642 cracked frame

[back-at-it]

I went to the range and was getting in a little practice with my favorite CCW, my 642 that has had a Teddy Jackson action job. I got home and was cleaning it when I saw the crack on the frame under the barrel. I thought man was I lucky. So I have sent off a request to S&W to see what they will do for me.

 

[JEG247]

How many rounds went though it?...

 

[back-at-it]

This trip I put 55 through it. In past trips maybe 150. Some were +P, but it was all factory ammo. No Reloads.

 

[photoman]

How many rounds total for the life of the gun?

Edit to add: Any idea when the gun shipped?

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

That's a 642-1... If I recall, these earlier versions were not +P rated. Might not want to mention that you were feeding it +P to S&W.

 

[back-at-it]

It was test fired new in 2001. If you look at picture #2 it shows +P on the barrel. I did buy it used in 2010. The first owner said approx 500 rounds through it.

 

[USAF385]

That's a 642-1... If I recall, these earlier versions were not +P rated. Might not want to mention that you were feeding it +P to S&W.

+P is stamped right on the barrel. No need to keep out that info from S&W.

 

[GaryS]

Call S&W customer service. Describe the problem and they will send you a shipping label or give you shipping instructions.

This is a well known problem with J frame Airweight guns.

If the gun is built on the "J Magnum" frame, which from the 2001 date, think it is, they will take the parts out of your gun and put it on a new frame and barrel. I'm pretty sure that they will stamp your existing serial number on the new frame. Depending on current company policy, they might ship the repaired gun back to you or they might require it to go to a FFL. I don't think, but I'm not sure, that it's a transfer since you already own the gun.

If it's an older original frame gun, you will get a new gun with a new serial number. That will have to go through an FFL and you will have to pay the transfer fee. This is what happened to my 1993 production 442. In my case I was able to drop it off at the factory, but other than that the process is the same. A week after I dropped it off I got a call telling me that the gun was not repairable and that they were sending me a new gun. I had my choice of a 442 or a 642. I picked the 642 because my 442 was one of the relatively rare guns with a satin nickle finish. I also opted for a no lock gun, although I had to wait a bit longer for that.

Read this thread for a lot more information, including my entire tale of woe.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Jeezzzuzz, y'all had me messing up my beautifully organized safe and pulling out the 6 J frames so I could check for that "fault" line.

 

[photoman]

It was test fired new in 2001. If you look at picture #2 it shows +P on the barrel. I did buy it used in 2010. The first owner said approx 500 rounds through it.

Thanks for the info. From the cases I've read, it seems this problem shows up in a relatively few amount of rounds.

It's a pain but S&W will make it right. Let us know how it goes.

 

[xx78]

My 642 no dash did the same thing. S&W sent me a shipping label and the gun was sent to the factory. I received a call a few weeks later stating that I would be receiving a new 642 and ask for an FFL in my area. A week later I had my new 642. It can't get any better than that. I will advise you to remove any custom grips, if any, because you will not get them back. Ask me how I know.

 

[158Grain]

That's more of a fault line than a crack. WOW! Keep us updated. I see a new gun in your future.

 

[back-at-it]

Well I got a email from Smith customer service with a call tag for FedEx to send it back. So tomorrow it will be on its way. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[back-at-it]

I got this yesterday from Smith. Does this sound like they are looking to charge me for the repair?

Dear Customer,
Your firearm was received on 02/19/2013 and it was sent to the charge area. They have been taking about 5 weeks to complete an estimate. When they do they will mail it to you for approval.
If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.
Sincerely,
Don

 

[ladder13]

I got this yesterday from Smith. Does this sound like they are looking to charge me for the repair?

Dear Customer,
Your firearm was received on 02/19/2013 and it was sent to the charge area. They have been taking about 5 weeks to complete an estimate. When they do they will mail it to you for approval.
If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.
Sincerely,
Don

No, you will be getting a new gun. The same thing happened to me, and I was at least the 2nd owner. They never asked a question. I would hold out for a no-lock 642 even if you have to wait a bit, they may send a luck of the draw if you don't ask them.

 

[ladder13]

Here's mine

 

[wheelyfun66]

Is the problem from over-torqued barrels?

I have a 442-1 in the mail right now.....and now I'm nervous before I even get the darned thing!

This problem is not overly common, right?

To the OP, we'll be watching to see how S&W deals with it, but from posters experiences.....seems like you will be good to go!

 

[BUFF]

I had an early Model 642 crack like that. I had bought it new in April, 1991, and shot it regularly, often qualifying it with my department's Plus-P ammo as well as my own practice. It had several thousand rounds through it. It cracked in July, 2011, me finding it when cleaning it after a range session of 100 rounds. So, it may happen soon after use begins, or before use begins, or after a lot of shooting, or any time in between.

It was working fine when it cracked, and had I not found it while cleaing it, who knows how many more rounds it may have fired before becoming noticable or stopped working.

That said, I had a spare already bought sitting in the safe. S&W promptly replaced it. If either of these two crack, I will replace it with another Model 642.

In my mind, it is the perfect combination of concealable size and weight, controllable weight, coupled with an adequate cartridge and outstanding mechanical reliability.

 

[hotrod150]

Not to rain on the OP's parade, but I believe that the S&W warranty only covers the original owner. If they cover a second-hand gun, which they just might, that's above-and-beyond the limits of the warranty. I hope they do so, but to me that letter sounds ike they plan on charging you so you might wanna be prepared for that.

 

[back-at-it]

I just got a phone call from S&W repair on this after 7 weeks. They will not repair the gun because I was not the original owner. I am the second owner. They offered to sell me a new one at a discounted price.

My responce them them was SEND IT BACK. I will melt it down first.

I also will sell every S&W I own and never look back at them again.

What Bull $%#@ that is.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Ouch! That sounds painful!

 

[M29since14]

What Bull $%#@ that is.

The 7-weeks is a bit disappointing, but really, otherwise how is this BS? If the terms of the warranty only apply to the original owner, the terms are the terms. Sure, you could have lied and said you were the original owner and maybe received a free replacement. That's not much of an alternative. Think about this a little. They were slow, but the whole industry is going bananas right now. Other than that, they really didn't harm you in any way.

 

[gtmtnbiker98]

That sux, but honestly not surprising since the warranty expressly states a warranty to the original owner.

 

[back-at-it]

Life time Warrenty to the Original Owner. Who long could that be. If it was purchased at 21 and you live to be 70, hopefully if it is going to come apart, it does sometime in that 49 years.

A Factory Defect should be for the life of the Gun, not the owner. Then don't warrenty but for 5 years or 10 years like everyone else in life does.

Who cares if one person or 10 people owned that gun. A Factory defect is just that .... Not a owner defect.

 

[back-at-it]

Sorry, I will stop now ... I am just disapointed in a Name like Smith & Wesson would take that stance.

 

[ladder13]

Sorry to hear that, as I stated before mine was replaced and I was not the original owner.I guess it depends on who looks at the gun on any particular day.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

This thread has made me look for a crack in 642-1 that is NOT +P Rated.

Thus far, all is well. I will start checking it more often though.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I just got a phone call from S&W repair on this after 7 weeks. They will not repair the gun because I was not the original owner. I am the second owner. They offered to sell me a new one at a discounted price.

My responce them them was SEND IT BACK. I will melt it down first.

I also will sell every S&W I own and never look back at them again.

What Bull $%#@ that is.

This puerile and infantile post has to qualify really high on the silliness factor. This is a risk you take when you buy a used gun. Grow up and get over it.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Sorry to hear that, as I stated before mine was replaced and I was not the original owner.I guess it depends on who looks at the gun on any particular day.

It might depend on what you tell S&W or on whether the original owner sent in the warranty card or registered online or however they register the original owner. S&W may not know, in some cases, that the revolver has changed hands if none of the owners in the chain send in the warranty card or do it online, if they offer that option.

 

[back-at-it]

This puerile and infantile post has to qualify really high on the silliness factor. This is a risk you take when you buy a used gun. Grow up and get over it.

Then how come there are manufactures that warranty the Gun and not the owner. If I did something wrong, shame on me. If Smith did something wrong and will not stand behind there mistake, shame on them. Policies never get changed if not questioned. Would you rather be right or have a bad reputation in the market place.

I am guessing that you are one of the many people I talked to today at Smith. You stand up for what you believe and I will stand up for mine.