Well, this is a lesson that has me really annoyed. Hopefully everyone can learn from this as well as offer me some emotional support... sniff sniff... lol

I transferred a brand new Model 60 3” from a retailer online and picked it up today from my local FFL. I did my usual inspection before proceeding with the transfer. I’m a very meticulous person (usually) when it comes to this. Everything seemed to look good so I proceeded with the transfer. After getting home with a new firearm, the first thing I always do is clean it before heading to the range. Of course, this time around I missed what I call a “glaringly obvious giant humongous unsightly depressingly huge” crack in the frame. It’s just above the serial number below the barrel. I have no idea how I could have missed it at my FFL.

I immediately called S&W since it was too late to get any recourse from the online retailer. Their customer service was great and emailed me a prepaid return label and I sent it back to them today. I’m confident they’ll take care of me, but I’m hoping it won’t take too long. I’m expecting at least 4-6 weeks turnaround time and I feel like that’s what I get for not inspecting it more thoroughly.

Anyone with experience here think they’ll repair the crack or dump the frame and send a whole new gun? Any words of encouragement for my broken spirit would be great. I just feel so dumb for missing the crack. Words of advice to all, inspect transferred firearms with a fine tooth comb!

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Yikes! The usual culprit for this is an overtorqued barrel. They will not try to repair it but will ship you a new gun. Sorry for your troubles.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I feel your pain. New gun and it is bad. Hope they give you a whole new one.

That is a terrible crack. Im glad you caught it before shooting it. Im sure S&W will make you happy. Good luck. Right now Im going to check my 3" 60-3 just in case.
Jim

Wow! That sure is dirty for a brand new gun.

Pretty grubby for a new firearm.... Good news is you will probably receive a new replacement..

WR

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God, Country, Family

The cylinder only had signs of being fired from two of the chambers so I’m pretty sure it was only test fired and then sent out. I guess some manufacturers don’t clean them much after test firing.

This is what customer service also said (probably over torqued). I wonder how common it is...?

Thanks everyone. Your replies definitely help me feel better!

If that’s the worst gun buying boo-boo you ever make, you’re in good shape. The replacement will come in soon enough and if your new 3-inch Model 60 is like mine, you’ll love it. Advanced congratulations on your new revolver.

I will surely try my best to keep my boo-boos to a minimum! Thanks

Wow....I can't imagine. I guess this sort of verifies my suspicions that thorough, hands-on final inspections are a thing of the past.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

That is the common place for a frame to crack, It has been going on for 60+ years

It is EXtremely uncommon for a steel frame to crack in that location

98% of the frames that crack are the Aluminum Alloy frames or the Scandium Alloy frames

For a company that has delivered about 6 million firearms in the last 5 years of record keeping (reports are usually 2 years behind) we really do not hear about a lot of cracked frames.

I’m hoping that this is an extremely isolated incident. Honestly, I was more upset with myself for not seeing it before accepting the transfer than I was at the quality control. But if it is an isolated case, how S&W handles “making it right” will be just as, if not more important than quality control.

Wow! That' not even a hairline crack, but a pretty impressive crack. How did that leave the mother ship?

I should be surprised at this but unfortunately I’m not. How in the hell could S+W let that gun leave the factory like that. The person who does the final inspection should be fired!

The Earth is still spinning. Return the gun and get a new one, simple.

They replaced mine and paid the transfer fee.

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Sure you did

Looks like an alloy frame, correct? Was yours cracked from the factory like mine?

Alloy, yes.
I bought it used from a well respected forum member who said he never noticed it, so who knows.
In any event, I received as you will, a new frame at minimum and likely a whole new gun.
This issue has gone on for decades with Model 12’s, 38’s. I’m sure the crack is harder to see on blue guns.

S&W will pay your transfer fee. You’ll need a new serial number and FFL involvement.

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Sure you did

...that's not a crack...


...that's a CRACK !!! ...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Was that a 60-10 or a 60-15?

I have seen many, too many, cracked aluminum framed guns but never a steel frame. I've owned a 42 which cracked, a 38 which cracked and had a 642 that I sold before it cracked...and I why I now own a Ruger LCR...no cracks....

Bob

It was a new 60-15 fired only at the factory with a production date of January 2019

No repair would be acceptable new frame is in your future

How much worse can it get..

Try that error on an high dollar obsolete collectable..

You will get a new revolver. It is possible that they may have to ship it to your FFL and you have to fill out another new 4473 on a new gun, since it would have different S/N. On the odd chance they do rebuild (use all the innards and barrel & cylinder of current gun) they may be able to stamp the same S/N on the replaced gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I would like to think that if a high dollar obsolete collectable were involved, I would’ve had a much keener eye during inspection. Considering this was a brand new (current production and very non obsolete) model, I think my faith that it would be free of a cracked frame was pretty high. I hope I’m not alone in my thinking.

I had a 1917 crack in the exact same spot. It doesn't just happen to alloy/SS frames.

I had a 617 with a frame crack. I sent it in and had a new gun in 15 days.

I'm thinking they're going to take care of you well. A bummer but teaching you delayed gratification. LOL.

Bad things happen to good people. High quality does not mean perfect. Let us know how it is made good for you. Sorry that you had to mess with it.

Just another example of S&W's poor quality control (and other manufacturers as well). Pride in workmanship is a thing of the past.

I am saddened by the number of people making excuses for Smith's nearly lacking QC. Current policy seems to be ship them out as fast as you can, fix quality control later with a shipping label.

And you're right, I'm old and grumpy.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

You might be surprised.


The truth is, this gun might have been fine when it left S&W. Since none of us saw it before it went out the door, obviously we don't know.

That's so odd for a supposedly brand new gun. The dirtiness only adds to how odd it is. I guess anything can happen, it just doesn't make much sense. Also doesn't make sense that there is a possibility it was cracked like that in the old owner's possession but he never noticed. At least you'll be made right, but that's pretty egregious all around.

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

You’re absolutely right. This is something that has bugged me ever since I sent the gun back. One horrible scenario I have playing in my head is... what if the gun was fine leaving the factory and someone at the online retailer has been shooting the heck out of it and it cracked during this time? I doubt this scenario because the cylinder’s dirtiness didn’t seem to match the frame with burn rings only around two chambers. This would also make the retailer a very low piece of doo doo. But another reason I doubt this is because the “born on date” on the box was only January of 2019. Overall I try to think of people (especially FFLs) as honest people unless there’s blatant evidence. So I’m extremely hesitant to go down the route of the FFL I bought it from as having any knowledge of the crack.

In any case, a cracked frame no matter when it happened is still a major problem. At this point, I’d rather not speculate since I can’t confirm when it happened.

My 642 cracked exactly like that in exact same spot. I guess thats a weak spot in the S&W design ?Got me brand new one in return. This was about 5 years ago.

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

With the evidence of two dirty spots on the cylinder face (fitting the factory test protocol of testing every other charge hole), I think the seller is unlikely to have been the cause of the crack by extensive firing. It's not exactly the latest tacticool 33 round plastic wonder that they would just have to try out.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

On the other hand, they could've said, "What is this thing...? How does it work? I've never tried one of these old-fashioned...what's it called? Re-vol-ver...?"

That’s hilarious!

I am surprised, that dirty with that crack!! I am surprised.

S&W will take care of the issue.
I’m sure folks have forgiven you a few mistakes.
I know I have made a few.

That's not one of the usual things I'd be inspecting carefully in a new revolver(but will now) so don't be too hard on yourself. Keep us posted on how Smith takes care of you. Hopefully the seller wasn't testing his hand loads with it.

S&W Service is Terrific they will Replace your M60 with a good one. Yes Smith's QC should have Detected the Obvious Defect, but I think that the Online Retailer should have also inspected the Firearm before shipping it out. It would have been quite easier for him to exchange it with his Wholesale Distributer, and send you a Perfect gun

Many thanks to everyone for your replies and different perspectives. Stay tuned in to this thread. I will surely update you all as to how everything progresses.

They will send you a new revolver. It is easier for them to do this.
They have not had available "blank" serial numbered frame for years.
They got audited by the ATF many years ago and penalized. No serial # leads to an untraceable firearm. As soon as a receiver/frame is completed in a firearm build-able form, it must be serial numbered. It is stored in that format wither it is assembled or not. Everything has to be traceable today.
Like anything else,there are exceptions,if your receiver was in current production,they could use your current serial number on a new receiver/frame. Not worth the extra cost, time, and headache for them.
They still have to have proof of destruction of your old receiver/frame to free up that particular serial number.

Interesting info. Thanks

Hey, don't feel bad, the QA pro missed it so how can you be expected to find it?

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Just Say No - To Social Media

It does look dirtier than the new ones I'm used to looking at. FWIW. I have no clue what that means. But it strikes me as a bit odd. Unless my LGS wipes there's down good before putting out. And they're all like that when leaving the factory. Not to be like a conspiracy theorist or something but something looks off about that frame. Maybe it's just the lighting.

Just something to ponder....

I don’t see excuse making. I see people not willing to be bothered by minor things in life. Gee, “ my gun broke” or “I have cancer”....take your pick.
I have a gun back at the factory for an issue for a couple weeks now, have not and will not call for status. When it gets here it gets here.
I’m grumpy too.

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Sure you did

I had a model 38 no dash that did the same thing as yours—right in the boss area of the frame. S&W was great and I received a new 638-3 about three weeks later. My barrel was not of the pinned variety so I suspect it was over torqued. Never heard of it happening on a stainless steel gun, just the alloy variety. I now own exactly one Smith with a lock.

It really doesn't look like anything that a little JB Weld can't fix

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