In 1993, when President elect Clinton was pushing for tough gun control laws, I took a stand for our constitutional 2nd amendment rights and purchased my first hand gun, a 4" S&W Model 686 357 Magnum. I fired less than 50 rounds of 38 special and 357 magnum cartridges total. I cleaned and oiled the gun per instructions and put it away. It has not been fired since and I only periodically checked for corrosion and made sure it was properly lubricated. Last week, I spent a lot of time just looking at it and worked the action and to my surprise noticed a hair line crack that ran along the right side of the frame from the hammer to and under and around the trigger guard. My first thought was that this was by design for disassembly. However, I then cocked the hammer back and looked inside and to my horror discovered the unmistakable crack.

The L frame is suppose to be a durable frame built for continuous Magnum usage. My question is how do I proceed to get this repaired free of charge from Smith & Wesson!

IT'S NOT REPAIRABLE AND MUST BE SENT TO ME IMMEDIATELY FOR PROPER AND SAFE DISPOSAL!!!!!!

On the other hand, you might discover it to be the seam for the side plate and is perfectly normal.

Seam for the side plate?? I sure hope so...that was my first thought until I looked inside after cocking the hammer. The seam was rather ugly.....not a good match.

Post pics of this "crack", I'd like to see it.

Thanks,

Thank you Snowbandit

After your "side plate" comment, I carefully looked at the lines on the side plate and am now convinced that you are correct. Obviously I'm not a gun expert. Thanks for the prompt response and lesson.

Welcome to the forum from Arkansas

Welcome from Va.

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Roger

I have made worse mistakes when I just didn't know what I was looking at. Being raised around Colts, I thought I had a backwards milled S&W when I held my first M&P... I remember asking something to the effect of, "This is pretty nice but how did they screw up this bad???"

In my defense, I was just a kid at the time who was used to seeing Police Positives and Official Police....

Then I go and load .38 specials into that old .38 Long Colt and springs started popping...

will2win9268, welcome from North Carolina. Glad you got such a quick answer.

Enjoy the forum,I guess that you already can see the value of joining!

Greetings from Maine. Welcome aboard!

Welcome from South Central Louisiana.

Welcome from Texas will2win9238. Great forum for all things S&W, have fun, learn lots, share what you know.

Had a Savage rifle I thought had a crack in the receiver - turned out to be a mill mark.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Could have been worse. You might have sent it back for warranty and had them wonder what you were drinking. I'm kidding of course. Glad it was a non problem

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