I forgot to mention that I found my first SW99 .45 ACP pistol at a New England gun show this past weekend. Tagged price was crazy high ($619+Tax) so I didn't even ask about a box or spare magazines. Dealer said he was "ready to deal" on it but I had already blown my entire wad and I was not in a mood to go even deeper into debt at that point.

But the interesting thing was what appeared to be several long stress cracks in the grip area of the frame. What the heck was that all about? At first, I thought they might have just been surface scratches, but further inspection convinced me they were something worse... either stress or perhaps thermal cracks from overheating (as in "left in the sun too long" maybe?).

I've doctored up a stock photo of an SW99 .45 just to show the approximate location, orientation and length of the cracks. That is obviously not a photo of the actual gun I found.

Has anyone seen this sort of thing before in an SW99 .45? None of my 9mm or .40 SW99's show anything like that.

It has me a little bothered as an SW99 .45 is still on my 2016 Possibilities List... and the odds are it would have to be an import. I'm concerned because the cracks themselves might not show up in photos.

Attached Images

SW99 stress cracks.jpg (56.5 KB, 114 views)

If I were to buy one of these I would do a very thorough inspection on it before I dropped my cash as it should be warranted by the factory for such things I suspect. Call S&W to find out might be the safest thing you can do and see what they say.

The problem, of course, is that SW99 production ended 10 years ago and it was actually Walther than made the frames. Recent reports confirm that no one is going to replace a damaged SW99 frame at this point no matter what. Best I would be likely to get from S&W CS would be a fake discount on an M&P45.

But you are 100% right about the "up front and personal" inspection being super-critical here. I'm not sure I've ever seen a plastic frame cracked so much for other than a KaBoom. I'm hoping that this was a very isolated case, but it will make me even more cautious than usual. With a little luck maybe I won't have to go to the Internet for my SW99 .45 after all.

TTSH: What would you be willing to pay for a brand new one, unfired since the factory, with everything but the warranty card? I bought one February 2003 and put it in the safe. Might still be there.

Well, first off you can't go by me because I'm way over-bought right now and in the hole like a dirt poor retired old fool should never be.

But looking at the most recent auction results:

1. A LNIB one just went last month for $410+$25 Shipping
2. An apparently more used one went for $385+$25 Shipping
3. A nice one in box with a lot of extras went for $575+$25 Shipping

I'd say that is a good representative list. When I am in a position to buy again, I'll be looking to stay under my $500 "no wife approval needed" cap, which must include the shipping and transfer fees. I'd say that number 1 on that list is about where I'd hope to be... somewhere between $400 and $450 before shipping and transfer fees.

But please don't go by me. Personally, I wouldn't sell one for what I am willing and able to pay for one.

Never saw any "cracks" similar to what you simulated. I'd almost wonder if a previous owner had done some "grip texture modifications".

Often if someone experiences a case head blowout failure, you see the top of the frame, and down to about the magazine catch, severely damaged or pieces missing. But diagonal cracks in the side of the grip that are parallel like you simulated? Haven't personal seen it or even heard of it. Weird.

Just out of curiosity, were they present on both sides? That might make it seem more possible someone had been doing some "custom" texturing work (unless they didn't like what they saw on the first side, and called it quits before doing the second side, of course ).

Now that Walther has finally gotten around to acknowledging that a 99 series chambered in .45 ACP might sell here in the US, they've introduced one on the PPQ variant.

I originally passed on ordering a SW9945 when they were still running the armorer discount program. I spent some range time with a T&E gun and just didn't like the bulky grip or the tall height of the grip frame. The taller and heavier slide made it a feel a bit slow and "sproingy" when shooting 230gr loads. Just didn't quit "fit" my preferences well enough for me to spend my own money on one. (I did, however, order a M&P45 in '08, as soon as I could put an order in for one. )

If I were interested in a SW9945 or 990L version, it would have to be in stellar condition and very reasonably priced, or I'd lean more toward the newer, revised Walther offering.

Just some thoughts.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

The stress cracks (or whatever they are) do not look like they were intentionally inflicted and they were only present on one side of the grip. The cracks sure look like damage or a material defect of some sort to me. The only question I have is what caused the damage/defect and has it been seen by anyone here before? So far, it looks like this is a very rare or even unique occurance.

There were no other clues on the gun that I could relate back to the grip damage. I did wonder of the gun had been clamped too tightly into a vice at some point for test shooting purposes. The other big possibility would appear to be thermal cracking or splitting from being left in a hot car or something similar for too long.

Anyway, I'm not going to let it discourage me. I need at least one .45 to complete my SW99-Series collection... ... and I'll just make doubly sure it is in pristine perfect condition when I buy it.

Not unreasonable suspicions to consider. Plastic, even used in pistol frames, can do weird things when subjected to temperature extremes and/or impact or pressure forces.

Then, there's people who think nothing of tightly clamping down vise jaws on plastic frames.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer