Model 37 Airweight cracked Frame

[Aemsl69]

So, I’ve had this Model 37 Airweight with a 3” barrel for many years. Its sat in the unfired for 5-7 years. It’s kinda rough and I was planning on moving it along the road on a local board.

So, I got it clean up and posted. Got an offer immediately and made arrangements to sell for my asking price. Upon further inspection the evening before the sale I notice a cracked frame. I called off the sale.

I’ve heard this is common but never have inspected any gun for this and I’ve never seen it. I guess I’ll be doing a more than a casual inspection from here on out.

What to do now? Paper weight, Parts Gun, Find a frame and Install a 3”Barrel? Just another of life’s’ lessons?

UDATE:

Well after a about a month, almost to the date exactly S&W Quality Assurance contacted me. They indicated the gun was cracked and inoperable. They told me the gun would be destroyed and affected me a New Model 37 as a replacement.

I asked to upgrade to to the Performance Center Model 60, No bueno.

I accepted their offer, I will be the proud owner of a New Model 37.

 

[Truckman]

What to do now? Paper weight, Parts Gun, Find a frame and Install a 3”Barrel? Just another of life’s’ lessons?

Call S&W to inquire about a warranty repair or replacement?......Ben

 

[John Patrick]

I’ve seen one I or J Frame with a cracked frame. Iirc, the crack was behind the crane, at least the visible portion.

I would hope S&W will replace the frame.

Yours +P?

 

[waffles]

Welcome to club, I've had 2 crack there and a scandium frame break as well. Mine netted me a couple hundo a piece at a buyback except for the 642 which S&W replaced.

Buyback is an option if you have decent ones near you, otherwise paperweight or strip it for parts. I'm not buying any airweights anymore.

 

[Aemsl69]

I’ve seen one I or J Frame with a cracked frame. Iirc, the crack was behind the crane, at least the visible portion.

I would hope S&W will replace the frame.

Yours +P?

No, just .38 Special.

 

[John Patrick]

I have a 3” 37 as well. Non +P.

Mine is pinned, but based on the lack of turn ring and the condition of the breech face, I think I was the first to shoot it.

Think I’ll limit it to cowboy action and wadcutter loads.

Good Luck with S&W, hope they do the right thing.

ETA: The blued 3” J Frames are beautiful revolvers, with great proportions. Hope it works out for you.

 

[J-FRAME]

S&W will give a discount on a new gun. It’s bad I know. One of my very favorite guns could not be repaired recently. But I had 40 plus years and shot it a lot and carried it . It was very sad to see her go . But not often do you get to wear a gun out

 

[Aemsl69]

S&W will give a discount on a new gun. It’s bad I know. One of my very favorite guns could not be repaired recently. But I had 40 plus years and shot it a lot and carried it . It was very sad to see her go . But not often do you get to wear a gun out

Let’s hope,

S&W is closed until the 3rd. I’ll call back then.

 

[Sistema1927]

S&W replaced a 642 free gratis when it suffered the same crack.

 

[Triggernosis]

S&W replaced a 642 free gratis when it suffered the same crack.

That's because they could replace it. The model 37 has been out of production since Moses climbed the mountain and is irreplaceable.

 

[Baxter6551]

They are replacing my cracked early 642 I sent back in October with a no lock 442 (I requested 442 vs 642). No hassle at all. I called customer service. They gave me a return authorization with a prepaid fed ex label and it took just over a month to get a resolution. Not sure what the offer would be for the 37.

 

[Aemsl69]

So, I spoke with S&W yesterday. The had me send some pictures to [email protected]. I did that yesterday afternoon. I had a shipping label early this morning. The old gun is on its way back, I just dropped it off.

I'll post updates as they occur.

 

[Sistema1927]

That's because they could replace it. The model 37 has been out of production since Moses climbed the mountain and is irreplaceable.

They are still cataloging the 637. As the OP stated, he has sent his cracked 37 back to S&W. Let's see what they do, but if I had to guess, they would replace it with his choice of Airweight J-frames.

 

[Truckman]

I'll post updates as they occur.

Interesting, Mike...I guess having a new gun as a replacement is a nice gesture on their part, but for me it wouldn't equal having the cash equivalent of their production and shipping costs to go out and find a used replacement on my own...But still whatever they do is far better than the "too bad" you might get from another manufacturer...And it's not like you're out of serviceable J-frames yet either is it......Ben

 

[Aemsl69]

Interesting, Mike...I guess having a new gun as a replacement is a nice gesture on their part, but for me it wouldn't equal having the cash equivalent of their production and shipping costs to go out and find a used replacement on my own...But still whatever they do is far better than the "too bad" you might get from another manufacturer...And it's not like you're out of serviceable J-frames yet either is it......Ben

Ben, you are correct, I have plenty of serviceable J frames in the safe as well as a few others! We shall see what S&W comes back with.

 

[27 Man]

Same thing happened to my model 38. Never knew when it occurred. I contacted S&W and sent pictures. They sent me a mailing label and off she went back to the mother ship. A short time later, I got an email saying the gun could not be repaired and said it would be replaced with a 638. Short time later my new 638 with the hole arrived at my FFL. My model 38 was one of the first crush fit guns after the removal of the barrel pin. I was told that those early crush fit guns may have been torqued too much and over time the frame failed. Hint: pull those nice wooden grips off before you mail it. New ones will be rubber.

 

[Model19man]

Well it's a sad end to a fine J frame. It made me pull mine out to check to see if it had a crack. It doesn't thankfully.

Mine gets a lot of use with primarily low speed full wadcutters for practice. For home defense I have it loaded with some cowboy semi wadcutters from the local gun show. It's not a showpiece by any stretch of the imagination.


Hope Smith & Wesson treats you right!

 

[austintexas]

I don't think the aluminum frames are cracking because you use standard loaded 38s. I think it has something to do with the barrel being over torqued in manufacturing.
SWCA 892

 

[stansdds]

Cracking in that part of the frame is probably the most common point of failure with S&W aluminum and scandium J-frames. It's not repairable, so it's either a paperweight, a parts source, or maybe S&W will make a replacement offer.

 

[Mbrgr1]

I don't think the aluminum frames are cracking because you use standard loaded 38s. I think it has something to do with the barrel being over torqued in manufacturing.
SWCA 892

I wonder if anyone has set up a safe test stand to keep firing a cracked frame to see what happens?


My garage floor is cracked but I keep driving on it!