Just when you thought it was safe to buy a new Model 36...

[AJ]

The business climate and the workforce has changed. Largely because of covid, but that's not the whole answer.

Companies can't get workers, and the ones they do hire are morons and/or couldn't care less. Lots of companies lost a lot of money in recent years and some are struggling to even stay in business.

Try to get customer service! It's non-existent. Not just a few companies but almost everywhere. Airlines, national manufacturers of consumer products, local stores. This week we even had issues with a bank and a doctor's office.

Look how people drive on the road today, or how clerks interact with you in a store.

I guess we are doomed. It doesn't look like it's going to get better any time soon.

It is getting to be a "Throw Away Society". So their business ethic, manners and work ethic seem to follow.

 

[Lucnic]

Bought a new 642 Pro. Dry fired it some at gun shop. Seemed ok. Bought it. Took it home, oiled it up and started dry firing it. Trigger started locking up. Took some advice from another forum and removed grips. Sprayed electrical contact cleaner everywhere I could get nozzle. Looked like sand and sawdust came out. Flushed it until it ran clear. Breakfree/CLP spray next. Works good now. I thought Performance Center was S&W flagship model.

 

[Shibadog]

No traditional American company I'm aware of builds 'em like they used to. Comes from having parts assemblers on the line vs craftsmen.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

As an old FFL holder, Had the same problem of forcing cone area not finished properly on LHD's S&W Classic Registered Magnums with certificates. Think I returned 6. They could only offer one to take their place as time was time to get rid of them. Had they offered a discount, that could have been fixed.
They were already discounted, so...Tight times had me to sell all of them I kept.
As NIB, there was never a facial degradation. Should have took a file to them myself, but it was more of a statement from me.

 

[AJ]

No traditional American company I'm aware of builds 'em like they used to. Comes from having parts assemblers on the line vs craftsmen.

Just like most guys who call themselves gunsmiths. They are not true gunsmiths, they are parts replacers. The guys at the local gun shop spend hours watching You Tube and other sites to be able to just change a part.

 

[Daver7]

I worked for Boeing when they bought MacDonald Douglas. Boeing was ran by engineers Mac Doug was ran by business people and accountants. Mac Doug brought all of their top management to Boeing. It was a whole new work environment, shop mission statement went from "we build the best airplanes in the world" to "when making a decision always consider share holder value". And we ended up with the 737 MAX problems.

 

[jaymoore]

... "Mac Doug"....

That's the nicest abbreviation of the company name I've ever seen. "Mad Dog" was most common, with Mac Doogle Do-Less in second place.

As for the barrel face cut on the OP's 36....Certainly the worst I've seen, but not the only one. Bought a new 25-5 in the '80s where they crookedly fit the barrel face with a file. About 0.006" variation. Compounded by an out of square cylinder face that rubbed in one spot. So it's just the same old, same old thing, just with internet sharing.

 

[A10]

It breaks my heart to see the QC on a Taurus better than on an S&W.

 

[Nick B]

Shiloh Sharps and Freedom Arms are two American gun companies that put quality before quantity.

 

[CLMN]

Sorry to say this here on SWF, but I am absolutely convinced that a person can no longer "order" a new S&W. The QC is just too flaky.

IMHO I truly believe that today's S&W has been a major contributor as to WHY prices of used S&W have retained their value and still command such high prices. If one could simply purchase a new revolver made properly then why would people seek out used guns with no warranty and possible issues? Since the used market is higher than ever I believe it is because to get properly made revolvers we must venture into the vintage market and many times pay more than a brand new gun. Pathetic, IMHO!!

A painful reality. Now you know why I collect only vintage S&W's... never brand new anymore.

 

[rwsmith]

This is why...

...I buy old S&Ws.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

OP Update

Returned to S&W with an RMA. Logged in at the factory in Springfield on August 29.

Called today September 8 to check on status. Hasn't been looked at yet. Revolver service is running 8 WEEKS BEHIND for evaluation.

The Lifetime Warranty apparently extends to the repair time as well...

 

[raljr1]

My model 63 purchased new in 1981 had the barrel lug so far out of place that the front of the cylinder would not lock. I got it home before I realized it and went back to the store. They swapped it for another and changes the SN on my paperwork, so I dod not have to deal with the factory.

Quality issues will happen as long as humans and machinery are involved in the process. 49 years in manufacturing tells me so. Is it worse today or is it just easier to communicate it to the world? I don't know.

Your gun never should have left like that, but it did. The wait is inconvenient, but as long as the manufacturer makes it right, that's what counts.

 

[4thAlabama]

Another reason that I REALLY miss the 20th century!

 

[majick47]

My guess is that a good number of S&W experienced highly skilled employees have retired that worked on assembling revolvers and performed quality control inspections. Just too many excellent condition pre 1990 S&Ws out there to bother with new production. The market place prices reflect this, vintage S&Ws selling higher than new models.

 

[Magnum_PI]

Good Lord! That was a Friday Special if I ever saw one.

Very sorry to see you got something with such poor attention to detail and I do hope they fix it in short order.

My recent 640 Pro has been tops, including out of the box, and so was my 686 SSR Pro I sold just cause I like snubbies better.

That thing shouldn't have left the factory in that condition whatsoever.

We are now entering a scary period in time. A great many people don't seem to give a care about their job, the quality of their work, and the customer. Very sad.

 

[Greyman50]

Skilled machinists and true assemblymen/ women have been replaced with new hi tech CNC machines in Some manufactures. Most if not all have retired or passed away. Sadly many old , well known gun manufactures have not updated their manufacturing .
I will Not buy a new (1990s to today)Smith or Colt.

 

[Narragansett]

Well, I am not going to bash S&W. I have the option not to buy, and I exercise that right. Many of the complaints about QC start off with " I picked this up today", and then a QC rant starts, because the gun was not looked over well enough.

I hate to say it, but I am just dumb enough to say, I really don't know how the lock came to be, and why S&W? Nobody else does it?

What would happen if they just said, we ain't doin this no mo?

 

[Jerry in SC]

My recent experiences with the new S&W's has been pretty dismal. I have several pre-lock all forged J frames and will have to be content with what I have.

It's been a good ride, I've enjoyed many fine S&W revolvers over the last fifty years.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Last year I purchased online a new S&W 10-14. The double action was very rough, so I returned to S&W unfired. Two months later S&W replaced the entire revolver. The replacement was perfect in every way, in fact equal or superior to the many older Model 10 HB I have owned and shot in the past decades. Shoots to the sights out to 50 yards, quite accurate. After several hundred rounds it's proven to be excellent in every way.

So I figured it was time to try a new Model 36-10, despite having a peck of older I & J frames. These are rather difficult to find, with S&W selling mostly aluminium and scandium frame guns. Ordered one online from a well-known reputable wholesaler, and picked it up today. From all appearances, packaging, and lack of firing evidence, it appears NIB.

Well it looks like past is prologue. The barrel end at the forcing cone looks like it was cut with crooked hacksaw, which thereafter started chewing up on the cylinder face.

Yes, it's going back to the factory.

What was wrong with your 10–14 that caused a replacement of the entire revolver?

The barrel on that model 36 classic is horrendous.