Model 67 Catastrophic Failure

Two new S&W Model 67. Less than 800 rounds.
Firing line, night fire. At the same time, two barrels fail.
One flies off the gun and the other is angled downwards.
What is wrong with S&W.
It is not the first time this has happen.
In 2008, I had 4 Model 64's loose their barrels during firing.
They just broke right off.

S&W quality is down, way down.
 
I once talked with a guy who said new S&W's were nothing more than overpriced American made Taurus........maybe there was some truth to it after all!
 
I had this happen to me about 20 yrs ago, with model 64. Actually showed up late for range at Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation & Correction. Picked up the last weapon on the table and fired 1 round at 25 yds. Did not fire a second as I could not find the front sight. The the guys in the next lanes started yelling at me to not fire. They saw the barrel go down range about 5 yds. I sheared off right in front of the yoak. The institution sent all the weapons (about 60) back to S&W for inspection and repair if necessary. Smith did replace the barrel for no cost.
These weapons were about 5 yrs old at the time. With probably several thousand rounds through them.
FCSO117
 
First thing, that not a two piece barrel, second it was over tighen or 125 gr +P has been in it. That +p is the same as a 357 in most ways. S&W will fix it, but to them it will be another fix, nothing else.
 
bodyarmorguy said:
A student, who has consistently been a good shooter, was all over the target. Inspection of his revolver revealed that the barrel was missing....yes, missing.
Click to expand...

Well, at least now we know that even without a barrel a target can still be hit...somewhere. I always did wonder if a bullet out of a chamber would even hit a target at five yards- that is very, very interesting on it's own.
 
Andy Griffith said:
Well, at least now we know that even without a barrel a target can still be hit...somewhere. I always did wonder if a bullet out of a chamber would even hit a target at five yards- that is very, very interesting on it's own.
Click to expand...

That is what I'm thinking-How many rounds did he fire before realizing the barrel was missing??? I'm hoping it wasn't more than 6 :eek:
 
As of today, the 10 Model 67-5 revolvers (I thought we had more) were shipped back to S&W with a request to exchange for 67-6 models. Will keep you updated.
 
There's a compound or process problem there. Who ever made the crack about pinned barrels is right. Threads do make the barrel weaker, but nothing like that . Trade fore some 3.5" 27's and call it even.

Jim
 
A pinned barrel would be the weakest of all. Yet, how many of them failed like this.
 
Back in the 70's when I was but a callow youth, I had a Model 67 (don't remember the dash number, if any). I had loaded up some .38 specials, but had misread the indicator markings on my beam scale and inadvertently loaded a really hot load of Hercules Unique in a batch of them.

The first round I touched off was an immense surprise. There was a huge fireball, and the gun rocked back in my hand like I had fired a .44 mag. Of course, I stopped immediately. On inspection, the only damage was that the particular chamber in which the round was fired was noticeably bulged. Still, the gun held together in spite of my abject carelessness. I sold the gun to a gunsmith for parts, and learned my lesson about paying very close attention to the details when reloading.

I was, however, very impressed with the strength of the Model 67. I guess they don't make 'em like they used to.

John

P.S. Looking back, I realize that was the only mistake I have ever made in my entire life. :rolleyes:
 
Wow, never saw anything like that before.
Corrections here are issued 9mm Glock 19's.
 
I'm certainly no expert in Model 67s but I believe the very latest ones are 67-5s. I have a 67-6 with the 2 piece barrel and the fired case envelope is dated 2008. My 67-5's envelope is dated 2010 so my guess is that if S&W replaces these with the same model they will be 67-5s unless there are 67-6s remaining in the factory. It appears to me the 2-piece barrel (perhaps among other modifications) was the reason for the -6 change and when they went back to the 1-piece barrel they started using the -5 again. However, my theory is only true if the date on the fired case envelopes I have is an accurate guide.

It's interesting to me that despite all the negative comments about the 2-piece barrel these were not.
 
Last edited:
Bodyarmorguy, did the two guns with barrel failures have the same three-letter serial number prefix - CNW - ? Did anyone note the serial number prefixes on all of the guns you shipped back? Were they all the same, or did they cover a range of the alphabet? Concerned because I have a 67-5 with prefix CNJ. Haven't had any problems yet, but I haven't shot the gun much, either.
 
Through a friend in Law Enforcement, I've heard of this happening to Model 66's at his range.

Of interest, these all seem to be striking stainless steel guns...

Hmmmmm....
 
lemeni said:
Bodyarmorguy, did the two guns with barrel failures have the same three-letter serial number prefix - CNW - ? Did anyone note the serial number prefixes on all of the guns you shipped back? Were they all the same, or did they cover a range of the alphabet? Concerned because I have a 67-5 with prefix CNJ. Haven't had any problems yet, but I haven't shot the gun much, either.
Click to expand...

Yes, we have a record of the serial numbers but I don't know them off the top of my head. I will find out and post asap.
 
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