S&W 69 - bent frame?

[Crocodilus]

Hello,
I'd like to ask for your advice - I'd be interested in your opinion on the photos below. It is a revolver that was allegedly damaged by a fall from a great height. It is a S&W 69 .44 mag.

The reported damage is to the sights and bolts or threads for the grip.

I have not been able to track down a photo of this model without grips to compare photos, but I believe the frame is bent as well.
Can anyone confirm or deny this for me? Alternatively, do you have the ability to photograph your piece for comparison please?

I suspect that if the frame is bent, repair is unprofitable and straightening is out of the question due to the weakening of the frame and given the .44 mag caliber, it's probably not worth the risk (?).

Many thanks in advance for any advice,
Croc

581847-revolver-smith-wessen-mod-69-raze-44-remington-magnum--0 (1).jpg
IMG_7945.JPG

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard!

Yes, the grip frame has been severely bent forward. A gunsmith/blacksmith may be able to pound it back into position with a heavy lead weight, but there is no guarantee they won’t cause additional problems.

The impact may have done other less obvious damage as well. Unless I could get that gun really cheap, I wouldn’t bother with it.

[stansdds]

That is one heck of a bend in the grip frame. I'd be concerned about what else may no longer be within specs. Honestly, I'd pass on this one.

[jframejoey]

Looks like someone Bisleyed that grip.

[Alk8944]

The grip frame is actually the weakest part of the frame, because it usually does not have to resist severe forces from recoil. While I haven't seen quite such severe damage to a grip frame I have straightened others, not all S&Ws, with about 1/3 that much of a bend. The gun actually fell in such a position as to cause the least damage. I wouldn't hesitate a moment to attempt to straighten that grip frame! I can guarantee the gun's strength where it counts has not been compromised in the least. I would gladly buy it for $250 or less as is! It looks like it fell on a surface that was relatively soft, such as bare earth. It could have struck concrete and would have likely been totally destroyed if it had.

[DCWilson]

Life's too short to invest much time or tiny money in bent guns, even if you like challenges. Gotta believe the mainspring tension is not what it ought to be, and I would wonder if the hammer and trigger studs were still completely parallel. Other things too, as stansdds observed above.

[CH4]

It’ll buff out

[austintexas]

Warranty? My brother sent a 36 that had fallen into a snow blower and thrown a fair distance. They repaired it under warranty.
SWCA 892

[rincar]

Why is it messed up like that.

[steelslaver]

Could be fixed, but if you don't have the ability to do it yourself you would need to get it cheap or you would end up with more in than one that was fine to start with

[Crocodilus]

Thank you, sir. I decided not to buy the gun. I don't really want this particular model, I just had the opportunity to buy it cheaply and the initial information was that the revolver is in good working order, only the screws of the grip are damaged and the front sight is damaged.

Unfortunately, repair would probably not make sense in terms of price.

The bad thing is that now I'm starting to look for revolvers in .44 mag 😂

Thanks for the advice