I Thought S&W's Were Life Time Guaranteed - Wrong

[jmiles1960]

I bought a 29-3 6" bbl, blued, with the original and paperwork, at my local gun store a few months ago.

I will admit, it was in such nice condition and had that hardly used look, I didn't notice it would not lock up on two chambers (timing issue), so I decided to send it to S&W for repair.

Having never sent a gun to them before, I thought I'd read online that an S&W carried a life time guarantee - but the $160 bill I received from them said otherwise. New hand needed, correct cylinder play and test fire. Thank you very much!

I should have done my homework more thoroughly, and the gun was a good buy regardless. My misunderstanding I guess.

I hope to have the ole 29 back soon. Next time I'll be more carefully at the gun counter before putting my money down!

 

[Rpg]

Smith's lifetime guarantee didn't come about until after your gun. Current production guns have it, but older guns like yours don't.

Even if your gun had the current lifetime warranty, since you aren't the original owner it wouldn't cover you.

 

[muddocktor]

The lifetime warranty didn't go into effect until around 1989 or so. And the 29-3 was made before that. According to the SCSW, the -3 models were made between 1982-1987.

 

[e3mrk]

I sent my model 29-3 in for repaires for a canted barrel and I was charged $125.00. what they have to do to rectify the problem I thought it would be a lot more.

 

[Ingramite]

It makes for interesting and informative reading when you start checking firearms warranties by company.
I was very surprised.

Heck, I've been putting off taking a Craftsman wrench in to get it replaced. I went down there the other day to find a roller rink where the Sears store used to be.

 

[kelton]

Warranty | Smith & Wesson

1 year on new guns

 

[Bullet Bob]

The internet has told me that the government owes me money, I can be much younger and better looking, and that I can be a millionaire by investing in certain schemes.

I'm still looking for all that.

 

[cndrdk]

Smith's lifetime guarantee didn't come about until after your gun. Current production guns have it, but older guns like yours don't.

Even if your gun had the current lifetime warranty, since you aren't the original owner it wouldn't cover you.

True, but here's a story. About 20 years ago I had an old flat latch M36 that ,years before I got it, some one had "bobbed" the hammer, cut a few coils off mainspring and a "trigger" job. Looking at some S&W paperwork in box of another, I find Lone Star Guns (Frank Smith), in Plano, TX as an authorized repair station. I contacted Mr. Smith and he said "S&W's have lifetime warranty for law enforcement officers". I explained this was not an actual warranty issue, I was just concerned about carrying it as a backup due to previous work performed. Mr Smith said bring it to him. Lone Star Guns was about a 50 mile one way trip for me, but one morning I drove over and gave him the M36. Mr. Smith tells me he knows it's a long round trip to his shop, so if I wanted, I could go eat lunch, mess around for a while and he would have it ready for me later. He gave me directions to a large gun shop/range and a few other suggestions to pass the time. I came back later and he had put in a new hammer, trigger, all springs replaced, and cleaned/lubed. There was no charge. Do S&W's have a lifetime warranty for LEO's? I don't know for sure, but if not, I had just brought my M36 to the best. kindest, LEO supporting S&W mechanic ever.

 

[Jim1392]

Warranty | Smith & Wesson

1 year on new guns

I sent my M & P 22C back last year to S & W for light strikes. They replaced the firing pin, and paid both ways for the shipping. I purchased the gun 04/2014.

 

[Muss Muggins]

S&W has a one year bumper to bumper warranty and a lifetime service policy for any firearm manufactured after a date certain in 1989 which covers defects in materials and workmanship. My experience has been that S&W goes the extra mile to apply the service policy where possible. A wear issue, like yours, will come with a bill. The bright side is that S&W factory repairs can't be beat, and in my experience, are priced very reasonably . . .

I bought a 29-3 6" bbl, blued, with the original and paperwork, at my local gun store a few months ago.

I will admit, it was in such nice condition and had that hardly used look, I didn't notice it would not lock up on two chambers (timing issue), so I decided to send it to S&W for repair.

Having never sent a gun to them before, I thought I'd read online that an S&W carried a life time guarantee - but the $160 bill I received from them said otherwise. New hand needed, correct cylinder play and test fire. Thank you very much!

I should have done my homework more thoroughly, and the gun was a good buy regardless. My misunderstanding I guess.

I hope to have the ole 29 back soon. Next time I'll be more carefully at the gun counter before putting my money down!

 

[llowry61]

It is ironic that a hand can need replaced on firearms that have such a high exterior condition. Doesn't really make sense to me but, I don't think many warranties covers normal wear. I can't fault them for billing in these instances, although again, I can't understand the hand replacement on what appear to be virtually unused guns. I have had this same issue a couple of times, however a local gunsmith has done the work for me at about 50 bucks.

 

[Rastoff]

Ed Brown is the only company that has a written lifetime warranty on the gun, no questions asked.

The S&W warranty is on just the original owner, but as Muss said, they really do go out of their way to make owners happy. Still, a gun that old and with that much wear will come with a bill.

 

[Evil Dog]

Have a 629-1 that the barrel was canted by a few degrees. Called S&W to find out about a repair. It was old enough that the warranty had expired and I was not the original owner so no warranty anyway. The guy I talked to said that I could send it in (at my expense) and they would take a look at it for a minimum charge of $125.... that was just to look at it !!! Should I authorize any repair work that charge would be applied to the authorized repair.

Nope !!! Unscrewed the barrel about 4 turns and put some blue loctite on the exposed threads. Screwed it back in until it butted solidly against the frame and the serrations on the barrel aligned with the ones on the rear sight.

Has worked fine ever since. Of course I shoot mostly 44 Spl but should I shoot any full house magnums I will check the alignment as described above just to make sure it hasn't moved.

 

[chief38]

Just my personal opinion, but since you state the gun is is such great shape and has the original paperwork (and I'll assume you meant and stared to say box) you are better off putting the $160 into it and having a close to 100% "vintage" Smith as opposed to a new one. Assuming the Factory did all the work correctly, it should last you tens of thousands of rounds.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I had a SW40VE that my BIL sold me so cheap that I couldn't refuse. The slide spring rod broke, (can't remember the proper name, it's before coffee). I called S&W, told them I was not the original owner and what the problem was. A few days later I had a new replacement at no charge.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[jmiles1960]

Thanks for everyone's comments and experiences. Overall, the repair cost and (hopefully) quality of the repair and check out is well worth the money. I didn't have anyone local I'd trust working on it. Hope to have it back soon! Thanks again and Happy 4th guys!