Bought my LAST new S&W revolver

[Greyman50]

Bought a new 610 mountain gun and first time shooting it the gold bead front sight went flying. Called S&W 3 times and they say they have the order " but shipping has a problem". and they have no idea when it will be shipped. I may have been born at night but not last night and for a $1200 revolver just unacceptable. Gold bead insert could be put in a first class envelope with sheet of paper folded over and in the mail. They also said they do not accept returned firearms so I'm done with S&W.

BTW bought a 70s Mdl. 63 yesterday and it was rough as a cob. Today removed side plate and Ray Charles could see the problems. After a hour with several stones and small fine cratex wheel its very nice and going to range tomorrow.

 

[jack the toad]

That's not good. Was it the gold bead itself or the entire front site?
If so, assuming blade was pinned?
I'm not familiar with the new revolvers, as have yet to see one. As if dove-tailed, pinned, screwed, glued, etc???
My understanding is everything S&W, including corporate is now in Tenn. Other than revolvers and M1854 lever that remain in Mass. So, whether now 2 warranty places or 1, but if not accepting retuned firearms, probably doesn't make much difference???

 

[SSGRock]

Do you mean they do not except firearms returned for warranty or repair? Or do you mean they do not except firearms returned for refund?

 

[GnarlsR2]

Bought a new 610 mountain gun and first time shooting it the gold bead front sight went flying. Called S&W 3 times and they say they have the order " but shipping has a problem". and they have no idea when it will be shipped. I may have been born at night but not last night and for a $1200 revolver just unacceptable. Gold bead insert could be put in a first class envelope with sheet of paper folded over and in the mail. They also said they do not accept returned firearms so I'm done with S&W.

BTW bought a 70s Mdl. 63 yesterday and it was rough as a cob. Today removed side plate and Ray Charles could see the problems. After a hour with several stones and small fine cratex wheel its very nice and going to range tomorrow.

"I'm done with S&W."

Is difficult to understand and shameful to read about a legendary 170-year old firearm manufacturer destroy its reputation and abandoning millions of loyal customers.

Is it incompetence, stupidity, and greed at the executive level?

 

[stansdds]

"I'm done with S&W."

Is difficult to understand and shameful to read about a legendary 170-year old firearm manufacturer destroy its reputation and abandoning millions of loyal customers.

Is it incompetence, stupidity, and greed at the executive level?

I think it is the result of more than one thing.

With CNC machining and MIM parts, there is less need for fitting, especially with semi-auto pistols. Where semi-auto pistols may be fine with being assembled from parts from a bin, revolver actions require more precision when it comes to tolerances. The old masters who took pride in their work are retired. Those who have taken their places are more parts assemblers and less masters at the art of fitting parts.

Then there is probably a production quota, so the assemblers have to churn out finished firearms whether they have been properly fitted or not. The more firearms that make it out the door and get sold, the more revenue for the company. As long as the warranty service does not significantly eat into the profit margin, it's ok to send to market less than acceptable firearms.

 

[rwsmith]

I've always had a great time finding and buying OLD S&Ws,

 

[AC4142]

I've always had a great time finding and buying OLD S&Ws,

"He was kinda funny lookin'" haha buscemi

 

[Greyman50]

That's not good. Was it the gold bead itself or the entire front site?
If so, assuming blade was pinned?
I'm not familiar with the new revolvers, as have yet to see one. As if dove-tailed, pinned, screwed, glued, etc???
My understanding is everything S&W, including corporate is now in Tenn. Other than revolvers and M1854 lever that remain in Mass. So, whether now 2 warranty places or 1, but if not accepting retuned firearms, probably doesn't make much difference???

Gold dot insert for front sight. Like a small flat head tack with the head gold plated. Small hole in rear face of front sight blade. Minute spot of loc-tite would have fixed it but as I posted they dont use loc-tite, give me a break….

 

[Greyman50]

Do you mean they do not except firearms returned for warranty or repair? Or do you mean they do not except firearms returned for refund?

They do not accept firearms for a Refund. Repair wait is at least 3 Months according to those I spoke with.
Why would one spend $1200 for anything and it become useless first use and expect to wait 3 months for a Simple Replacement part???????

 

[bobsguns]

Is it incompetence, stupidity, and greed at the executive level?

Yes.

 

[nhw]

I contacted S&W Customer Service by phone. They emailed me a return label. I packed it in the original box and put that inside another box. Sent in a 327 that had s barrel that became slightly misaligned over time. Plus you couldn't depress the rear sight enough to not have to use Kentucky Windage to hit where you wanted the bullet to go. It took about 6 weeks for repairs. The little revolver seems perfect now. The return was in February of 2025. So, at least in February of this year they accepted returns. Hi-Viz will sell you a selection of front sights for various S&W revolvers. I bought a fiber optic front sight for a 625 JM to replace the gold dot but decided I liked the gold dot better. This particular front sight (DX style) is held in by a spring and plunger arrangement. They make versions that use a very small roll pin. No idea where to obtain a new tiny roll pin. In pictures of the 610 Mountain Gun it kinda looks like it is the pinned version. Good luck!

 

[Greyman50]

No pin in the mountain gun 610. Small dia, hole with shaft of pin inserted. IMHO any Competent engineer, designer, assembler and especially QC would USE loc-tite in process.

 

[Dave Haynes]

With 49% ownership, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ ...

Yahoo Finance
https://finance.yahoo.com › news › 49-ownership-smith...
Apr 16, 2025 — It looks like hedge funds own 6.2% of Smith & Wesson Brands shares. ... We can report that insiders do own shares in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc..
People also ask
Who is the largest shareholder of Smith and Wesson?
Major shareholders: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

Name	Equities	%
BlackRock Advisors LLC 9.04 %	3,977,969	9.04 %
DFA Australia Ltd. 6.358 %	2,797,760	6.358 %
Renaissance Technologies LLC 5.993 %	2,636,874	5.993 %
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co. 5.928 %	2,608,677	5.928 %

 

[Greyman50]

Explains just about everything……….

 

[DETROIT]

They do not accept firearms for a Refund. Repair wait is at least 3 Months according to those I spoke with.
Why would one spend $1200 for anything and it become useless first use and expect to wait 3 months for a Simple Replacement part???????

What was the problem with shipping?

 

[Greyman50]

What was the problem with shipping?

Talked to 3 different " customer support" guys and none could explain the problem. I asked them why the small part could not be taped to a sheet of paper and mailed in a business envelope, no response. Go figure but I call BS, IMHO the truth is no one at S&W gives a rat azz. Sadly typical of far to many businesses in the US.

 

[Narragansett]

Geez, I am sorry to hear this. IMHO the real problem here is the service. Either turn the gun around in a couple weeks or mail the part, I had a Ruger super black hawk that the ejector rod, spring and shroud went flying in different directions on the 50th shot. 2 week turnaround from Ruger, but I dumped the gun afterwards.

I am not sure what would bring me to buy a new gun from S&W. I am just stuck on the vintage stuff

 

[Yendor357]

You had one problem?

Mine had a list.

I'll never forget loading the 696 Mtn Gun that I bought July 6 2025, today is August 6 2025.
I could not cock the hammer!

I forget how big the frame/crane gap was, but it was huge by machinist standards.

Screws came loose.

The front sight was too tall.

When I did get it to fire, the bead came out at about round 15.

There may have been other issues. I had the gun a grand total of 2 days. $1200….poof.

When the gun failed to function, I tried to take it back, Unfired, to the gunshop for a refund, they would not.
If I'd have fired it, or bought it used, understand why they wouldn't take it back for a refund, but unfired, they should have.
They could have sent that POS back to Linsey's.
I haven't been back to that gunshop since.
I've gotten to where I have written that one off at a loss of $1200.

But on the flip side, a few weeks after the Mtn Gun debacle, I bought a three inch 686 Plus after a very thorough inspection (from a different shop) I polished it just a little, inside and out. A Lock Hole plug and a lighter trigger return spring, and it's fantastic,

Smith and Wesson is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.

 

[GnarlsR2]

You had one problem?

Mine had a list.

I'll never forget loading the 696 Mtn Gun that I bought July 6 2025, today is August 6 2025.
I could not cock the hammer!

I forget how big the frame/crane gap was, but it was huge by machinist standards.

Screws came loose.

The front sight was too tall.

When I did get it to fire, the bead came out at about round 15.

There may have been other issues. I had the gun a grand total of 2 days. $1200….poof.

When the gun failed to function, I tried to take it back, Unfired, to the gunshop for a refund, they would not.
If I'd have fired it, or bought it used, understand why they wouldn't take it back for a refund, but unfired, they should have.
They could have sent that POS back to Linsey's.
I haven't been back to that gunshop since.
I've gotten to where I have written that one off at a loss of $1200.

But on the flip side, a few weeks after the Mtn Gun debacle, I bought a three inch 686 Plus after a very thorough inspection (from a different shop) I polished it just a little, inside and out. A Lock Hole plug and a lighter trigger return spring, and it's fantastic,

Smith and Wesson is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.

"Smith and Wesson is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get."

A box of chocolates doesn't cost $1200!!

 

[Revelation]

Bought a new 610 mountain gun and first time shooting it the gold bead front sight went flying. Called S&W 3 times and they say they have the order " but shipping has a problem". and they have no idea when it will be shipped. I may have been born at night but not last night and for a $1200 revolver just unacceptable. Gold bead insert could be put in a first class envelope with sheet of paper folded over and in the mail. They also said they do not accept returned firearms so I'm done with S&W.

BTW bought a 70s Mdl. 63 yesterday and it was rough as a cob. Today removed side plate and Ray Charles could see the problems. After a hour with several stones and small fine cratex wheel its very nice and going to range tomorrow.

It's all about the money, and apparently, S&W like the money more than they do their customers.... especially those "customers" that have kept S&W in business throughout the many years. I have to believe that they simply do not care!