629-3 bent frame.---UPDATE

[Andy Taylor]

A local gunsmith was doing a barrel swap on my M629-3. He apparently bent the frame slightly while removing the old barrel. He states he can straighten it to as good as new condition. This whole thing makes me very nervous. Even if it does get straight again, will the frame be weakened? He doesn't seem to concerned about the whole thing, and says it will just take some time, and since no heat has been applied, there shouldn't be any integrity issues. I plan on mainly shooting .44 Specials and an occasional magnum, but I want it to be able to withstand the full power magnums the same as any other 629, should I, or a future owner choose to do so. Should I trust that this can be repaired, or should I just demand that they (the shop) pay me for the gun? I bought the gun from the same shop just prior to the work being done, so establishing value should not be an issue.

 

[Andy Taylor]

A local gunsmith was doing a barrel swap on my M629-3. He apparently bent the frame slightly while removing the old barrel. He states he can straighten it to as good as new condition. This whole thing makes me very nervous. Even if it does get straight again, will the frame be weakened? He doesn't seem to concerned about the whole thing, and says it will just take some time, and since no heat has been applied, there shouldn't be any integrity issues. I plan on mainly shooting .44 Specials and an occasional magnum, but I want it to be able to withstand the full power magnums the same as any other 629, should I, or a future owner choose to do so. Should I trust that this can be repaired, or should I just demand that they (the shop) pay me for the gun? I bought the gun from the same shop just prior to the work being done, so establishing value should not be an issue.

 

[chief38]

Lucky,
I think you already know the answer. Tell your local smith to pony up and pay you for the gun. If it were my gun, I would never accept a frame bent twice....once by accident, then once again to try to salvage it. ESPECIALLY a MAGNUM!!! Sorry to hear about your problem, but he should do the right thing.

Chief38

 

[robertrwalsh]

Everything I've always heard from people who are in a position to actually KNOW about this stuff says that a bent frame, especially a magnum frame, is only good for a paper weight. Sorry.

 

[tomcatt51]

You have an incompetent for a gunsmith. Send the gun to S&W with an explaination and give your "gunsmith" the bill when it comes back.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Originally posted by tomcatt51:
You have an incompetent for a gunsmith. Send the gun to S&W with an explaination and give your "gunsmith" the bill when it comes back.

Great, and end up with a gun with a lock.

 

[VM]

I would want my money back

 

[hf1960]

Make him pony up....

 

[canoe on the yukon]

The fact that he warped the frame says plenty about him already.There are frame wrenches that fit the frame exactly so that the stress is applied evenly.He obviously did not use one.

Chances are he used a board in the revolver's frame opening or God forbid,he may have even used a hammer handle or something similar.

Send it to Smith & Wesson and use the bill to present to the better business bureau,etc.Good luck.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I'd demand my money back! You shouldn't have to do any shipping or worrying. I'd also find a new enabler, since this place is obviously not concerned with hiring a competent 'smith.

My .02.

 

[hesco]

this smith has got to be a blacksmith, ask him what kind of tool he used, sounds like he just stuck something in the frame and turned it, like someone else said a hammer handle or a board.

 

[gboling]

Great, and end up with a gun with a lock.[/QUOTE]

If you are really afraid of that, call them and ask what they will do. I personally will use no other smith than S&W. Too many hatchet smithies out there.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I will talk with the shop owner tomorrow.
They are closed today. Even though he is a smith, he pretty much only handles the business end of the business these days and doesn't get involved in the actual smithing anymore. I have been doing business there for several years and have never had a problem. Of course this is the first time I have had any gunsmithing done there.

 

[jrm53]

I bent the frame on a 25 45 acp by not puting the frame in a vise between wood blocks and unscrewing the barrel. What I did to fix it was to turn a rod that would just slip through the threaded hole and then turned a smaller dia. both diameters being concentric that would just slip into the clyinder hole marked that hole shut the clyinder and locked it. The crane had a gap where the frame was warped. I took a hard plastic hammer and carefuly tapped the frame back true while checking the rod when I got through the rod slipped in all six holes and the bull barrel I installed shot very well with no problems but I was sweating blood until I got it true.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

sounds like he needs to send it to you for repair!

 

[Andy Taylor]

I spoke with the shop owner yesterday. As I suspected, he was unaware of the problem. I could see by the expression on his face and the way he said "He did what?!?!" that it really was the first he knew of it. He is shipping the gun to S&W to see what they say. I have no worries that he will do right by me.

 

[mtgrs737]

They need buy you another gun without the bent frame or have S&W replace the frame with a non-lock frame. I think I would be done with that shop as far as smithing goes at least. If they do you right then I would keep quiet about the problem so as not to hurt their business, they should take care of the smith/hack that messed up on their own.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Lucky Derby:
A local gunsmith was doing a barrel swap on my M629-3. He apparently bent the frame slightly while removing the old barrel. He states he can straighten it to as good as new condition. This whole thing makes me very nervous. Even if it does get straight again, will the frame be weakened? He doesn't seem to concerned about the whole thing, and says it will just take some time, and since no heat has been applied, there shouldn't be any integrity issues. I plan on mainly shooting .44 Specials and an occasional magnum, but I want it to be able to withstand the full power magnums the same as any other 629, should I, or a future owner choose to do so. Should I trust that this can be repaired, or should I just demand that they (the shop) pay me for the gun? I bought the gun from the same shop just prior to the work being done, so establishing value should not be an issue.

With next day shipping and the excellent work done by S&W, there is just no reason a job like this should be trusted to anyone other than the factory.