I'm curious about the prevalence of frame cracks in J frames.

Decided to try a poll.

The M38 I got had a cracked frame under the barrel that I didn't see..
I sold it back to the pawn shop I got it from.
They never saw it the first time or when I sold it back to them...
Lost money of course on the gun, but I don't care....

Now, my used M638 I got, well, if it gets a crack S&W will replace it with no problem.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

not j frame, but I bought at K frame mod 12 that was cracked under the bbl.

Charlie

Your poll is incomplete.

It is missing a choice for a non cracked steel J-frame

Plus it only allows one choice. Many folk have or currently own more than one J-frame.

It also will not take into account someone that had multiple uncracked J-frames and one problem.

My inventory of teaching guns has had 60-75 J-frames in and out of it over the last 30+ years. My only cracked frame was an N-frame.


ALL alloy S&Ws have been cracking in that spot for 50+ years now. Frame size does not matter

My old 642, replaced by the factory.

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Sure you did

I have a couple J frames and I frames. All of them are steel and NO cracks.

I had a 642-2 and a 442-1 that didn't crack. I didn't shoot them tons though.

Just last week one of my brothers found a "38 special 5 shot revolver". I saw a pic of it and identified it as a 442 (no dash). I gave him some pointers of how to check it out but stressed to look in that spot for a crack. I saved him $275 on that one.

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Jim

1957 model 38 no dash flat latch.
Shot 38 spl target wadcutters in it.
No signs of stress fracture or cracks.

2005 model 642. No cracks.

1960. model 36 (steel) No cracks.

1967 model 40 Centennial ( steel) No cracks.

Just ordered a model 649 (stainless steel) last night.

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2B1ASK1

Mentioned this in another thread, but I recently saw where the guys at Gun-Test bought a 642 that they knew had a broken frame. They sent it back to S&W and S&W replaced it for free - even though they were not the original owner. If that is S&W's standard operating procedure, I'd offer next to nothing for a cracked gun and get it replaced!

To my understanding, if you tell them you're not the original owner the warranty is then invalidated.

The poll missed one obvious choice:

I have a steel j frame with no frame crack.

No cracked frames for me, ever, so far.

That's why I buy Leupold all the time. They don't care if your the 10th owner. No questions asked, if it's broken, they fix it.

Well, if we're looking for details:

Airweights 642, 638, - neither have cracks.

Steel 649 and 32 (.38 S&W) - no cracks

K frame Model 12 4" - no cracks there, either.

I actually had him offer $50 for it. They said they were going to send it back themselves. Figured for that price he could take a chance.

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Jim

I had a M37 that cracked under the barrel. I bought it when it was surpluses out at the local police department. I sent it back to the factory. They replaced it at no charge to me. IMO that's very good customer service.

I've got a 642-2, and used to have a Model 12-2, with no cracks.

But then I freely admit that I don't/didn't shoot either a lot, and I don't/didn't shoot hot ammo in them.

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John 3:16 .

Same way with SIG. Only question asked is what is your address so we can send a shipping label.

I did exactly that and they still sent me a new gun.

Cracked 642, a sad day

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Sure you did

I have a 638 that I practice with regularly. I have over 1000 rounds through it so far - no crack.

I have two Airweight revolvers. Neither has a cracked frame. Both have gone through a good amount of +P ammo.

They are both still minty. :-)

I have half a dozen Airweights and about the same number of Colt lightweights.
The newest gun is from 1962.

No frame cracks on any of them.

I have 37s, 442s, 642s, a 638, and some steel J Frames.
None of them have ever cracked on me.
I do, or did, have a Colt Cobra, which is an aluminum frame
that cracked where the barrel screws into the frame.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

No cracks on steel, aluminum or scandium J frames in .38 and .357. I shoot them a lot but only a few hot loads per session usually.

I have a pre model 37 (1957), a 37 no dash (1977), a 37-2 (1997) and a 637-2 (2011).
And 6 model 36 & 36-1s from 1963 to 1977.
Also a model 12-2 from 1968 and a model 60 from 1982.
The only crack in sight is the one in the foundation of my house.
From what I understand, if the frame is going to crack, it will happen within the first 100 or 200 rounds.

Not so.

Unfortunately, I had a smallish sinkhole in the foundation of my house. The only one in my town with one. So far.

I have several J Frames and none of them have cracked frames, that includes a Md.#37 that has had some +P through it!

By now everyone's voted in this poll that's going to.

It looks like between 9 and 10% of the members here have had a Aluminum J frame crack.

That's not the same thing as saying that one in 10 J frames develop cracks as many of us on this forum have multiple airweight J frames.

Still seems like a lot. I wonder if S&W has reduced the incidence of cracks with better alloys -- if Scandium guns are prone to fewer or more cracks.

Also note that not a single member has ever had a steel j frame crack.

Did Colt do anything for you??

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John

I own a dozen J frames, but presently no airweights. I have seen 3-4 airweights with frame cracks. I don't think it's that prevalent (I've looked over a lot of Js over the years), but it is something I will always check for, particularly on any airweight. I tend to go with the school of thought that it's primarily a barrel tightening issue at the factory.

My J's have been steel so zero experience. (never had a frame issue with a steel J)

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K & N S&W revolvers

I have a m642, shot little, about 100 rounds, and a m60 .357 shot alot, with mostly .38 spl. +P loads . No cracks.

I had a 37 I bought used, took it home from the show and stopped by my range and put about 5 or 6 cylinders full through it of what I had in my range bag. Happened to be wadcutters loaded with bullseye, no excessive noise or recoil and shot well.
Got it home and did a detailed clean and found the crack. It was dirty when I bought it and I was young and inexperienced with looking for the crack. Didn't really know about it and this was pre Internet, I got took. Learned a 250 dollar lessen. Although about a decade later I sold it for parts for 150. Guy needed a barrel and guts to get a rusted up 36 going.

No. They said it can't be repaired and that it is out of warranty.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

There is just so much that could be done with that sentence, but I ain't touching it! ;-)

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Georgia On My Mind

No cracks found ---yet.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

I have a M-12 and a M-37. I practice with semi-mild reloads. I generally fire a dozen or so +P per year in each, when I renew my carry load. No problems so far.


I do not shoot the BB heavy +P loads in the alloy revolvers.

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Georgia On My Mind

Poll is no good only one answer allowed. I have a cracked 37 no -, one 42 and two 60s that are fine.

Jack

I have a trifecta - steel, aluminum alloy (plain), and Scandium alloy - none with cracks. I also have one Colt Lightweight Commander (1951) still running like new.

I have been examining every alloy S&W that I see at gun shows and have found several cracked frames for sale on dealers tables...and one guy walking around trying to sell a cracked 37 didn't seem to care and went on trying to sell it - I let everyone that I saw know about the crack since he was not terribly forthright about it.

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On the Oak Savannah

I've had probably a dozen steel J's with zero issues. I've had two aluminum and both had cracks.

The first was a 50s vintage 42...it was cracked under the barrel. The second was a Model 38 Michigan State Police with stainless cylinder that was cracked in the same place.

Sold the 42 to someone who knew where the crack was and still wanted the gun...I still have the 38... The previous owner had the gun coated with one of the Brownells epoxy finishes not knowing the frame under the barrel was cracked so I doubt S&W would replace it at this point...

I did also have a 90s vintage 642 that had no issues but sold it as I am not really much of a snubbie carrier.

Bob

Just saw the poll. My 38-2 cracked - I talked about it here at the time. S&W replaced it with a humpback with a lock - which I sold, unfired.

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Now go make God proud...

I had a 625-10 that had a cracked frame. I was shooting it and the front sight started tilting. That made me check the 325PD 4 inch I had, and it was cracked. I think it was cracked new in the box because the first time I shot it, I had to adjust windage on the rear sight a lot of turns to get it sighted in. I told my son to check his 340 PD and it was cracked. We sent all of them back to S&W and they replaced all three. He still has the 340 PD and it is ok. I got rid of the 325 and the 625-10 (wish I still had the 625-10). I have a 325 Thunder Ranch that is holding up well. I believe the frame cracking problem is caused by over-torquing during assembly. The cracks in ours look exactly like the photos others have posted. Un-beliveable how consistent the cracks are.

Great! So now the next guy can buy a cracked-frame gun with no knowledge. I'm surprised you're proud enough of that to post it.

I wasn't so lucky when I sent back my model 37 to S&W. (Same type of crack.) I was told by S&W that my gun could not be repaired and was offered a replacement at a higher price than I could buy a new one for locally. I have owned many S&W pistols and revolvers and this is the first one ever to have a problem that wasn't solved by S&W.

I have had quite a few aluminum J frames (37, 42, 38) and a few K frames (Model 12's). All but one have been fine.

I bought a Model 642 in 1991 when they first came out. I carried it daily as a second gun and as an off duty piece. I shot it quite a bit more than most owners will, probably a couple thousand rounds of factory Plus-P and lot of standard pressure as well, plus handloads of both high and low pressure. The Plus-P was either Federal 129 grain JHP or W-W and Federal 158 grain lead hollowpoints, the FBI load.

In 2011, I was cleaning it after a 50 round qualification shoot and found the frame had cracked where they tend to, underneath where the barrel screws in. It cracked during the shoot. I don't know if it cracked on round #1 or round #50, it kept shooting just like it always had.

I returned it to S&W on their dime and they sent me a new M-642 Pro, as that was the only 642 they had in stock at that moment that didn't have the lock. I had it in my grubby little hands within 2 weeks.

Will they break? Maybe. Can they break? Sure. If it breaks during a gunfight, will it be a problem? Probably not. Will you break yours while gunfighting? Better chance of winning the powerball after being struck by lightning. Will S&W take care of you? Most definitely, especially if the gun you bought was made since they adopted their lifetime service policy.

I wear out a new car or two every 10 years, too. Ford never offers to give me a new one in exchange.

aop123: Any reason given why they wouldn't replace it? Made before warranty began? Second or third or subsequent owner?

If I remember correctly they inferred it was something I did. I was given the mdl37 by my mother(who purchased it new). Never had a +p or any other round other than standard 38spl fired thru it, less than 50 rounds. Actually I thought it was supposed to be like that, as it has always had the crack in it since new. I showed it to a retired police officer friend who told me to send it back, S&W would make it good. Since S&W sent gun back to me, I have seen many cracks in the same location, on many other mdl37's on the web. I have been told it has something to do with how the barrel is screwed in. Who knows for sure.

I have a newly purchased 442, shot about 30 rounds including a few Remington 158 gr. +Ps and Buffalo Bore +Ps no trouble. But ouch! don't want to shoot anymore of those until I need to.
Also have Colt Cobra and after hearing about cracked frames and no luck with the manufacturer...I won't try those +Ps with it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

+P Through a Model 12: THE TEST...is done!!!!

Not specifically a J-frame, but there was a lot of good discussions about cracked Airweight frames.

sprey

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What do I know?