28-2 Conundrum

[kennethdlarson]

First of all, I'd like to say hello and thanks in advance for any opinions I get. So to the question of the day... I purchased a beautiful N48XXX 6" 28-2 last September. It had a bit of a barrel gap so I returned it to S&W to have the barrel turned back a thread and the gap closed. After ~ 7 months (and $140) I received it back with the gap fixed. Great! The barrel is perfectly straight, timing is good and the cylinders line up perfectly with the bore. Now the issue is that they removed too much of the underlug when machining the barrel and it now as a gap between the underlug a frame.

I've attached a pic of a another revolver (Model 629 I believe) from another thread that shows the exact same condition I have with my 28-2. (Original thread is http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/304179-quality-cs-turn-worst.html)



So my question to the peanut gallery is this: what to do? I am inclined not to sell the revolver due to the fact that I won't get a good price because of the aesthetic issue compared with the additional $140 I paid on top of the original purchase price. It is a great gun and shoots well that is in beautiful shape except for the underlug. Should I just keep it and shoot the snot out of it? Lurk around and find a proper 6" (or even 4") 'lazy ampersand' barrel and have Cylinder & Slide put it on? (I live near Fremont, NE). Getting the barrel turned again and reset isn't necessarily good as that removes more and more of the beautiful tapered portion of the barrel that I like plus I'd have to potentially shorten the ejector rod.

Any and all (serious) thoughts and opinions are welcome!

 

[BC38]

Contact S&W customer service, tell them they returned it to you in unsatisfactory condition and tell them you expect they to make it right and you want to send it back for them to correct their mistake.

 

[Watchdog]

About this gap: I take it there was no gap before you sent the gun in? Or are you sure there was no gap?

The reason I ask is this: I just looked at one of my 28-2s that I bought new in 1974. It's never been back to the factory or to any gunsmith for any reason. And it has this gap, just like yours. Then I looked at a 4-inch 28-2 from the sixties, and it has a bit of a gap there.

So unless you're just overly concerned with the aesthetics of it, I really don't see this as any sort of problem. I don't see this as affecting the gun's performance.

I genuinely don't see this as a mistake on S&W's part, nor would I consider it poor customer service.

Trying not to get too long winded about this, but the 28-2 was made as a working gun. It's the Model 27 without the pretty boy looks, and it's one of the best revolvers ever made by any manufacturer. I just wouldn't be concerned about the gap if I were you.

 

[alwslate]

The fit of the underlug to the frame varies from gun to gun and has no
effect on the gun's function. I would guess that S&W would tell you
that the gap is within normal tolerances. Like you said there isn't
much they could do with the same barrel without undesirable side
effects. I say keep it and shoot it. It is normal to closely examine it
when you first get it back. In time you won't even notice it.

 

[Pisgah]

Just about every Smith & Wesson I have ever owned over the past 50 years has some gap there. Perfectly normal.

 

[kennethdlarson]

Thanks all for the thoughts. Just to make mention, before I sent it back to S&W to close the barrel to cylinder gap, there was no space between the underlug and the frame. Could any of the respondents post pics of their revolvers with this gap just so I can have something to compare my situation against? I'll hold on to this one and maybe just keep an eye out here and there for a take-off barrel to one day replace the original with. Not a gotta' do but a nice to have...

 

[OLDSTER]

I checked my 4" and 6" ( never even gave it a thought until now). The 6" (1970)has a "hairline" gap, and the 4"(1980) has virtually no gap. So as posted by others, unless it is excessive, some gap is normal in some examples

 

[Pondoro]

I just checked my 28-2. I had never noticed but it has a hairline gap (3-4/1000?) I have to go to work but I could check it with a feeler gauge tonight if you want. My gun shoots great but looks like a beater, something got on the gun while it was in a right-handed holster and splotched the bluing wherever the holster did not cover. I guess if I had sent it to a custom gunsmith for a new barrel and paid for it to look beautiful this might bug me. But I seriously had never noticed it before now.

 

[g8rb8]

....I returned it to S&W to have the barrel turned back a thread ......~ 7 months (and $140) ........Now the issue is ...as a gap between the underlug a frame.

I've attached a pic of a another revolver (Model 629 I believe) from another thread that shows the exact same condition I have with my 28-2. (Original thread is http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/304179-quality-cs-turn-worst.html)

So my question ...: what to do? ...not to sell ...... just keep it and shoot....? ..... find a proper 6" (or even 4") .. barrel ......
Any and all (serious) thoughts and opinions are welcome!

If it functions well then leave it be. Who's to say you might not end up with the same "problem" with a replacement barrel? There is a lesson here.

 

[Big Cholla]

IMHO, that gap is within normal 'fit up' tolerances for S&W. It is a little excessive, but affects nothing about the performance of the handgun. I fit them a little closer than that, but not much. You have to come to your own decision as to whether you regard your guns as 'jewelry' or 'tools'.

BTW, if you live that close to Cylinder and Slide, IMHO that is where the handgun should have gone to begin with. Their work is impeccable.

 

[DocB]

Gee, mine made in 1972 doesn't have a gap at all. Just looked at it and you can't even see any daylight at the juncture. I'll see if I can find a picture and post it. Well, not a very good picture for gap analysis, but it's so tight a closer pic wouldn't show much anyway.

 

[gwpercle]

This is what I would do. The gun is satisfactory in all other aspects, it's accurate , I would count my lucky stars and enjoy shooting it.
That small amount of gap would not bother me in the least. Accuracy and function trump a small gap in my book.
Gary

 

[tops]

A friend was going to buy a truck and go in the trucking business. I told him him I couldn't do that because I would always be hearing problems with the truck. He said turn a deaf ear to the truck and say don't it sound good. You should look at the gun with your blind eye and say don't it look and shoot good. Larry

 

[Tom_R]

I own six Smith and Wesson Revolvers, varying from the 1970s, a few from the 80s, and one modern one. They all have a small gap there. When you close the crane and lock the Cylinder, it's a non-item.

I first noticed the gap on one of my 629s, and I kind of freaked. Then I looked at my other Smiths, and they were the same.

OK - Non-item.

FWIW, all of the barrels on my Revolvers are all clocked correctly to 12 O'Clock, so I am confident that a little gap is a non-item.

 

[kennethdlarson]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I look forward to getting back to the States, loading up some .357, and blasting away with it! I have a feeling this won't be my last N frame in .357!

 

[jack the toad]

I think you're on the right track. As someone already said, if it shoots good, don't worry about it.
Life is too short.

 

[A10]

I have a feeling this won't be my last N frame in .357!

Muahahahaha........one of us........one of us.........

Welcome to the club! 6 here, and every one is a pleasure to shoot!