I purchased a new Smith stealth hunter and received it Tuesday. I went
to the range to shoot a few boxes of ammo. After 48 rounds I noticed
what appeared to be a crack in the frame. I also noticed a small rub
line on the side of the cylinder opposite the turn line. Just my luck, waited
to get some extra change to purchase it and it is on its way back to the factory. Had it here 1 day. However Josh at customer service was very helpful in returning my call and getting a shipping label to me very quick. It might be a gouge from milling, however it should not be there. I would greatly affect resale if I needed to sell it for some reason. I am trying to post pics. Did anyone have issues with the stealth? How about Smith's
customer services?
Thanks for any info.

The first is simply powder fouling that is reflected back onto the cylinder by the front screw hole in the top strap. Open he cylinder and look at the bottom of the top strap, you will see three screw holes. The front one is right over the ring you see on the cylinder. This has been asked many times!

The second thing, a small ridge in the yoke cut, is not so common, but nonetheless still common. Purely cosmetic and nothing to worry about. Years ago this area had some attention from the fitter with a file to clean up this area. That isn't done anymore! It has absolutely no effect on either function or value

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

I've some revolvers with just such irregularities in the frame cutout area. PC or otherwise. As noted above, older revolvers were often "adjusted" with a rather coarse file!

In this case it rather looks like the serial number needed to be redone. But that's just a SWAG, as that area is often not flat for some reason.

Here's a favorite 1990's PC with an irregularity (not as extreme and with serial number edited out). Note also where an end mill broke in the extractor rod cutout! Saw it in the pre-purchase inspection, but have had worse in PCs before, and was pleased otherwise. And happy with it ever since!



BTW, don't expect the coated finish to last if that's how S&W still does the Stealth model, Here's an older photo of my two tone Birdsong coated Stealth:



Great hunting revolver! Not so much art.

Was poking about doing other photos, so here's brand new 16 April 2016 photos of the finish erosion on the Stealth. Still a fantastic foul weather hunting revolver!:


Doesn't seem to have gotten any worse in several years....




Even been drug about enough to get some edge wear. It almost never gets IN a holster, unless there's something to drag out of the woods.

ETA: Oh it was THIS thread that the pics were for....

AS for my SWAG above about sometimes S&W needs to redo the S/N sometimes, look at this example:



And some other fun file marks etc.:




Another PC where the cutter grabbed a bit.


Looks like some Dremel work done before the markings were applied!



Rough file marks (I've seen worse) but they still didn't get the burr at the front of the cutout area.

Thanks everyone! I removed pics because of serial #'s showing. I do understand about the area being a little messed up. I have a Smith TRR8
with a little problem there also. However the finish is fine. Not the case
with this one. No finish at all in the area I showed. Anyway, after seeing
how the finish holds up on your guns, I will not be very happy if Smith doesn't make it right.

hahaha... yaaaaa, if I was you... I guess I'd have taken down the obvious pictures too.. ..

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Jack C

Thanks everyone! I will wait and see what Smith says.