Another one bites the dust.........

[lawandorder]

.........a friend brought over his revolver for me to clean. It is a model 38 that he purchased for protection. SN# shows 1985 mfg.

Gun shows little sign of being shot much, confirmed by his account.

It was loaded with .38 Special wadcutter's. After clearing it I looked at the frame and sure enough it was cracked. Glad he didn't shoot it.
Hope he purchased it new and maybe S&W will replace

Just me but would never purchase one of these just to save a couple of ounces.

 

[wetdog1911]

I thought about it some, then decided to go with all steel.

My very first J frame was a M49 from the mid 70s. The second was a M442, still unfired by me and likely to stay that way. The only other airweight is a M43C, but being a .22 lr I'm not very concerned.

The other 4, another M49, a M60 no dash, and 2 M34-1s are all steel. Don't mind dealing with a little more weight.

Rob

 

[AZretired]

I've owned both and have never had an alloy frame crack. Currently My daily carry is a 642-1 with over 1000 rounds through it. Only about 200 were +P but my carry ammo is Remington 158 gr LSWC-HP. Can't beat it for front pocket carry.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

L&O - Exactly where was it cracked?
I'm guessing topstrap, but exact details would be appreciated!

 

[flagman1776]

I'm betting under the barrel, where it's thinnest.

 

[lawandorder]

The flat under the barrel.

 

[stansdds]

There have been some S&W aluminum frame revolvers that made it out of the factory with a hairline crack in the area under the barrel. Then again, there are the same models of revolver that fire thousands of rounds without cracking. I'm sticking with my Model 640-1, it will likely go out of time long before it develops a crack.

 

[rubiranch]

That sucks to have a new gun that is cracked.

I've only shot +P with my 642-1 and I've only ever shot .357 mags with my 640-1.

I prefer my 642-1 for my EDC strictly due to it being lighter weight than my 640-1.

 

[peyton]

I recommend that he contact S&W and see if they can repair or replace the frame.

 

[stansdds]

I recommend that he contact S&W and see if they can repair or replace the frame.

That is the only answer. A cracked frame cannot be repaired, it must be replaced.

 

[max503]

just checked my 638. Its not cracked.

 

[DonD]

I guess my question is why would a "friend" bring you his revolver for YOU to clean? Let him clean his own gun.

If he doesn't know how to do it, watch him do it, correct what might be wrong and be done with it. Don

 

[Mrnurse]

I guess my question is why would a "friend" bring you his revolver for YOU to clean? Let him clean his own gun.

If he doesn't know how to do it, watch him do it, correct what might be wrong and be done with it. Don The Good Book has something like that in it...."Feed a Man a Fish he's feed but 1 day..teach a Man to Fish he's feed for life".. or something akin to that.

 

[Narragansett]

I guess my question is why would a "friend" bring you his revolver for YOU to clean? Let him clean his own gun.

If he doesn't know how to do it, watch him do it, correct what might be wrong and be done with it. Don The Good Book has something like that in it...."Feed a Man a Fish he's feed but 1 day..teach a Man to Fish he's feed for life".. or something akin to that.

Good thing he does not go fishing. Guess what you would be cleaning

 

[ladder13]

My old 642

 

[bmcgilvray]

Purchased this early one a few years back at a gun show to resale for parts. To begin with some bubba had ground the front sight off in some misguided customization notion. Then there was the crack.

Sad.

 

[Cal44]

A while back I saw a nice looking Model 12 in a LGS consignment case.

Very attractive price. I looked at it, and sure enough it was cracked in the usual place.

Handed it to the store owner and asked him to examine it with his magnifier.

He agreed about the crack, and said he would call the owner and give it back.

The LGS was a well run, honest place so I'm sure he did.

But you would think someone would check these guns over before putting them up for sale.

 

[BC38]

I guess my question is why would a "friend" bring you his revolver for YOU to clean? Let him clean his own gun.

If he doesn't know how to do it, watch him do it, correct what might be wrong and be done with it. Don The Good Book has something like that in it...."Feed a Man a Fish he's feed but 1 day..teach a Man to Fish he's feed for life".. or something akin to that.

Nice quote but it isn't from the Bible. Not nearly that old. The oldest noted usage of that proverb is less than 150 years old. Still very true and appropriate to the situation at hand.

AFAIK the only Biblical reference to teaching anyone to fish is Jesus calling his disciples to follow him and promising to teach them to become "fishers of men" (i.e. "catching" people for His kingdom).

 

[lawandorder]

Why, he is good friend from Church who has done me plenty of favors.

He is also in his 80s and not a shooter or a sportsman so doubt he will be using it except in an emergency..


.

 

[smithman]

I've had a cracked airweight