First S&W - surprised
- Thread starter 686357
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I agree with those who believe this is not a new gun, for whatever reasons. I recently went with a friend to pick up his new S & W 1911 and it was literally perfect - not a scratch or ANY discrepancy - heck I don't think I saw a speck of dust on it!
HOUSTON RICK
Member
I have a theory - some of the guns that you would never buy if you saw them first are sold on the internet. Just a theory.
Mumbly-Peg
Member
It's not just the internet. My LGS has a 686 SSR that looks like someone took a file to the frame just behind the crane AFTER bead blasting.
NJM15
Member
Buds took care
About 3 months ago I ordered a rifle from Buds when the FFL got it he called me and said the stock was completely broken off. Of course I didn't transfer it to my name. Called Buds , they said send it back, and replaced it with no Hassel
Sent gun 1/31 and received back 2/24 (door to door). Paper work said they inspected firearm, replaced rear sight, the entire gun was refinished, and there was a sheet stating the function was approved. It isn't much better - the turnline is less pronounced, and the barrel dual finish was polished exceptionally well.
If you look at the pic of the left side of the revolver frame, you'll see the finish is much better - except for the portion directly above the trigger guard - where it looks like they just stopped polishing - like the quittin' bell rang and that was it.
The finish on the right side of the receiver is better - but not good - still filled with swirls.
The white outline is better, and appears acceptable It wiggles more loosely than the previous, and was installed far right. No biggie to adjust at the range.
What do I think about it - I'm very pleased with the barrel refinishing - better than I expected. The turnline/receiver plate fit issue was also completed very well. The rear sight was fixed and appears acceptable, lil' loose but we'll see what she does at the range. The refinishing of the receiver sides was not completed 100% and IMO shouldn't have passed inspection.
Did S&W come through? Mostly. So, am I gonna send it back again on the finish? No, she's not a trophy - but I have to admit I don't care for the incomplete job and I will bear it in mind when considering future purchases (which will be made in store where I can view the revolver first).
I still maintain this is a new gun, the refinishing put an exceptional clean on the cylinder and inside of the frame. The bore looks like it was cleaned also, and looks like new grooves to me.
If you look at the pic of the left side of the revolver frame, you'll see the finish is much better - except for the portion directly above the trigger guard - where it looks like they just stopped polishing - like the quittin' bell rang and that was it.
The finish on the right side of the receiver is better - but not good - still filled with swirls.
The white outline is better, and appears acceptable It wiggles more loosely than the previous, and was installed far right. No biggie to adjust at the range.
What do I think about it - I'm very pleased with the barrel refinishing - better than I expected. The turnline/receiver plate fit issue was also completed very well. The rear sight was fixed and appears acceptable, lil' loose but we'll see what she does at the range. The refinishing of the receiver sides was not completed 100% and IMO shouldn't have passed inspection.
Did S&W come through? Mostly. So, am I gonna send it back again on the finish? No, she's not a trophy - but I have to admit I don't care for the incomplete job and I will bear it in mind when considering future purchases (which will be made in store where I can view the revolver first).
I still maintain this is a new gun, the refinishing put an exceptional clean on the cylinder and inside of the frame. The bore looks like it was cleaned also, and looks like new grooves to me.
Good to know Bud's stands behind their inventory.
About 3 months ago I ordered a rifle from Buds when the FFL got it he called me and said the stock was completely broken off. Of course I didn't transfer it to my name. Called Buds , they said send it back, and replaced it with no Hassel
Curtis Reed
Member
New gun? Ruger > S&W
Pre lock and P&R? S&W > Ruger
Pre lock and P&R? S&W > Ruger
MJFlores
Member
That is a factory brand new gun. Walk into any gun shop and you'll see that every new stainless gun is in the same shape. Dont look from 6 feet away through glass, ask to hold one. I'm to the point where I can spot clocked barrels while walking by display cases. The fit and finish on these new revolvers is inexcusable. The best thing that could happen is for S&W to go out of business, have someone buy the assets and start it up again by making quality revolvers again. I know I sound harsh, but it's because I've watched a steady decline in their quality over a lifetime and it's sickening to see. Either close down shop or drop your prices to half what is asked because right now the price they ask isn't warranted. So many guns get shipped back for problems that I bet the manufacturing crew at Smith is dwarfed by customer service and repair team. How many return labels do they issue per day?
Jdavis
Member
I can believe that this is a new gun and that it slipped through factory QC before being shipped out. The reason is that it looks similar although a bit worse than the one I got back after asking for a refinish. The same heavy handed guy must have done this one. Hope that they get yours right.
sasu
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I agree. A decade ago I bought around a dozen new Smith & Wessons, both revolvers and pistols. When I tabulated the results it turned out every third of them required gunsmith's attention to make them work properly. As I live out of reach of warranty repairs, most of the repairs I paid for myself. Now I am very weary of ordering new Smith & Wessons as the prices have gone through the roof.
I have had warranty problems with other manufacturers, too, so Smith & Wesson is not alone in this. I guess the demand is so high and most buyers so ignorant that it makes sense to rush the production and then take care of the small percentage of guns that come back - pure mathematics.
All my new guns that have required repairs have functioned and gone bang. That is probably enough for most buyers.
One of the silliest posts I've seen here in a while.
Mumbly-Peg
Member
After handling the Ruger vs the Smiths, I think the Smiths are still the better finished gun. The question is whether the difference in finish is worth the price increase to go to a Smith.
For me, it is, but mostly because I don't like the lines of a GP.
Yep, the right side of the frame looks like someone used rough sandpaper to finish it. Doesn't match the rest of the revolver.
I wouldn't be too happy with that, especially having sent it back to the factory for finish issues.
The cylinder looks a lot better, as does the barrel.
I would be tempted to send it back again due to the finish issues on the RH side of the frame. It's not unreasonable to expect proper finishing on a new gun.
Watchdog
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I'm going to ask a question others are asking.
Is that a new unfired in-the-box gun? My first impression is that you've been had, and I hate that happened to you. Especially since it's your first S&W purchase.
I'd have paid return postage and a restocking fee before I'd have walked out of an FFL dealer carrying that gun.
Is that a new unfired in-the-box gun? My first impression is that you've been had, and I hate that happened to you. Especially since it's your first S&W purchase.
I'd have paid return postage and a restocking fee before I'd have walked out of an FFL dealer carrying that gun.
garddogg56
Member
This is why I WON'T buy a gun on line.I have to touch and inspect a gun before I buy it and hopefully shoot it....
ydennekb
Member
This is not surprising at all to me. I had a brand new 29-10 with a nonconcentric bore that shot way left and low and had a hideous crown. Sent it back to Smith, they cranked the barrel over to correct the windage problem but exacerbated the elevation problem and did nothing about the crown. Sent it back again and they fixed the crown but left the barrel canked to the side. Sold it with full disclosure and bought myself a 25-5. Didn't realize it till today but that barrel is tilting left as well and I had to move the rear all the way to the right to get it on paper.
At this point I have 4 S&W revolvers and every single one of them, new and old, have serious non-finish related issues. If anyone else would just build a half assed decent revolver, I'd buy a suitcase full of them and ditch all my S&W's.
At this point I have 4 S&W revolvers and every single one of them, new and old, have serious non-finish related issues. If anyone else would just build a half assed decent revolver, I'd buy a suitcase full of them and ditch all my S&W's.
