. Most of us would have bought the first one and then complained about the "canted barrel". WELL DONE!!!!!
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Old 02-02-2018, 07:26 PM
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Well played, it is a sad, I saw the same thing at a store the other day but it was tilted barrel Tuesday on the j frames.

How hard would it be to set up a simple jig.

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Old 02-02-2018, 08:53 PM
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p8riot, I applaud you. You took the time to check each one and didn't settle for less than excellent. Most of us would have bought the first one and then complained about the "canted barrel". WELL DONE!!!!!
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Well played, it is a sad, I saw the same thing at a store the other day but it was tilted barrel Tuesday on the j frames.

How hard would it be to set up a simple jig.
Thanks for the compliments. I just couldn't see paying almost $800 for seconds.

Last edited by p8riot; 02-02-2018 at 08:56 PM.
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Old 02-02-2018, 09:11 PM
apollo99 apollo99 is offline
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If you accept a firearm at the dealer with known issue and plan on sending them in to the mothership, be prepared for a whole lot of misery. I too applaud the OP for inspecting and waiting. I like to hear this than 10 pages of horror stories.
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Old 02-02-2018, 09:28 PM
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I read these posts -- canted or clocked barrels is a recurring theme on the forum -- and it makes me sad. What is S&W thinking? The average buyer doesn't notice? Doesn't care?

I guess in the long run, the answer is transitioning more models to shrouded barrels, where feasible. They hold the potential to be perfect in alignment and, reportedly, to be a bit more accurate. I don't have full faith in them yet, but may take the plunge with a Model 66 someday (I'll have to turn the bead-blasted finish into a satin finish, though).

None of the S&W revolvers I own (old to new: 34-1, 10-11, 65-5, 586-5, 642-1, 686-6, 640-3) came with canted barrels. I don't know the actual number or percentage of new S&W revolvers that suffer this problem, but there shouldn't be any. Like the OP, I would not intentionally buy one that was clocked. If I found I had one like that, it would go back to the factory for repair.
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Old 02-02-2018, 11:49 PM
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I went through the same thing when shopping for a J-frame. I looked at 4 or 5 before I found one with the barrel on straight. But I also bought a new 629 and a new 686 online last year, and no complaints at all about either one.
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:00 AM
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Sad. And it's primarily because they aren't doing rigorous final inspections any more. They are leaving the inspections up to the consumer.....that would be us.....and many people just don't care.

I currently own a S&W model 442-1 that has a canted barrel. It's been back to S&W twice for this issue (and some other problems) and the barrel is still not straight. Apparently, according to Customer Service, some noticeable cant is acceptable.
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:07 AM
ProCarryNAustin ProCarryNAustin is offline
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This is not a new thing. Have seen my share of older revolvers like this.
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:24 AM
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I looked at over 10 new 686s before I found one that had a straight barrel.

Yes, critical QC is non- existent, and, I think the vast majority of new buyers don’t know, or don’t care, about canted barrels.

Last edited by Bob1943; 02-03-2018 at 12:42 AM.
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:04 AM
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Keep looking-they're out there. I have gotten many nice guns from GB-but you have to be circumspect-check it out.
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:16 AM
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While a jig might work. Past history has shown that a trained person who cares about what they were doing worked real well. Taking just anyone to a station and telling them sit here and screw these things into these things, using these tools and make them look like this, you need to do X an hour, isn't going to pan out. Especially if no one checks to make sure they come out right and inform the worker of problems and deal with them.

The guy who screws in barrels called in sick, get some one from the screw stuff together pool to take his place?
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:31 AM
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Wow that is a sad state of affairs , I guess I am lucky but then again my newest Smith is a 686-1 no barell problems and it can hit a can at 100 yards now I can't hit a can with it but I have a police officer friend and ex marine that can so the barel isn't canted but evidently my head just may be .

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Old 02-03-2018, 08:41 AM
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Anyone have a nice pre-lock 4" 629 or 29 with a straight barrel that they are willing to part with? Mountain Gun would be a plus.
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:56 AM
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Seen a couple of mountain guns for sale on GB but the folks who own em ain't exactly giving them away but I don't blame em . The 4 inch N frame does make a good balance of power and convenience.
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Old 02-03-2018, 09:28 AM
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Seen a couple of mountain guns for sale on GB but the folks who own em ain't exactly giving them away but I don't blame em . The 4 inch N frame does make a good balance of power and convenience.
Yeah, I'm watching a few of them. May pan out.
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Old 02-03-2018, 10:50 AM
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Just spent over 1/2 at my LGS looking at new manufacture 4" 629s. Had given up trying to find a pre-lock in my area for under 1-large. They only had four, but every one of them had the barrel canted slightly to the left (the ribs were noticeably out of line with the rear sight. The salesman acknowledged this as well. Am I being too picky? Maybe I just need to be more patient.
The quality control on S&W revolvers seems to be in a sad state at the moment. I would not buy a new revolver that has a visible problem, nor would I buy a new car that has oil dripping from the engine. Be patient, keep looking, and realize that there are reasons for the older revolvers commanding higher prices.
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Old 02-03-2018, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by p8riot View Post
Just spent over 1/2 at my LGS looking at new manufacture 4" 629s. Had given up trying to find a pre-lock in my area for under 1-large. They only had four, but every one of them had the barrel canted slightly to the left (the ribs were noticeably out of line with the rear sight. The salesman acknowledged this as well. Am I being too picky? Maybe I just need to be more patient.
Absolutely not! For what they want for their new guns, you don't settle for less that perfect. The used market is simply too flush with perfect guns for same or less money. If more buyers were as discerning as you, I doubt S&W would be as indifferent as they are to this subject.
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Old 02-03-2018, 04:31 PM
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I have never seen or shot any of the new S&W revolvers with the sleeved barrel. Anyone own one and what is your experience with it?

Just curious how well they do. I've seen enough canted barrels and wonder if the sleeving ends that problem and works well.

Last edited by Joed49; 02-03-2018 at 04:32 PM.
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Old 02-03-2018, 05:38 PM
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All my Smith and Wessons have pinned barrels.

This canted barrel thing must be a new trend.

PS. I would put my favourite Mr. Grin smiley. But I consider this too serious to be funny.
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Old 02-03-2018, 06:03 PM
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The fit and finish tolerances to pass QC have clearly been relaxed. It's sad, but seems to be the way of the world. Function is the measure of success. High fit and finish standards push the price point to high.
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Old 02-03-2018, 06:19 PM
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I have the new 66 snub and have not heard or seen any canted 2 piece barrels.

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Old 02-04-2018, 07:10 AM
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When I think of folks commenting on the pin on P&R models being “useless,” consider this.

Those barrels were not getting put on guns canted, or else the pin would not go in the frame. So they were not “useless!”
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Old 02-04-2018, 08:50 AM
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When I think of folks commenting on the pin on P&R models being “useless,” consider this.

Those barrels were not getting put on guns canted, or else the pin would not go in the frame. So they were not “useless!”
The pin will go in the frame and past the notch in the barrel with the barrel about considerably out of time. Way more than the new guns are canted. All that is needed to prove this is a pin type barrel that over clocks and a pinned frame. I have still have one such barrel and had another that I turned the shoulder down on so it made another turn to tighten up.

THE PIN DOES NOTHING functional
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Old 02-04-2018, 09:17 AM
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It appears that fitting tolerance has been relaxed within the S&W manufacturing process. Not only is some barrel cant acceptable but increased b/c gaps up to .012 are considered within specs. No doubt that there are other “acceptable” things that are not apparent to the eye. I understand that manufacturing cost is the motive. However, I think that to a large extent the work ethic of workers has changed in recent times.
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Old 02-04-2018, 09:42 AM
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It appears that fitting tolerance has been relaxed within the S&W manufacturing process. Not only is some barrel cant acceptable but increased b/c gaps up to .012 are considered within specs. No doubt that there are other “acceptable” things that are not apparent to the eye. I understand that manufacturing cost is the motive. However, I think that to a large extent the work ethic of workers has changed in recent times.
And in this modern world of CNC machining, things should be going the opposite direction. We have gone from loosely built semi-auto pistols to mass produced semi-autos that are just shy of being hand-fitted tight, so why are S&W's revolvers so lacking in quality these days?
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Old 02-04-2018, 09:56 AM
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I have never seen or shot any of the new S&W revolvers with the sleeved barrel. Anyone own one and what is your experience with it?

The one I had for a while (Model 67) was a very nice gun. Shouldn't have sold that one...
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Old 02-04-2018, 10:09 AM
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I have never seen or shot any of the new S&W revolvers with the sleeved barrel. Anyone own one and what is your experience with it?

Just curious how well they do. I've seen enough canted barrels and wonder if the sleeving ends that problem and works well.

I have a couple 620's. I have two because I shoot one so much I'm worried about not having one if it goes down. Action is smooth as can be, and it's the most accurate handgun in my safes containing about 50 side arms. In my hands it out shoots the old 27's, 28's, 29's...you name it. At first I thought it was maybe how an L frame fits my hand vs an N, but it out shoots my 686's as well


This was effortless @ ten yards, and atypical for me with any other revolver. I think there is something to the two-piece barrel being more accurate.



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Old 02-04-2018, 10:24 AM
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S&W decided that some very perceptible barrel canting is completely acceptable. Not if they want it to come home with me!
I am sure many of us feel the same, probably because we know better. It has been an issue for them for a long time. Maybe not to the extent it is now, but they have struggled with it.

Just hunt around to find yourself a nice one.
The other issue is that many shops don't actually stock much that isn't tactiCool plastico now, which makes it harder to actually inspect potential candidates. Go forth and find a good one.
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