This is my pride n joy, hasnt been shot much just a beautiful gun, i noticed yesterday while cleaning it that the barrel looks over torqued and canted so slightly and it looks as if its stressing the frame, it dont appear to be cracked but it looks like its trying to twist where the barrel screws into it. One would think that s&w would fix this as it is a workmanship and quality issue as well as a safety issue. i have contacted them with these same pics but havent heard back from them yet. Any ideas or comments on this problem, is it normal or common?
Its a 29-3 10 5/8" thats practically new

Attached Images

	2012-03-15_13-59-01_710.jpg (53.8 KB, 349 views)
	2012-03-15_14-00-32_15.jpg (57.1 KB, 348 views)

Sir,

If it shoots great you would be best to leave it alone.
Smith will probably want to charge your for the repair.
Not an easy task for they will have to re-machine the face of the forcing cone and depth. Not cheap. There is no guaranty
it will shoot as good as it did previously. Better off selling the revolver if it bother's you that much. I got a 28-2 the axact same way

The canted barrel dosent bother me, its the twisted,stressed look of the frame that concerns me. Doeznt s&w stand behind the lifetime warfenty for workmanship and defects. One would think that a liability issue would want them to fix it the way it should have been in the first place. We will see what s&w says when they get back to me. Thanks for the reply and appreciate your input

The second pic shows stress " ripples" like its twisted, just dont want this to develope into a crack

Falco 308
Is the frame twisted or only appears to be? Does the cylinder lock
up ok or the timing out? I think if the frame was twisted you would see
a problem with the function of the action. Is the gun spitting lead? Do you know if the gun has the life time warranty?

It just appear to be twisted, everything locks up like it shoud, no spitting or shaving but you can feel the ripples, im just hoping im over reacting n my gun is ok.
I just assumed a big company like s&w would have a lifetime warrenty on defects n craftmanship, but its something im gonna have to look into

Lets hope it's just a machining issue. Maybe just cutter
vibration. Wish you luck in finding out.

Here is a closeup of the twist look, and it can be felt

Attached Images

Ripples.jpg (36.2 KB, 275 views)

Hsmith, I feel like a dumbass, got a jewelers loop out and really really looked at it, it is heavy polishing marks when they buffed it to be blued, damn I was in panic mode, my baby was sick n dieing lol, love this thing so much I would have paid s&w to put a new frame on it,

Great news. We worry about our treasures. They are our babies.

You ought to just delete this thread... not fair to S&W to have a false alarm thread

__________________
Jack C

Whew I'm glad its okay because if you listen to some on this forum that gun comes from a timeframe when smith could do no wrong...enjoy your sixgun.

Good thing S&W didn't get blamed for another one.

__________________
Sure you did

Even so the barrel is still canted which I believe should have not left
the factory. I have a 28-2 with the same canted barrel. Something they
must over look quite often.

don't think it was overlooked at all... it's in spec.. period. It's nothing more than a visual thing you probably never would have noticed had you not read about it online. It reminds me of the gritty take up on one of my M&P's, never noticed it until I read it online, cleaned it up and guess what.. I still shoot the same..

__________________
Jack C

turbo38gn,
I noticed it the day I bought it 10 years ago. Being a tool maker I have an eye for things not being centered.
Just thought smith-wesson would do better. It may be within
their spec and that is a shame. This is more than a gritty action. Look
at the original post thumbnail and you will see it is off by a mile. Hand fitting
a barrel should be dead nuts in my book.

Would you want a run in the paint on a new corvette, after all its just cosmetic isnt it.
Didnt want to start a blame game, just saw something on my baby that wasnt right and at first it looked very bad thats all, that why I came here and asked a question.

Welcome Falo308. This Forum is for asking questions about your guns, and possible problems, etc. Glad you asked and received several opinions and ideas. A lot of S&W experience and knowledge comes from our members. Enjoy your "29." Skip48

Find a good S&W gunsmith with the correct frame insert and frame wrench. Tweek the barrel yourself. I had a M586 with a canted barrel. It went under torque, over torque (but not as bad), under, over (but less), .....

On about the 7th or 8th bump it was close to perfect, rear site notch centered, and 12 shot group "splattered" randomly about the point of aim -- close enough. It took 15 minutes and I will never sell that "perfect" revolver. Barrel cylinder gap changed less than +0.002" on barrel movement about as bad as yours.

__________________
S&WHF 366

I guess I'm just not a hair splitter. I'm not saying I settle for less, just that I don't break out the magnifying glass for all my guns. My reference here is in regard to the OP posting a "cry wolf" thread only to realize it was a false alarm. And yes, welcome here, I'm not meaning to jump you here, just stinks when a thread is started and there is nothing wrong. I find it just as unfair to target S&W unfairly as it would be for me to target you.. and if something was wrong, I believe S&W should be given the opportunity to make it right.

__________________
Jack C

Falo308,
I don't think you were targeting smith-wesson as turbo38gn stated
but was only asking for advice about your revolver. You treasure your
firearm and what it to be right. Smith-Wesson should have done
a better frame to barrel fit. If it is within their spec as previously mentioned they probably will not fix it for free. You were not crying wolf.

For the record HS, I didn't mean it as he targeted S&W, only that they ultimately become the target as the result of an over reaction. Which in turn feeds the myth that S&W and it's employees don't care. I would be the first to help him if he has a problem as I would do for you as well, but cutting hairs and turning this into a S&W doesn't care or insinuate that every gun out of there is inferior just does not cut it with me. If you feel S&W is poorly made, their customer service doesn't care, sell em all and move on... if Falo's revolver need work, it will be covered free of charge, if he calls they will send him a free shipping label, it will not cost him a dime. Not sure what makes you say it will cost him anything.. not sure if they will fix the BUFFING marks..

no hard feelings, like you, I call it the way I see it.

__________________
Jack C

I bet every Smith that I have has a barrel that's off dead center. It's never occurred to me that I need to send the guns back to have them work on any of em'. All my guns shoot great, I don't worry if they're off .0000001 inch for instance, the end result is all that counts.
If the finish is what is bothering you I'm sure the factory would refinish that gun on their dime, since it appears to be a bad polish job, but then you'd have a refinished gun worth less than the gun as is.
It's your choice, do what makes you happy.

__________________
Sure you did

Falo, I would fill out this request and see if they send you a shipping label, they did for me and many others. Takes a minute or two, and you'll get the label in about 2 days. State the exact nature of your complaint, and see what happens. When you get the label, call Fedex and they'll come pick the gun up.

Warranty Repair Shipping Form - Smith & Wesson

__________________
Sure you did

I wouldnt send it back just for the canting of the barrel, shoots way too good to mess with, but when I seen what appeared to be twisting of the frame it drew my attention to this area and saw the barrel canted, would make sense overtorquing would cause the crame to twist.
If you saw,it in person you would probally draw the same conclusion, it wasnt till I got out a jewelers loop and really really looked at it did I see it was just deep polishing marks, with all that said im still not 100% convinced it it is polishing marks, if s&w will look at it n send me a shippkng label then ill send it to them, just dont want it to blow up on me

Falo, I'm sorry if we got off to the wrong foot, but I am just like most folks here, love our S&W guns. If I could help, I'd be at the front of the line. But when I read the Title of this thread, to me, especially after all that's been said, it is not accurate or fair to S&W's reputation. I would suggest what Ladder said, if something is wrong, like 18da says.... " they will fix it"

__________________
Jack C

No, I say it shouldn't have left the factory like that in the first place.

The apologists chant that "S&W will make it right!". They just don't indicate how many return trips that will take.

Since we're all interested in the truth and honesty here, right? a 29-3 was made well before MIM and IL and 2001.
So much for "the way they used to make em' "

__________________
Sure you did

Ya but it's not a 4566........

__________________
Jack C

Are you lookin' for one?

__________________
Sure you did

The canting on that 29 is nothing to even worry about. I have Smiths that are canted and they still shoot great.

This is a production gun and you you guys are going on like it was a custom job! If it bothers you that much just send it to me and I will be happy to have it.

John

I'm sure if we took a micrometer to every revolver by ANY manufacturer, they'd be off somewhat.

__________________
Sure you did

The problem is you don't need a micrometer to see the cant
in the above gun. A cant this far off is not acceptable and should not have left the factory.

Naaaaaa, too big and bulky, I heard it was a grail gun for about 6 people... not for me. Kinda cute gun, but waaaaay down my list of guns to have....I'll take an M&P 45 all day over that gun.

__________________
Jack C

hsmith9491,

I'm not trying to be a smart***** but are you serious? That is barely canted compared to some I have seen. That is well within acceptability of a factory production gun.

It is just MY OPINION here but I think some of you guys are a little obsessive about some things. I know that saying that is NOT a nice thing to do, but REALLY? It is just not that big of a deal.

I have been on a search for a Ruger GP100 and out of the 4 that I have bought the last one is the only one with the barrel screwed into the frame square. Meaning I don't have to adjust my rear sight all the way to the left or right to try and get the bullets on target. I have had 3 Smiths that way too. That is a PROBLEM!

I'll take the 29

John

Attached Images

2012-03-15_13-59-01_710.jpg (53.8 KB, 34 views)

If I'm going smaller than the 4506 it would be the 4516 not a 4566, assuming I'm staying in the same family.

__________________
Sure you did

The more I think about it.... naaaaa, I don't want either... I think I'll take that new 627pc with the IL... that's the one!! Oh ya... and I want the Governor!!

__________________
Jack C