I purchased a new S&W 686P in late 2010. It has always bothered me that the stamp on the right side of the revolver appears to have been made incorrectly. I took a picture so that you can see for yourself; please tell me if you agree.

If I do send it back, how can this be fixed?

Attached Images

SW 686 Stamp Defect.jpg (85.7 KB, 426 views)

That would drive me crazy. I would have sent it in immediately.

One of mine is double stamped worse than that but I bought it as a shooter and it does that very well so I just don't let it bother me.

Yeah, that would have to go back (OCD you know), although I can't imagine what they could do to fix it other than giving you a new frame.

For what purpose did you buy it?
Does it have any detrimental effect on the function for that purpose?

Personally I think it adds character and would leave it alone.

Wow! The rare double-strike variation. That should command at least a 50% premium. I sure hope you haven't fired that gun, put it in a holster or thrown away the cardboard sleeve from around the box. That would ruin the exceptional collector value.

(Why hasn't someone developed a sarcasm font?)

Interesting, isn't it, that what a numismatist would see as valuable we consider a flaw, while what we consider sacrilege an auto enthusiast sees as value-added custom features?

I wouldn't send it back for a cosmetic issue except as a pretext if there was something else I didn't like about that specific revolver, but I spend much more time shooting my Smiths than looking at them. YMMV.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I would look at the double stamp as adding to the character. It also makes quite a conversation piece at the range. Will it add to the collector value – at least I would tell everyone it does and then people will believe you and pay double (triple) standard value. I’m sorry for sounding like a politician.

As I read their warranty, and as told to me by one of their service reps, cosmetic issues are covered for one year. They may figure that the double stamping is a workmanship defect and cover it under their life time warranty, but the only way to tell would be to call them.

No, I would not bother. Double stamping does not affect function at all, & if it bothered me, I would not have bought it in the first place.

I thinks its neet, then again I flew around in a plane nicknamed "OLD SHAKEY". There is probably someone out there that collects this stuff..

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Shooter Ready
Standby

Thanks for all the feedback, fellas.

It seems like a split decision with a lean towards keeping the Smith as-is.

I've never sent a gun back to the factory before, but then again I have so few guns anyway. I think that's why I'm even contemplating it; I tend to baby my guns so I notice and think about it every time I take this (and my only) Smith out.

This Smith doesn't serve any purpose but to look pretty and go to the range with me from time to time (and as my sidearm on the occasional hunt). I think I made up my mind.

Just use the sarcasm tags [sarcasm] . . . [/sarcasm]

if your model 686 shoots well and you are happy with its performance, balance and accuracy..........keep it as is........double stamps are cool and very much in vogue.

I think I would just shoot it. Maybe s&w is on shakey ground.

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James

If it is a good gun, made correctly, I'd keep it. The frame would have to be replaced and the one that came back may not be as good as the one you have.

Hi,
Just shoot the the revolver.
If the revolver functions fine--served its purpose in life.
Send some lead down range.
I hope you purchased for results--not cosmetics.
J. Wilkes

My $0.02......If is is so irritating why did you buy it like that? Since you've had it over 2 years it would be a non issue to me.

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S&W Accumulator

You could probably sell it on GunBroker for $2000.00.

If its a shooter, who cares! If it was bought to collect, you should have seen this before you put down the money.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

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Support your Police, & NRA

I am very particular about my firearms, and I wouldn't even consider sending it back. But since I'm not you, why don't you send the picture to [email protected] and ask them if can do anything about it.

However if I was S&W I would try to politely answer your question by telling you that is within the acceptable range of stamping, it has zero impact on the performance of your revolver, and if you don't like it, you shouldn't have purchased it in the first place.

But I have certainly been surprised before by responses by manufacturers, and they might surprise me and make your day.

I'm very particular too-that one would have gone back in the first week....eventhough I know sending it back might open a can of worms that would really try my patience.

That gun is not flawed, it's "special". You should love it just as much as your "normal" smiths. I wouldn't send it back.

If it were a coin, it would be collectible.

So here's my S&W Distinguished Combat Magnum that eveybody has heard about. No, there's nothin' wrong with your eyes...

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

Some asked why didn't I inspect the revolver before purchasing it. Well, and I know this is the risk you take, but I purchased it from an online retailer. My FFL met me one night at a Starbucks and didn't want me to take the Smith out to inspect it until I got back home. Well, needless to say he's not my FFL anymore because as we all know (yet I was not smart enough at the time to insist), once you take the gun home ... it's yours.

My new FFL lets me come to his house and inspect new guns thoroughly before processing them and taking them home.

I wish I had so many guns that one with a flaw like this (where at first I seriously thought I had double-vision when trying to inspect the stamping) was no big deal. I wish I could look at manufacturing flaws in one gun and just chalk it up as an inevitability when you own so many firearms. For me, this is my only S&W and was a proud moment in my life when I could afford to buy it. I think I held onto it for almost two years before saying anything because of my general inexperience with how to work with the factory on an issue with a firearm.

I called S&W Customer Support, fully prepared that I would be laughed off the phone, but instead the rep said to go ahead and send it back on their dime and they'll see what they can do it repair it for me. I was really surprised and impressed. Maybe that's why I immediately started looking at getting an M&P 15 carbine as my next firearm. A company that will do something like that as a good gesture towards one of their customers deserves more business.

It is an eye sore...I hope S&W gets it looking better.

My S&W looked like that once... after about 5 Long Island IceTeas & 2 gin & tonics.

If that was a coin it would be a valuable double die. That's what everything looks like to me without my glasses.

LLooookkss ffiinnee ttoo mmee.

If it shoots fine, on target, etc., I'd keep it. If they swap out the frame, you may get the gun back and it may have some new idiosyncrasy... e.g., now instead of having the rear sight centered you need to have it two clicks to the left.

I have one Smith for which the windage needs to be off center, to the right. Not all the way over, but enough for *me* to notice. But it shoots straight and true from 5 yards to the end of my effective range. I've gotten over it. And what would SW do to "fix" it?

The one time I sent a revolver back was for an excessive yoke to frame play. It so bad that I was concerned about timing even though it seemed to work right. Regardless, it caused me to lack confidence in the weapon, and it was a carry piece. I decided I needed confidence in the piece, and Smith fixed it.