Cracked Frame Model 37

[glowe]

A friend recently bought a Model 37 Chief's Special Airweight from the 1970s and we went to the range to shoot it. I was familiar with what seems to be a standard problem of the frame cracking below the barrel and inspected his gun, so i looked it over. Yup, it was cracked about half-way from the rear to the front. I told him that his best option may be to send it back to S&W.

What I am not familiar with is how the company handles this problem? I assume the gun is still safe to shoot, but I would want that verified by the factory. So does anyone have any experience with this problem and, if so, what did you do?

 

[murphydog]

Per recent reports, they will determine the gun is unsafe to fire (logically on their part), will keep it and 'may' offer a low-cost or free replacement.

It is from before the era of the lifetime warranty, so all bets are off as to their response...imagine GM or Ford guaranteeing a 40-year old car for a warranty claim, having no idea who owned it or how it was used since it left the factory. Please let us know what happens?

 

[SAFireman]

S&W will not return a gun with a cracked frame. The model 37s that I have seen with a crack were being shot and were cracked unbeknownst to their owners.

I have caught a couple at local gun shows that were being offered to dealers and the dealer was even unaware to check for a frame crack.

 

[glowe]

Thanks guys. The company has to know the potential "class action" or "recall potential" aspect of this product. May never happen, but most corporations go out of their way to satisfy customers that own products with design flaws that may present a danger to the owners. From what I read, this is a design flaw resulting in failure and once owners know their guns have cracked frames, they basically have a gun that is worthless to try to sell. Remington went through a class action lawsuit with shotgun barrels and it must have cost them a fortune.

Has anyone out there ever dealt with the company on this issue?