gnappi
Member
Smith & Wesson has gunsmiths???
I thought they all retired and were replaced with CNC machines!
You're probably not far off the mark. The Tron movie predicted it in 1982
Huge S&W Warranty Repair Failure
- Thread starter SWFan27
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You're probably not far off the mark. The Tron movie predicted it in 1982
firebreather
Member
S&W revolvers are designed for the cylinder to be locked in place prior to the hammer lock into the single action firing position. The slow cocking of a S&W hammer to check the timing of the revolver has been the proper way to check the timing for over 50 years that I'm aware of. We used to call the problem DCU, Doesn't Come UP meaning the cylinder stop is not in place at the proper time. The rapid pulling of the trigger or cocking back the hammer relies on the momentum of the cylinder to complete the rotation, not the mechanical workings of the revolver. A S&W revolver cylinder that doesn't lock up properly will only get worse with time and use.
Thankfully, after two weeks of my new revolver's second trip back to S&W for warranty repair, I received a FedEx tracking number today 9/10. I am guessing I should have my 617 back Thursday or Friday. I expect that the timing issue will be fixed this time. I will be really surprised if it is not working correctly this time.
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I am always amused by these threads where folks act as if things were better in the "old days." In the 80s (keep in mind that is now 40 years ago), almost one out of every two or three new S&W K frames that arrived brand new from the distributor had to go back for the dreaded "DCU" (doesn't carry up). All I had to do was to put that abbreviation on a note in with the revolver. It would come back perfect, but it was annoying, to say the least. Oddly, it almost never happened with the then-new L frames. I guess I always assumed it had to do with new machinery or something, but who knows. Bottom line - out-of-time revolvers are not necessarily a new thing with S&W.
I've said it before...
If it goes out the door it's a good gun. The 'QC' department is the customer.
If it goes out the door it's a good gun. The 'QC' department is the customer.
smoothshooter
Member
The big round thing that rotates and holds the cartridges is the CYLINDER.
The holes in the CYLINDER that are arranged in a circular pattern that the cartridges are put into are called CHAMBERS.
Why do so many people have trouble with this simple terminology?
Geez !
The holes in the CYLINDER that are arranged in a circular pattern that the cartridges are put into are called CHAMBERS.
Why do so many people have trouble with this simple terminology?
Geez !
Yep. Now, telling them the problem and how they should fix it is something else. Clearly stating/showing the problem to the repairman is always a good thing. Hard for them to know where to start if they don't know the problem.
Men, just think about when your wife is upset about something...you know what I mean.
Rosewood
It could just be being human. Many times I use the wrong word, not because I don't know the correct word, but that the brain just doesn't convey the correct word to the mouth or fingers. Happens all the time. Shoot, my mom always calls me by both of my older brothers names before she gets mine right.
Rosewood
"find another source to solve your problem(s)"
There are two other pretty good revolver manufacturers here. For the price it's hard to beat Ruger.
There are two other pretty good revolver manufacturers here. For the price it's hard to beat Ruger.
Ruger turns out a revolver that is a lemon once in a while and they can break (contrary to internet tales). S&W revolvers have better looks, handling, better designed guts and are easy to work on. They shoot good too! Of course, you knew that you'd get this kind of a response on a S&W forum!
BE MIKE makes a good point (^^^^)---at least from my perspective. WAY BACK when I was drawn to collect target guns, my choices were S&W or Colt. I chose S&W because they looked better----made sense at the time------still does!
Ralph
Ralph
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We'll keep you in our prayers that you're not sending it back come next Monday-------Hope springs eternal!!
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
Pretty harsh, IMO.
I've had one interaction with Smith on a warranty issue. They got it fixed & back to me PDQ.
I have no doubt (none) Smith is having a hard time finding good gunsmiths. In any large city you can probably count on one hand the number of good gunsmiths & have several fingers left over. Now add in the competition from other mfgrs (Colt, CZ, Beretta, etc) for the same small talent pool.
I would also add in that one should NEVER underestimate the stupidity of the general public. People can and will send in firearms with nothing wrong with them. I have personally seen this myself. Mfgrs get tired of this nonsense after a while. I get it.
Having said this, there's no doubt that many mainline mfgrs are cutting corners as much as they can. CS & warranty repair is going to be one of the first areas they cut, IMO. That makes for some unhappy customers, IMO.
What's the solution? I don't really know.
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Ruger turns out a revolver that is a lemon once in a while and they can break (contrary to internet tales). S&W revolvers have better looks, handling, better designed guts and are easy to work on. They shoot good too! Of course, you knew that you'd get this kind of a response on a S&W forum!
When it comes to snubs, I've got an LCR 38 and a 642UC.
The LCR had the top frame bolt fall out after a couple of range sessions. Ruger sent me a new one in the mail.
My 642 had a dead tritium front night sight and a misaligned yoke/crane. S&W took several weeks to replace the front sight and yoke. They sent it back with another sight that slightly glowed, but was still compromised. They're sending me another sight in the mail.
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I know about that brain not connecting with mouth scenario that you mentioned. That said, I suppose I come from the "really old days" not just the "recent old days" because I referred to it (the cylindrical thing that rotates) as a cylinder with six (or seven or eight or nine or ten these days) "charge holes."
A man whom I admire very much, Jeff Cooper, was a stickler about proper terminology. I even heard him get tongue twisted once when he referred to loading a single action revolver by instructing someone to insert a cartridge, rotate, and continue, in turn, to place the next cartridge in its "proper cylinder." We all caught it, but no one said a word! Not long before that he had pointed out that we should never ask for a "clip" if we wanted a "magazine." My view is that if it can happen to "Uncle Jeff"* it can happen to anybody!
*If I recall correctly, the first person I knew to refer to Colonel Cooper as "Uncle Jeff" was shooting champion Tom Campbell of Smith & Wesson who admitted that "Uncle Jeff was right" concerning the use of major caliber in the IPSC matches at the time. Recall that Campbell was originally using a minor caliber auto, and he convinced Smith & Wesson to come out with the 645. If memory serves, he had the phrase emblazoned on a T-shirt that he wore in at least one big match.
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So, I got my 617-6 back from Smith & Wesson today after its short (2 week) second warranty visit. I am thrilled to say that everything is now working perfectly as it should. Timing is rock solid, and it no longer shaves lead at the forcing cone. I left work early today and went to the range. I put a couple hundred rounds through it and had a lot of fun. I shot a hundred rounds of 9mm while I was there too. Great way to spend an 80 degree Friday afternoon in Southern California.
Glad to hear you got it fixed!
