S&W Airweight Revolver Damage???

[dandyrandy]

Hello again everyone and its once again great to be back on here! Ive been gone for awhile. Hey had a quick queston on what everyone on here thought about this damage I saw here on a gun being sold "new in box" at a gun store. Typically when I see these older S&Ws I look at them especially when the gun store gets a "NIB" antique it peaks my interest. When I look at these old Airweights I look for damage on the frame. I saw this on the top strap near the forcing cone. My first thought was flame cutting but the gun store told me its NIB and only had the factory test loads through it. The cylinder only has three burned chambers but they are a random 3 chambers ( like they skipped shooting a cylinder at the factory) it could be nothing but it could be something. Most of the time i see three burnt chambers together in a row??? With the damage to the top strap it wasnt adding up??? What do you think? Thanks!
7c797e04be3e2c5f5d417206dae36dae756fb689-1 by Dandy Randy, on Flickr

c3974c03ccb272fe6a64e32e515607fcab0e8b66-1 by Dandy Randy, on Flickr

 

[majorsideburns]

Is this a nickel or chrome plated gun? It looks to me like plating which is flaking off, not actual damage to the metal.

 

[s&wchad]

It does appear that the finish above the firing cone is flaking off, but you zoomed in so closely that every flaw is exaggerated.

Why don't you post some standard sized photos of the gun. It might also be a good idea to include a photo of the frame flat in the yoke cut, below the barrel.

 

[dandyrandy]

Is this a nickel or chrome plated gun? It looks to me like plating which is flaking off, not actual damage to the metal.

Its nickel...

 

[stansdds]

Standard test firing procedure for S&W revolvers was 3 rounds, so 3 burn rings is normal. The damage you are seeing is the nickel plating having flaked off of the aluminum alloy frame.

 

[hardluk1]

So that is suppose to be a new revolver factory fired only ? You have to understand that most people selling firearms are much like a car salesman . They may know something but there not the guy most times to ask about possible issues . You could ask to see the box that revolver came in and check the build date on it .

As noted above the photos show a multitude or flaws .

Flame cutting can and does happen to revolvers but larger cylinder to barrel gaps and hot loads do accelerate this problem . My two oldest revolvers are mid and late 1970's DW 357mag revolver and I keep the cylinder gaps at 2ths and shot mostly hot heavy hunting loads in the 1400fps with 170 and 180gr bullets for 25 years . Flame cutting is very minor with both revolvers .

I not much of a s&w revolver fan but the airweight 360J 357mag my wife bought has the stainless steel piece above the barrel on the top strap. You can see the flame cutting protection on s&w site when you click on any airweight . Link below for example

https://www.smith-wesson.com/_next/...9460.1671026537.1280.1280.jpg?c=1&w=2048&q=75

 

[chief38]

I agree that the Nickel plating is flaking off the Aluminum Alloy. The common practice at the Factory is to fire 3 test rounds skipping every other charge hole - so that is normal. They do not clean the gun after test firing so carbon staining is normal. The dent, excessive scraping off of the lead under the forcing cone and Nickel peeling leads me to believe this revolver is NOT new in the box! I'd say it has been around the block once or twice. I'd be PISSED for sure!

I'd also say the gun shop owner is either being less than truthful or not knowledgable about revolvers - he should know better!

 

[dandyrandy]

Let me ask you this. Do you think S&W would still honor the warranty on a gun this old? I think it was made around 1982. Thanks again!

 

[Alk8944]

Let me ask you this. Do you think S&W would still honor the warranty on a gun this old? I think it was made around 1982. Thanks again!

Warranty for what?

Honestly I do not see what you are talking about in the photos, or what others think they see. All I see is a gun that has been fired and not cleaned! So far as warranty is concerned there are two issues, first and foremost is that model has been out of production for a long time and S&W does not extend warranty to models for which parts are no longer available. The second issue is S&W does not warranty for cosmetic issues, and finish is strictly cosmetic. SO, short answer is NO.

Regarding condition, no used / previously owned gun is "New-In-Box". The best description can be is AS new in box (ANIB) meaning it appears to be like new. Regarding the factory test-fire it has been three rounds in every other charge hole for a very long time. If is what you see then the gun would seem to have been factory fired only and ANIB could be accurate.

The only argument you have is with the seller who probably has no idea how to accurately describe a guns condition!

Many complain that S&W does not clean guns after firing so a perfectly new gun will always show this evidence of firing. This is proof to the buyer that the gun was fired by the factory and that the gun did function as intended before shipping. It is like the mileage a new car will always show on the odometer instead of being 00000.0 miles!

 

[stansdds]

Let me ask you this. Do you think S&W would still honor the warranty on a gun this old? I think it was made around 1982. Thanks again!

No and especially when it comes to nickel finishes. S&W no longer performs in-house plating.

 

[hardluk1]

Let me ask you this. Do you think S&W would still honor the warranty on a gun this old? I think it was made around 1982. Thanks again!

I doubt they would fix anything for free on a revolver that abused or used and not for the original buyer . That revolver maybe ok for some time shooting wadcutter or federal 130gr hst micro as it is a quality 38sp defensive ammo .

I also got some info wrong , maybe ! - S&W only added the stainless steel to the frame above the barrel with the 357mag airweights ! Chalk this purchase up to a learning experience and
understand that most firearm " sales people" may not be as trust worthy or as knowledgeable as we all would hope .

.