Broken S&W 640: Next move?
- Thread starter Bklyn_Irish
- Start date
S&WshooterFIN
Member
Some 642 parts, I can change them to K/L-frame parts 
Just looking at the pix, there's too much of the original gun left to junk it. Keep after it. Joe
Bill In Texas
Member
My guess based on a similar situation with S&W is that the OP's friend is not the original owner of the 640 and bought it without any paperwork being filed, (I can't think of the form number, but it's the one that goes for the background check. )
Otherwise, S&W would have replaced the gun with a new 640 if they couldn't repair it. I had a 640-1 that I sent in a couple of years back that was deemed unrepairable. I purchased the gun at a pawn shop and filled out the form. The gun was replaced with a new 640-3.
Consequently, a close friend gave me a 637-2 before he passed away. No form, so no record. The 637 developed a problem and I sent it in to the factory and received a similar letter. No replacement was ever offered.
The form is used by S&W to track guns for warranty purposes I believe. I have no proof of this other than my experience, but I do realize that if I buy a gun from a friend or relative that the warranty isn't available to me.
Otherwise, S&W would have replaced the gun with a new 640 if they couldn't repair it. I had a 640-1 that I sent in a couple of years back that was deemed unrepairable. I purchased the gun at a pawn shop and filled out the form. The gun was replaced with a new 640-3.
Consequently, a close friend gave me a 637-2 before he passed away. No form, so no record. The 637 developed a problem and I sent it in to the factory and received a similar letter. No replacement was ever offered.
The form is used by S&W to track guns for warranty purposes I believe. I have no proof of this other than my experience, but I do realize that if I buy a gun from a friend or relative that the warranty isn't available to me.
kbm6893
Member
J frame parts are everywhere. I can't imagine that is unfixable. I also can't imagine an NYPD 640 to have been shot much. Twice a year at qualification was it for 99% of those of us who had them. An NYPD 640 sells in gunbroker for north of $600. Don't junk it. Fix it right.
Walter Rego
Member
No kidding. It's not like a Model 640 was made in 1939 with the old style action parts. I would check with these guys. They apparently buy guns that are about to be destroyed, strip them down so just the frames can be destroyed and then sell the remaining components. And since they aren't selling frames, the parts don't even have to go to an FFL.
Or I'll bet ebay might have a compatible pawl, ejector rod and thumbpiece. S&W might not have the parts lying around but the parts aren't exactly like hen's teeth.
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Yaworski
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If you're talking about the 4473, S&W never sees that. Unless there's a legal issue, no one other than the dealer ever sees the 4473.
flintsghost
Member
Not Quite true. BATF sees them on every inspection. At the time the FFL is terminated for whatever reason, the bound book and the 4473's are turned in or supposed to be, when I had an FFL and was in business.
I suspect a lot of us would be very unpleasantly surprised at the response we would get it if we had to send our vintage S&W firearms back for repair.
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Unless the frame under the forcing cone is cracked I'd think a decent S&W revolver smith could repair. Parts, both used and sometimes NOS, are readily available for 640's.
Yaworski
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I didn't want to go into the weeds with every time someone with a badge can see your records and when court orders are needed. The main point still stands, S&W never sees the 4473.
Yaworski
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If they'll only repair current models, how does that impact their advertised "Lifetime Service Policy"?
kbm6893
Member
It obviously doesn't. They use that line to get people to buy, and I bet 99% of the people who buy a Smith never send the gun in so nobody would know, anyway.
kbm6893
Member
Doubtful. I have a couple of 5946's to the police range last year and they gave them a once over, but when I showed them my 640, the guy said "I have no idea about how to fix those if it needs it".
OP
Bklyn_Irish
Member
Cylinder & Slide upgraded a 642 for me back in 2020. I reached out to them to see if they'll take the job.
Yaworski
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My sample set is very small. I bought a used 642-2 a number of years ago. I don't recall when precisely and I can't do the paper chase right now. There was a problem with the extractor so I contacted S&W looking for advice. I was quite surprised when they sent me a FedEx label to return the gun to them. They replace the cylinder assembly and sent it back to me at no charge. At the very least I was expecting to pay shipping.
I'm still wondering what they could have changed that made parts "no longer available."
No time like the present to educate yourself and become a basic level S&W revolver repair person. A hollow ground screw driver that fits the side plate screws, a small nylon headed hammer, an old drill chuck to hold the ejector rod to loosen and tighten it, a set of automotive feeler gauges. one small punch with a .050 tip and 2 hockey pucks and your in business. Drill a couple 1/16 holes in one puck for a spot for pins to go out of. Put about a 3/4" round groove in one puck to rest barrels in and put a 1/16 hole beside it for underlug pins and barrels if you ever progress that far. A couple of small files with the sides safed for when you get more advanced. Watch some videos and read a couple books.
Best thing I ever did, revolver wise, was buy a beater 10-2 and go to work on it. Now as long as the frame is salvageable, I can make it back into a gun
The shortage of revolver smiths is only going to get worse.
Go try to find a manual transmission repair shop. LOL
Best thing I ever did, revolver wise, was buy a beater 10-2 and go to work on it. Now as long as the frame is salvageable, I can make it back into a gun
The shortage of revolver smiths is only going to get worse.
Go try to find a manual transmission repair shop. LOL
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Bill In Texas
Member
I'm not looking to argue and you are probably right. All I know, based on my experience is, one of my guns was replaced and the other wasn't. The difference was in the way that I bought them.
OP
Bklyn_Irish
Member
That's that. I'm just going to scrounge the parts and go from there.
