ARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH! Cracked Frame

[PhilOhio]

I'm always sorry to hear stories like this one. But thank heaven the company is S&W, and they are still making such things right.

I don't mean to criticize people who prefer the light weights, but stories like this are one reason I religeously stay away from them. I'm willing to tolerate a few extra ounces for the certainty of knowing the frame will hold up. So I love guns like the 649.

Same deal with the all stainless early 3rd generation autos. Yes, they are heavy, but that's the good news.

I guess if I just had to have a light weight, I'd do what several posters above suggested; one gun to carry, and something identical or similar to shoot.

With your gun, Bob, it sounds like the crack was there when the gun left the factory. Too much barrel tightening torque. The clear coat just covered it, until you stripped it. You didn't do a thing to cause it, or else the clear coat would also have shown a crack.

 

[Snowbandit]

The two gun idea makes sense to me. I do most of my practice with a model 640 just to save wear and tear on my 340. Nice to have a wife that understands the concept.

 

[BUFF]

I thought I should post on how this turned out in the end.

S&W promptly sent me a pre-paid shipping label. I dropped it off at a FedEx place on July 9. It showed delivered July 12. I got a letter in the mail by the end of the week that said they had received it, were eye-balling it and gave me a work order number. About a week after that, a nice woman named Pam (I believe) called me and said that my gun was not fixable and that S&W was going to replace it.

I told her I would want another one without the internal lock. She said she would have to check the inventory and began 'tap-tap-click-tap-click'. "No..." 'tap-click-tap'. "No..." 'tap-click-click-tap.' "Well, I don't have one exactly like that. This one is close..." and she verified my mailing/shipping address.

Wednesday, I find a FedEx attempted delivery tag on the front door. Thursday, I find another. Today, Friday, I find another. I just got back from the FedEx depot.

I opened the box. It's a new M-642-1 Pro Series, what looks like a standard, no-lock -642 that has the cylinder cut for moon clips.

How's that for customer satisfaction!

Only odd thing is the serial number. It has a CRM prefix. My spare M-642-1 that I had bought three years ago, in 2008, has a DCM prefix. Either this has sat in inventory for a while, unlikely with a good seller like the Centennial series, or like we suspect, you can't equate the serial number with the manufacture or shipping date all the time.

No other company I have ever dealt with has this kind of customer service.

 

[photoman]

I opened the box. It's a new M-642-1 Pro Series, what looks like a standard, no-lock -642 that has the cylinder cut for moon clips.

Nice! Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[PHB]

This is why I buy S/W

Good deal Buff

 

[Dogmann]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/186384-340pd-cracked-frame.html

 

[blujax01]

... Let's see now, 20 years, 5000 rds, unknown number of +P's. Street price today of new 642 $350.00, divided by 240 months = monthly cost of use & abuse @ $1.46 per month. ....

Cue Sally Struthers:

"That's right, for less than the cost of a cup of coffee ..."

 

[Chipmunk6]

Good to hear about S&W making it right, also good
to hear a fellow 'filer' coming out on the good side
of a warranty deal. Keep safe.

Chipmunk6

 

[tndrfttom]

Another 442 Cracked Frame Story

I bought this 442 (silver finish with BPK SN prefix; barrel not pinned) used about 3 years ago. It looked like it had fired less than a box. I got if from a widow and I don't know if her husband had sent in the warranty card or not. I shot a box or two of factory .38 Spl. thru it, cleaned it and started to carry it.

In August, 2011 I shot it with a box of .38 wadcutter and a box of Remington .38 spl. 158 gr. RN that I had picked up in a trade. When I cleaned it the next day I noticed the frame was cracked in the crane cut-out where the barrel screws in (6 o'clock position).

I emailed S&W and two days later got a reply along with a FedEx shipping label to download. Shipped the revolver out on Aug. 31, 2011. About a week later I got a letter saying that S&W had rec'd. the gun, work order number, most repairs take 2-3 weeks, etc., etc.

Sept 15th I got a call from Dave V. in S&W Customer Service saying the gun was not repairable and that they would replace it. I said I didn't want something with the 'internal lock' or a 'clear coat finish' and was told about the only option was a 442 Pro Series (cut for moon clips). I said that would be OK; when would it come? After some research on computer Dave told me "maybe November". He also asked for me to send a copy of my dealer's FFL license (which I faxed that afternoon).

So, I'm hoping that it gets here before November and carrying my old Model 38 in the mean time.

TT

 

[308]

Smith is as good as you could ask for in fixing their stuff. I had a 637 that I had for over 15 years go **** up, (cracked frame) and they offered to replace it just like yours.
I opted to get a 649 though, a little more money but I figured I would not have to go through another cracked frame. 308

 

[jframe]

I bought this 442 (silver finish with BPK SN prefix; barrel not pinned) used about 3 years ago. It looked like it had fired less than a box. I got if from a widow and I don't know if her husband had sent in the warranty card or not. I shot a box or two of factory .38 Spl. thru it, cleaned it and started to carry it.

In August, 2011 I shot it with a box of .38 wadcutter and a box of Remington .38 spl. 158 gr. RN that I had picked up in a trade. When I cleaned it the next day I noticed the frame was cracked in the crane cut-out where the barrel screws in (6 o'clock position).

I emailed S&W and two days later got a reply along with a FedEx shipping label to download. Shipped the revolver out on Aug. 31, 2011. About a week later I got a letter saying that S&W had rec'd. the gun, work order number, most repairs take 2-3 weeks, etc., etc.

Sept 15th I got a call from Dave V. in S&W Customer Service saying the gun was not repairable and that they would replace it. I said I didn't want something with the 'internal lock' or a 'clear coat finish' and was told about the only option was a 442 Pro Series (cut for moon clips). I said that would be OK; when would it come? After some research on computer Dave told me "maybe November". He also asked for me to send a copy of my dealer's FFL license (which I faxed that afternoon).

So, I'm hoping that it gets here before November and carrying my old Model 38 in the mean time.

TT

My story is very similar to yours. I had a Model 042, which was a non cataloged, transitional 442 with a high gloss blue finish. Mine was cracked in the same spot as yours. I shipped it back to S&W about two weeks ago; they called within three days and said they would replace it for free. I picked a no-lock 442 as well, and was told they were on a bit of backorder, and may take a month or so. I said ok; I've got a 642-1 that I carry everyday, so no big deal on the wait. Gettin' kinda anxious now though; y'all got me hopin' that it will be one of those Pro Series 442s, and that will be why I'm having to wait! Sure would be a neat replacement! BTW, they had me pick an FFL to ship to; said they couldn't ship back directly to my home address. Now, just WAITING........

 

[tndrfttom]

My story is very similar to yours. I had a Model 042, which was a non cataloged, transitional 442 with a high gloss blue finish. Mine was cracked in the same spot as yours. I shipped it back to S&W about two weeks ago; they called within three days and said they would replace it for free. I picked a no-lock 442 as well, and was told they were on a bit of backorder, and may take a month or so. I said ok; I've got a 642-1 that I carry everyday, so no big deal on the wait. Gettin' kinda anxious now though; y'all got me hopin' that it will be one of those Pro Series 442s, and that will be why I'm having to wait! Sure would be a neat replacement! BTW, they had me pick an FFL to ship to; said they couldn't ship back directly to my home address. Now, just WAITING........

S&W had left a call on my answer machine last Thursday saying the replacment revolver would go out today (Thursday) and it should be in my FFL dealer's hands Monday (tomorrow). So I'm thinking this model is in production and in the pipeline.....
TT

 

[jframe]

Got my no lock 442-1 last week around Tuesday, pretty much right on schedule. Great customer service from S&W, but I SURE would have rather kept my 042 instead, since I already carry a 642-1.
.

 

[tndrfttom]

I picked-up my replacement 442-1. The ability to use "moon" clips of loose cartridges seems like a handy feature.

My hat is off to "Dave V." at S&W Customer Service. He knew the product line and kept me informed about the progress on shipping/getting my replacement revolver.

TT

 

[Dpris]

It helps longevity on these lightweight frames if you reduce exposure to the stresses involved in shooting them.
Mine hasn't been fired in 15 years, no cracks, nowhere, nohow.
I expect it to hold up equally well over the next 15 at that rate.
Denis

 

[Jeb21]

Glad to hear that Smith continues to stand behind their products.

 

[Dpris]

Buff,
Forgot to mention that the Lake Effect is hard on those alloy frames.
Can't expect too much from them, I'm continually amazed at the number of people who buy the things & actually shoot 'em.
Denis