Cracked Frame On Brand New J Frame Model 60

[stonebuster]

That's not one of the usual things I'd be inspecting carefully in a new revolver(but will now) so don't be too hard on yourself. Keep us posted on how Smith takes care of you. Hopefully the seller wasn't testing his hand loads with it.

 

[nipperdog]

S&W Service is Terrific they will Replace your M60 with a good one. Yes Smith's QC should have Detected the Obvious Defect, but I think that the Online Retailer should have also inspected the Firearm before shipping it out. It would have been quite easier for him to exchange it with his Wholesale Distributer, and send you a Perfect gun

 

[337vegasstrong]

Many thanks to everyone for your replies and different perspectives. Stay tuned in to this thread. I will surely update you all as to how everything progresses.

 

[Sigma40sw]

Replacement Revolver

They will send you a new revolver. It is easier for them to do this.
They have not had available "blank" serial numbered frame for years.
They got audited by the ATF many years ago and penalized. No serial # leads to an untraceable firearm. As soon as a receiver/frame is completed in a firearm build-able form, it must be serial numbered. It is stored in that format wither it is assembled or not. Everything has to be traceable today.
Like anything else,there are exceptions,if your receiver was in current production,they could use your current serial number on a new receiver/frame. Not worth the extra cost, time, and headache for them.
They still have to have proof of destruction of your old receiver/frame to free up that particular serial number.

 

[337vegasstrong]

They will send you a new revolver. It is easier for them to do this.
They have not had available "blank" serial numbered frame for years.
They got audited by the ATF many years ago and penalized. No serial # leads to an untraceable firearm. As soon as a receiver/frame is completed in a firearm build-able form, it must be serial numbered. It is stored in that format wither it is assembled or not. Everything has to be traceable today.
Like anything else,there are exceptions,if your receiver was in current production,they could use your current serial number on a new receiver/frame. Not worth the extra cost, time, and headache for them.
They still have to have proof of destruction of your old receiver/frame to free up that particular serial number.

Interesting info. Thanks

 

[AlHunt]

Hey, don't feel bad, the QA pro missed it so how can you be expected to find it?

 

[ABPOS]

It does look dirtier than the new ones I'm used to looking at. FWIW. I have no clue what that means. But it strikes me as a bit odd. Unless my LGS wipes there's down good before putting out. And they're all like that when leaving the factory. Not to be like a conspiracy theorist or something but something looks off about that frame. Maybe it's just the lighting.

Just something to ponder....

 

[ladder13]

I am saddened by the number of people making excuses for Smith's nearly lacking QC. Current policy seems to be ship them out as fast as you can, fix quality control later with a shipping label.

And you're right, I'm old and grumpy.

Dave

I don't see excuse making. I see people not willing to be bothered by minor things in life. Gee, " my gun broke" or "I have cancer"....take your pick.
I have a gun back at the factory for an issue for a couple weeks now, have not and will not call for status. When it gets here it gets here.
I'm grumpy too.

 

[27 Man]

I had a model 38 no dash that did the same thing as yours—right in the boss area of the frame. S&W was great and I received a new 638-3 about three weeks later. My barrel was not of the pinned variety so I suspect it was over torqued. Never heard of it happening on a stainless steel gun, just the alloy variety. I now own exactly one Smith with a lock.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

It really doesn't look like anything that a little JB Weld can't fix

 

[hoc9sw]

I'd expect a new gun is coming.

As to QA / QC, we do our best work by sending things back instead of tinkering or kludging and getting along. The more guns that come back, the more unwanted attention the production and QA groups will get from management.

As to it not being clean, as I was dealing with some repeated issues, I got an explanation.
They test fire to different degrees at cycles, so every XXth gun gets a much heavier test (more rounds, maybe different types, and closer inspection).
They do NOT clean them after testing, because they want you to see that they did. A sparkling gun implies to me that no one tested it. So dirty is fine by me. I'm going to field strip it no matter how pretty it looks before heading to the range. I want my lube on there, not storage grease.

 

[M29since14]

...In any case, a cracked frame no matter when it happened is still a major problem. At this point, I'd rather not speculate since I can't confirm when it happened.

You bought the gun new through legitimate channels. When the crack happened is immaterial. No one can prove anything. All that matters is that S&W takes care of you. I'm pretty sure they will.

BTW, that crack could have developed without any unauthorized firing at all. It's possible the gun went into the box visibly fine, and was cracked when you examined it upon receipt. I recall reading of incidents where members here have cleaned their gun and put it away, only to find it cracked the next time they pulled the gun out of their safe. Did they really "miss" that crack when cleaning it and putting it away? Possible, but... You be the judge.

 

[337vegasstrong]

Found this old video of the Performance Center. Not sure if it still applies to the way things are nowadays (especially since mine wasn't a Performance Center revolver). Interesting nonetheless. Right around the 3:40-4:00 mark shows where a barrel could possibly be over torqued with the "large padded wrench".
YouTube

 

[337vegasstrong]

It's possible the gun went into the box visibly fine, and was cracked when you examined it upon receipt.

100% agree. That's part of the reason I never named the retailer as to avoid any hint of bad mouthing anyone with zero proof. Also the reason I can't exactly blame it on lack of quality control either.

 

[ladder13]

In the latest American Handgunner was an interesting article on a shop that does micro welding.
Maybe all is not lost if you have a highly collectible firearm that appears to be a paperweight.
The company is Pullman Arms in MA.

https://pullmanarms.com/

 

[mrmike7189]

Pullman arms

Pullman arms seems like a great company. I see they do custom work modifying a Bodyguard 380 that looks nice. I live in MA. I will be visiting them real soon!

 

[scooter123]

Wow! That sure is dirty for a brand new gun.

You are quite correct in your statement. So correct that I don't believe that this is actually a "brand new gun". My hunch is that an unscrupulous dealer palmed off this used gun as new and he was probably quite aware of the cracked frame.

 

[337vegasstrong]

You are quite correct in your statement. So correct that I don't believe that this is actually a "brand new gun". My hunch is that an unscrupulous dealer palmed off this used gun as new and he was probably quite aware of the cracked frame.

Is it possible? Yes. Do I have proof? No. I do know that the burn rings on only 2 chambers (with a clean chamber in between) doesn't exactly support someone taking it out for a range session. Honestly, it's not really fair to blame anyone without knowing for a fact who knew or didn't know. I'm done worrying about that part of the story. I'm just waiting patiently for S&W to take of the issue.

 

[cinnwalt]

My new GP100 had to go back, cylinder wouldn't turn, they made it right which made me feel better, oh wait, S&W Forum oh yeah, guess it isn't just S&W. They'll take good care of you.

 

[ABPOS]

Is it possible? Yes. Do I have proof? No. I do know that the burn rings on only 2 chambers (with a clean chamber in between) doesn't exactly support someone taking it out for a range session. Honestly, it's not really fair to blame anyone without knowing for a fact who knew or didn't know. I'm done worrying about that part of the story. I'm just waiting patiently for S&W to take of the issue.

Looking forward to see what they do for you.