DocB
Member
Looks like Bubba got himself a new job working for Smith & Wesson. Lucky him.
First S&W - surprised
- Thread starter 686357
- Start date
Mumbly-Peg
Member
Man.
I'm toying with the idea of buying a new 686 from the same website vs buying the exact same thing at my LGS.
Problem is, my LGS wants $160 more than grabagun, not to mention the 7% sales tax for my beloved state. Is it really worth over $200 just to see a "brand new" gun first??
I'm toying with the idea of buying a new 686 from the same website vs buying the exact same thing at my LGS.
Problem is, my LGS wants $160 more than grabagun, not to mention the 7% sales tax for my beloved state. Is it really worth over $200 just to see a "brand new" gun first??
It would be to me. Like someone else said, a gun like the OP's would never make the shelf at an LGS.
slabside2
Member
As time goes on the worst is yet to come. Hey but look at it this way this kind of thing just increases the value of our older S&W guns.
Mumbly-Peg
Member
I just wonder if it's worth rolling the dice and leaning on S&W if the gun ends up being a dud. I'm interested in seeing how this turns out.
Total sympathy for the OP. Various viable solutions offered - my only recommendation is to press on, don't settle.
I've noticed some uneven finishes on stainless guns but have never had any serious problems. Yes, using Flitz, and gently using gray and white (never green) Scotch-Bright pads, you can bring a finish around to looking "tumbled" and being even all over. But it is a lot of work, and shouldn't be needed. For the record, I do not like a smooth/shiny stainless gun (as happens if you use a lot of Flitz or, heaven forbid, a buffing wheel) and I think that shiny finish detracts from the value of the gun.
Nothing wrong with a Ruger! My old GP-100 SS was about as honest and work-like a gun as you ever did see. Accurate, too.
I've noticed some uneven finishes on stainless guns but have never had any serious problems. Yes, using Flitz, and gently using gray and white (never green) Scotch-Bright pads, you can bring a finish around to looking "tumbled" and being even all over. But it is a lot of work, and shouldn't be needed. For the record, I do not like a smooth/shiny stainless gun (as happens if you use a lot of Flitz or, heaven forbid, a buffing wheel) and I think that shiny finish detracts from the value of the gun.
Nothing wrong with a Ruger! My old GP-100 SS was about as honest and work-like a gun as you ever did see. Accurate, too.
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Almost every internet dealer says -- paraphrased here -- "refuse delivery if gun damaged. If you accept it from the FFL, it is your (used) gun and your remedy is through the manufacturer."
So the answer is, check grabagun's web page, but you can buy from them (or any of the other bulk dealers) and get a good price, but inspect carefully...
I wouldn't be happy with that one either. I'm not even convinced that they function test them before they leave they factory. I bought a 442 pro last May, it would fire 2 or three times then would not function . Sent back and they replaced the hand .
bigggbbruce
Member
Because they had a four year old inspecting them. Just a guess.
Sadly, to often all the worker sees is the time clock and a pay check.
USN-RET
US Veteran
I would have refused the transfer and had it sent back with a NOTE as to the condition of the firearm. That is just plain awful QC for a firearm of that cost. Must have been made on a Friday.
Mumbly-Peg
Member
At the right price, though? If Smith takes it back and replaces or repairs it for free, wouldn't it be worth a potential $200 savings?
I sincerely believe.....
...that S&W now uses the customer for QC. If it doesn't come back to the factory, it's a good gun. Otherwise, they'll fix it.
I'm really sorry that your first experience with S&W is that poor.
...that S&W now uses the customer for QC. If it doesn't come back to the factory, it's a good gun. Otherwise, they'll fix it.
I'm really sorry that your first experience with S&W is that poor.
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Neanderthaler
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2016
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I cannot believe that was a new gun. Maybe S&W can check to see if someone registered it for warranty reasons before or even if it was sold to you by the same shop that originally purchased it from them. Probably went to a distributor first, but there should be some type of paper trail. Honestly, and this is only my opinion, probably won't win me any friends, your gripe should be with the seller. I can't believe Smith & Wesson put out a revolver in that condition. I've seen them new in shops with a little residue in a cylinder from testing, but nothing as poor condition as yours. It would go a long way for them to refinish yours, but I don't feel like they owe you anything. Sorry. Now their inconsistent trigger pulls, that's another story.
Where did you order the gun from? Because I thought it was used gun when I first looked at it. It looked like someone, with no real knowledge how to do it, tried to polish the finish and really wrecked it. As for the other problems it wouldn't be hard for a dealer to collect all the bad parts from different revolvers and stick them all on your gun. I would very seriously like to know what the deal is.
You say you haven't fired the gun? Because that gun HAS been fired. Not much but a few rounds. It's more than the turn line. There's powder burn around the bore chamber. It looks like it to me. I circled the areas in red I think have been discolored by powder in this photo.
BUT I look at the finish inside the chamber and it looks messed up too. That would indicate a Smith and Wesson issue. There are obvious lines in the finish inside on the frame. I also circled the areas in yellow where the finish inside on the frame is messed up. That wouldn't have been done by someone polishing the gun. Not like that.
Whatever the problem is something is certainly off with this gun. I really hate buying anything without looking at it closely first. I've saved myself a lot of money that way not only by avoiding problem guns but also by seeing a problem that has knocked the price down on a used gun and knowing what it will take to fix it. I've sent some back to get warranty work when I wasn't the original owner. Springfield did that for me. If S&W doesn't make this right that will really make me think about buying from them in the future. I bought a M&P Sport AR from them not too long ago and it has been everything I've come to expect from that company. It has been excellent. I would think they would fix this. I would get the dealer involved on this because they buy lots of guns. You only buy a few. Companies listen to dealers. That's a big reason I like to know who I'm buying from. I've only ordered a very few guns over the net and it has worked out but I've seen things not work out in transactions over the net too.
I know you've probably heard it enough but you should have refused that gun. My 629 doesn't look anything like that. Mine had been fired but only about 15 times when I bought it. Yours has less burned area than mine did but it has some. There's no burnt powder hiding in the cracks you can't get at to clean on your gun. It hasn't been fired much but a few rounds have gone down the pipe IMO.
You say you haven't fired the gun? Because that gun HAS been fired. Not much but a few rounds. It's more than the turn line. There's powder burn around the bore chamber. It looks like it to me. I circled the areas in red I think have been discolored by powder in this photo.
BUT I look at the finish inside the chamber and it looks messed up too. That would indicate a Smith and Wesson issue. There are obvious lines in the finish inside on the frame. I also circled the areas in yellow where the finish inside on the frame is messed up. That wouldn't have been done by someone polishing the gun. Not like that.
Whatever the problem is something is certainly off with this gun. I really hate buying anything without looking at it closely first. I've saved myself a lot of money that way not only by avoiding problem guns but also by seeing a problem that has knocked the price down on a used gun and knowing what it will take to fix it. I've sent some back to get warranty work when I wasn't the original owner. Springfield did that for me. If S&W doesn't make this right that will really make me think about buying from them in the future. I bought a M&P Sport AR from them not too long ago and it has been everything I've come to expect from that company. It has been excellent. I would think they would fix this. I would get the dealer involved on this because they buy lots of guns. You only buy a few. Companies listen to dealers. That's a big reason I like to know who I'm buying from. I've only ordered a very few guns over the net and it has worked out but I've seen things not work out in transactions over the net too.
I know you've probably heard it enough but you should have refused that gun. My 629 doesn't look anything like that. Mine had been fired but only about 15 times when I bought it. Yours has less burned area than mine did but it has some. There's no burnt powder hiding in the cracks you can't get at to clean on your gun. It hasn't been fired much but a few rounds have gone down the pipe IMO.
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This gun was bought brand new from Guns for Sale | Online Gun Store | Grab A Gun and had it transferred to a local dealer. I've spent more than $4K at Grabagun over the last few years and had good experiences.
I usually buy guns online and have them transferred to a local dealer. I have never refused a transfer before and honestly, it seemed as much a hassle as sending it to the factory - or so I thought.
S&W was not all that friendly on the phone - tried to explain the issues and the guy kept talking over me and interrupting - also gave no apology. He did offer a prepaid shipping label and emailed it promptly.
I sent it that day and it was received at S&W the next day (2/1). A week later (2/7) I received an email with a letter in a PDF file. The letter stated they received the gun and I now have an RMA #. I haven't heard anything since and bet they will just ship back after work is completed - nothing atypical about that.
We'll see if they make it right - right now, I'm wishing I bought another Ruger.
I usually buy guns online and have them transferred to a local dealer. I have never refused a transfer before and honestly, it seemed as much a hassle as sending it to the factory - or so I thought.
S&W was not all that friendly on the phone - tried to explain the issues and the guy kept talking over me and interrupting - also gave no apology. He did offer a prepaid shipping label and emailed it promptly.
I sent it that day and it was received at S&W the next day (2/1). A week later (2/7) I received an email with a letter in a PDF file. The letter stated they received the gun and I now have an RMA #. I haven't heard anything since and bet they will just ship back after work is completed - nothing atypical about that.
We'll see if they make it right - right now, I'm wishing I bought another Ruger.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
That's a used gun. It was cleaned up because of body sweat tarnish in the summer heat. It can dull stainless. I been there my snubbie with a in the pants holster dulls the finish. The holster gets damp.
If S&W or Grabagun sold me a used gun they owe me a refund.
I called S&W with the RMA # and was told the gun had been to parts and was going to another department - the representative said it looks like the service was "winding down" and it should be shipped in about a week to a week and a half.
He said he couldn't tell me what had been done to it because those notes are handwritten by the gunsmiths and it will be included with my gun when it is shipped back.
I've been shooting a long time, and the bore looks new to me, with what could be factory test firing wear. The cyclinder looked new to me from the front - it looks like only three rounds have ever been shot.
I called S&W with the RMA # and was told the gun had been to parts and was going to another department - the representative said it looks like the service was "winding down" and it should be shipped in about a week to a week and a half.
He said he couldn't tell me what had been done to it because those notes are handwritten by the gunsmiths and it will be included with my gun when it is shipped back.
I've been shooting a long time, and the bore looks new to me, with what could be factory test firing wear. The cyclinder looked new to me from the front - it looks like only three rounds have ever been shot.
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I'm betting (and hoping for your sake) you're gonna get a great gun back in the mail shortly. It's unfortunate you will have had to jump through the hoops to get it that way, and I don't know how, or what happened, or whose fault it is that you received what you received when you bought it "NIB", but there is a sketchy story somewhere behind that piece. Matters not, provided you get it back in tip top shape. Please continue to update and provide pics as I and probably many others watch this thread. For myself, it doesn't make me question S&W's ability to perform QC as much as it reaffirms my unwillingness to purchase guns sight-unseen from online dealers; whoever they may be and however good their track record. I understand many will differ with me there, and probably quite justifiably, but I just won't buy a gun I can't see on a shelf first, pick up, and closely inspect.
