Quality control issues, is this common?

[HDS]

I was looking over my new S&W 629-5 (full underlug) and I noticed the barrel has tiny flaws, pitting it looks like:

I've had this gun for a week, it's a "Classic Champion" and is a S&W that a german tuning company took and worked over. They went bankrupt and I bought one of the guns from the final blowout sale at a very good discount (899 when the regular price was 1350). But still I didn't expect this to walk through the door of S&W, let alone Wischo.

But, maybe I am just blinded by my only other example of a S&W which is a 1965 M17 that is just put together like a work of art. Looking at the area where the crane meets the frame and it just seals up perfectly, you can tell this was made with care and attention.

So what do you guys think, am I being too "demanding" here, should I just shoot it and ignore it, are finishing flaws like this common on modern S&Ws?

I've sent Smith & Wesson themselves a mail as well with the picture in question to see that they think.

 

[ErnieDeBord]

As a "connisuier" of fine firearms, I understand your question. I would kinda bug me to see that on a firearm of mine. But I have seen hidden flaws on just about every brand of them. I have either polished them out myself, or if I couldnt stand it I sold or traded it off. I have been told more than once that I am kinda finicky on things

 

[357 shooter]

My own 629-5 in the same area is bead blasted and no surface irregularities are noticeable with the matted surface. Looks like in your picture the top of the barrel is not bead blasted? Maybe my own would look the same with the surface polished smooth? Not sure.

I will say the acccuracy of the 629-5 I own is exceptional and that will most likely be the same with your as well.

 

[stevieboy]

I own a bunch of S & W revolvers from different eras and none of them is flawless. Here are a few examples:

1. My 625 JM, obviously a modern gun, has noticeable machine tool marks on its fancy forged hammer.

2. My 27-3 has a slight but noticeable gap at the point where the extractor housing mates with the gun's frame.

3. My 617-1 has machine tool marks on its cylinder.

4. And, my 1911 -- not a revolver, obviously -- has slight peening on its frame due to a tight slide-frame fit.

None of these flaws is immediately visible and they only show up on close inspection. I'd guess that 99% of the people handling these guns wouldn't notice them. Also, none of the flaws I've mentioned causes any performance problems. All of these guns plus several others that I own with tiny flaws perform perfectly.

I, for one, do not think that Smith's manufacturing quality has declined. To be sure, manufacturing processes have changed, meaning that one type of error has almost certainly given way to another. Errors made by human hands have now been replaced by errors made by machines that were programmed by human hands. The overall product, however, remains superior.

 

[Harrison]

You could think of it as giving your revolver, unique character.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Is it possible that area was bead blasted from the factory and the custom shop polished it out, but not quite enough?

 

[HDS]

I doubt that, or atleas that they tried to polish it out since this gun isn't polished but bead blasted. I've seen several people say my gun is polished for some reason, maybe the light on the picture made people think it was polished or something so here is another pic:

 

[xopher88x]

Looks OK from that last angle. Wow.

 

[Dale53]

That is a FINE looking revolver. I would not be thrilled with the flaws but neither would I be "turned off".

Celebrate your good fortune at being able to get this fine revolver at a very good price (for the area) and SHOOT IT!>)).

Dale53

 

[markush]

I feel your pain man. Unfortunately I think quality like that is becoming far too common with everything these days. It seems that a lot of people would never notice that. The ones that do are likely to either not know the difference or say, oh well I bought it to use. The manufacturers are never called on their shoddy craftsmanship and the cycle continues until you end up with something like...plastic guns

Most of my firearms are from the mid 70's through the early 80's. Firearms that would be considered modern replacements are not even close in fit and finish and most would have some plastic parts. My first S&W was a 1981 27-2 with all the T's in a presentation case and it is an absolute work of art. Not even my Python of the same vintage is remotely close in fit or finish. I always end up comparing newer handguns to the 27 and am always disappointed. The tool marks on the case hardened trigger of my 617-1 just make me shake my head.

You'll have to excuse me I feel an urge to go fondle my 27-2...

 

[gerald mcdonald]

I wouldnt sweat it, compared to a Ruger thats no flaw. I aint knocking Rugers but the security six'es I've owned in the past looked much worse. Shot great, every one of them but fit and finish wasnt there.

 

[highcotton]

old vs new

I am a life long shooter but have only recenty become interested in revolvers. I have read several threads on this and other boards about quality reduction in the handgun manufacturing industry. I never fully realized the information in front of me because I'm not educated in the "lingo" enough to know the difference between a "no dash" and
a "-10" of any given model.

I recently purchased a new model 15-3. I paid $400 for it which may have been too much but I just fell in love with the gun and had to have it. I am old enough to be long over the "macho" problems associated with shooting hand cannons and find no pleasure shooting the magnums. Therefore the 38 special was attractive to me in a practical sense.

I now compare my 15-3 to the newer revolvers and even with my untrained eye I see a world of difference. I can't say that the gun is stronger or better but I can dang sure say the workmanship is waaay above that of the newer models. When looking at the craftsmanship in this gun I can visualize a guy sitting at a bench wearing a shop apron while fitting and finishing the gun with all the pride in the world.

He put a single action trigger pull on the gun that will rival any of my custom 1911's and the gun will group with them as well.

So, like I said, I cant say the older guns are better or stronger but they are dang sure prettier.

 

[sw282]

si...............

 

[HDS]

Well I do feel better hearing from you guys, feels better to know it's not just you who experiences these things, still kinda sad.

Anyone who can tell me what the triggers are made of? It looks like like fake color case hardening. I was thinking of maybe narrowing the trigger and polishing it mirror smooth. Got my M17 trigger like that and I love it (well the original is intact, I modded a spare trigger). Can it be nite blued perhaps?