My son, Sal, sent off one of his 659's (2nd gen) to S&W a few weeks ago that has an ambidextrous safety that was not working properly.

After he sent it, i told him the guys on the forum insist S&W will not fix a 3rd gen so it is even less likely they will fix a 2nd gen. Well, it was too late as he had sent it off already.

He wrote asking that if they replace the entire shaft to please install the ambidextrous safety with the lever on the right side that does not have the center screw but rather the type that appears fully finished like the 5906.

Not only did they do everything he asked, they sent the gun back FREE OF CHARGE !!! He got it yesterday and it is not only repaired, it was polished and clean (it was not dirty when he sent it).

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm astounded from the info I've read here I thought he'd get it back, as sent, with a Dear John letter.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

This is good news. It's also interesting that they used a 3rd Gen safety on the gun.

Did he call or email? Or just send it in?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Good to finally hear a positive report of S&W fixing older pistols! Sounds like your Son talked to the right person, is he the original owner of the 659?

I've never been turned down for work either, but haven't even tried asking for the last few years (rather learning how to do it myself).

They repaired the gun because the newer 3rd gen part would fit. But if the part no longer exists, how could we expect them to fix the gun. So they will fix any gun as long as a replacement part is still available. GARY

Sounds like Sal made out very well indeed! And the icing on the cake? The giant Philips screw head gone and all without charge! It doesn't get better than that!

He called S&W prior to sending it.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I was wondering this, as well. (it sounds like he wasn't since only the return shipping by S&W was mentioned).
BTW, I called S&W yesterday, hoping they still had some of the post-recall grips (for a 5906 I recently scored on Armslist), but was told they're finally gone.

I would think they would be willing to repair them as long as parts are available. Sounds like good business practice for customer loyalty. Especially since many prefer all metal models over the current offerings.

Pleased to hear that the 2G's are not completely disqualified from factory service and cast aside.
Sounds like if S&W can help out...they will. Good!

On this one, actually not the original purchaser. Sal says they didn't even ask. I'm now wondering if this is one of the Recalled safety guns.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

If I were on the Board of Directors at S&W, I'd set up an obsolete repair division aside from the normal, new production or warranty work.

It could be a big money maker. Most of us wouldn't mind sending our older S&Ws to a "Factory Authorized" repair center at the factory and paying a fair price.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

The problem is always "PARTS". When needed parts are no longer available S&W just can't do it. As a manufacturer they can't attempt to contact Numrich and get used parts/

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Good news for all of us.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Well that's not fair... aside from some BOLDED THREAD TITLES and a few remarks here & there, the bulk of posters on these pages tend to agree that Smith & Wesson fixes 3rd Gen pistols as they can, depending on parts availability.

You could suggest that many folks here don't believe S&W honors the "lifetime warranty" but then again, many of us would expect that S&W may offer a current production gun in lieu of a "replaced" 3rd Gen that has an unfixable warranty problem.

For what it's worth, simply due to the facts of the discussion, the 659 was never offered with any lifetime warranty of any manner, so it was a nice gesture that S&W made it run properly.

You speak for many passionate 1-2-3rd Gen aficionados when you throw down a phrase that opens with "...the guys on the S&W forum insist that..." and I believe that you spoke in error when you did.

If I were asked, I would say "I would not send that gun to S&W because I would bet even money that they would have to go through a dozen different people at the plant to find one person who is familiar with that pistol."

I am a guy on the S&W forum, and I approve that message. And not the earlier one.

I would suggest that you call first, as my son did. My son explained that they asked him only for the serial number and his identification. They allocated a number to the repair request which he included in the mailing.

My son said they had no hesitations, what so ever.

There was a recall on certain model safety levers that malfunctioned. I have no idea if this is one of them included in that recall, nor if even the NEW S&W Company honors that old recall from the former S&W Company.

ANYWAY, it seemed like a very pleasant experience.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

The funny thing is that Numrich buys manufacturer surplus NOS.

Outstanding!
What was your turn-a-round?

Tussey Customs told me het sent my 627-0 to S&W with a broken hammer pin. I told him they only warranty new guns. They told Terry Tussey that it would be fixed under warranty. Not going to argue. I can't wait to get it back.

From the time he told me he shipped it to the time it was returned, less than 2 weeks.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I suspect that if the repair issue is related to a safety mechanism not working properly, S&W going to handle the matter much differently than a "routine" repair issue.

I had a similar experience last year, my 4006 developed an issue where the ambi-safety lever on the right side started to bind against the frame and catch on the bottom edge of the slide when deactivated from that side (no issue doing so from the left side), resulting in a nasty wear line on the right side of the frame.

A call to S&W CS had a pre-paid shipping label in my hands and the gun returned a few weeks later, with the issue fixed, the frame re-finished to remove the wear line... no hassle, no questions, and no charge.

While on the other hand... when I was trying to get a replacement recoil spring guide rod for my 4506-1, I was left out in the cold to scrounge for one... found a nice one piece stainless rod that was once made and sold by Ed Brown.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Exactly...

They also have used parts from guns that have been broken up. I bought some parts for a Savage 69RXL from them and they were used.

I don't know if any of the 3rd Gen parts they have are used, but I would not count it out.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Keep trying - they always seem to come back in stock. Even Midway had curved 5906 grips in stock for a short time yesterday according to my notifications.

They seem to get some small parts in from time to time. I just placed an order for some parts I'll probably never need, but want to have just in case.

They have 3913 flat base magazines on sale right now.

I think that Smith orders small parts from time to time, but not that often and not a large quantity.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Sure would be nice, but parts stock is the issue. S&W likely had a fair amount of revenue tied up in seldom needed parts and unlocked that cash to put it to work elsewhere.
It might be profitable to keep a limited number of common wear parts on hand and charge for upgrades, refinish & service as an affiliated shop or even entirely outside of S&W.

People retire, I'm shocked

I'm willing to bet if you brought your 69 Camaro 396 to your local Chevy dealer for a carburetor or transmission overhaul you'd be met with an incredulous stare.

The difference here is that while few, if any, of the mechanics that worked on 69 Chevys are still working at dealerships, there are shops that specialize in working on older cars.

There is also no shortage of parts, both NOS and aftermarket for Chevys of just about any vintage. And, of course, there were a lot more Chevys than 3rd Gens made.

OTOH, there are people who still understand how the 3rd Gens work, including how to fix them. They may not work at 2100 Roosevelt Ave, Springfield, MA, but they are out there.

The problem being a lack of readily available parts and as of yet, no one has started to make aftermarket parts other than springs.

Fortunately, 3rd Gens don't break that often, especially if you do the simple PM and cleaning that we've discussed here time and again.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Bob, at the Shoot Straight store in Ft. Lauderdale is a certified S&W gunsmith, & used to sell Devels, & Asps back in the 80's. He can do anything, as long as he can get the parts. GARY

The 3rd gen manual safety assembly can be installed as an updated, revised assembly in the 2nd gen guns. It would normally mean fitting a new sear release lever, though, just like when replacing one in a 3rd gen. Tolerance differences typically involved.

I'd be surprised if they even had a 2nd gen manual safety assembly available in parts, anymore.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

My very early 645 has the Gen 3 safety. I guess they had to do something about the right side lever falling off. GARY