NOT Happy with New Sight Blades

[papajohn428]

I've picked up several used S&W revolvers in the past year, and some of them needed a little love and attention. Two of them had obviously been dropped on the rear sight, and the sight blades needed replacing. So I got online and ordered three news rear sight blades with the white outline, which I prefer. I bought one of these a year or two back, and was thoroughly disappointed in the sight I received, there was almost no white outline visible, the paint was so thin it was transparent. I decided to re-touch it, so I masked it off and tried my hand at improving it with some white nail polish. The results were crude, but still better.

I waited a couple weeks for the new parts, which had been listed as available when I ordered them. I finally called them, was told they were backordered, and it might be awhile. (Gee, thanks for letting me know that, if I was a gunsmith ordering parts for a customer's gun I'd have one very irate customer on my hands right now.) He didn't know when the parts would be in, and didn't seem to care a lot about my schedule, the crummy parts I'd received in the past, or much of anything.

I finally got an e-mail from S&W telling me my parts were enroute via FedEx, and would be here on a Wednesday, so I cancelled my plans and waited at home all day. FedEx finally showed up at 5:30pm, didn't have them, and told me the location listed on the S&W e-mail didn't even exist anymore. Swell.

42 days after I put in the order the parts finally arrived, they showed up in my mailbox, so I have no idea who actually delivered them. The rear sight blades are just as anemic as the last one, and I am severely tempted to send them back, but I want these guns back in the stable, not deadlined awaiting parts.

I'm pretty disgusted with S&W right now. I own ten of their revolvers, and have bought four of their MP-15's, but at this point I'm ready to wash my hands of them and deal with anyone else when it comes to service issues.

Sad to say, but Ruger's Customer Service is light-years better. And so are their parts.

 

[tom32]

I have had the same results with the white outline quality of several recent orders. I can't believe the difference between the old blades and the new "oem" replacement blades.
I will say though that S&W customer service has been very good to me.

 

[VaRecon]

I mostly buy older guns and have never had any issues.
I have been hearing a lot of negative feedback about service.
Fortunately this has never been the case with me.
From what everyone is saying it sounds like they are just taking the easy routes and not spending the money or time their customers deserve.
I'm lucky I have not had any issues because I really don't care for the feel of any of the competitor's guns.
I know Ruger makes great guns and if I wanted to lose an arm and a leg in price I'm sure the Python would serve me well too.
The biggest problem is they aren't an S&W. I hope that everything gets sorted out for you and that these won't be your last S&W's.

 

[dlbx2]

VM has some nice white outline blades from the 70s. He also has the windage screws and nuts, They are listed in the Accessories for sale section. Believe me, they are VERY hard to find. I called S&W customer service & sent them a letter about the poor paint quality on their newer white outline sights. I have vision issues, and the new ones may as well be black. Oh, and the new paint comes off from a mild wiping down of the area so be gentle. Give them a call and let them know that you are not satisfied, as it is still true; the squeeky wheel gets the grease, 1-800-331-0582, choice 7. Aside from this, S&W customer service that I have received over the years has been top notch. It is just a shame that the enjoyment of shooting them is diminished by a little white line.
Have a nice weekend, DLB

 

[Dpris]

I've found the same thing on recent Smiths, just too dim on the outline.
Denis

 

[41 fan]

dlbx2,

Who is VM and how may I contack him? Thanks, Dean

 

[AveragEd]

I might be able to shed some light on the shipping issue. When I order something from S&W, it leaves Massachusetts with FedEx Ground and goes right by our place outside Carlisle, PA on I-81 and a nearby FedEx Ground terminal to Morgantown, WV where it is dropped off at the post office and comes to me in the mail about six days after I order it. If I pay the few bucks extra for overnight shipping, and it is very reasonable, I get it the next day via UPS.

There must be a good reason for that shipping system but I can't figure it out.

Ed

 

[dlbx2]

I found these on GB, and feel lucky to have found them. This is what they made years ago. Come on guys, is that little bit of paint so expensive that you change to something that is just plain cheap? And, for those who say "what's the big deal?", wait until you are a little older and your vision starts to grow a little dim. With all the GLOCK bashing that I have seen, I can see the white outline rear sight on my GLOCK 19 all the way across the room!
DLB