S&W REPAIR TIME 6 MONTHS?????

[rct269]

I have experience with only three gunsmiths over the past 60+ years. One was merely excellent. The other was a wizard. The last, and most recent was a WIZARD----and repaired something I absolutely positively KNEW couldn't be done. I NEVER experienced a long wait time with any of them. The wizard often did the deed while I waited. The WIZARD did the deed in three weeks---counting shipping both ways.

Now all three of these were individual entities----one man bands. Lousy service from a corporate entity is a reflection of their operating philosophy. There are only two such philosophies extant among the world's manufacturers.

One is, "We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price." The other is, "We will be successful if we build our product for the lowest possible cost."

There is no doubt in my mind S&W started off with philosophy #1, and kept right at it until, let's say the mid 1950's---when things started to change. My observation is things have continued to change as time has passed.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Buzzzer]

Sig is very quick and they actually do a repair! In the good old days, major gun manufacturers had designated repair shops across the country. One could usually find one, not far away, and take it to the shop and get the gun repaired while you wait! BTW, the designated repair shops weren't busy because the manufacturers actually had good quality control and skilled workers who gave a flip!

These repair shops were likely FFL holders. Can't say much more without getting "slapped" but we all know why they aren't around anymore...

 

[BE Mike]

Well, as the old saying goes, "Do you want it done right or done fast?"

On the concept of the authorized repair centers. They might have been authorized and hopefully trained once upon a time. The question is are the folks who got trained still doing the work and were they any good in the first place?

As for the manufacturers, their quality varied over time. I once bought a number of 1911 slides direct from Colt. I ended up on the phone with their parts manager outraged at what came out of the factory. Was told I could send the bad ones back, but there wasn't any guarantee I'd get anything better in return.

As Dorothy Sayers had Lord Peter Whimsey say: "The quality guarantees the name, it don't work the other way around."

Back in the day, I only needed an authorized repair center once. That fellow was on the ball.

 

[ruger 22]

Got it back today. Total time was 5 months.When I got the gun originally, used from a correctional institution trade in, it was in pretty rough shape and looked like it had been used as a hammer as the frame was bent. It shot nicely, although a bit loose and sloppy, for a while and then seized up which prompted the return to the factory. While it still has its bluing wear it is very tight and firm and shoots like a new gun. I am very happy with the work done.

 

[retired2006]

I have a 952-2 that's been at S&W since July of 2023, last time I checked it was still waiting for repair. I guess that's what I get for buying a cheap gun !

 

[NYlakesider]

Well my wife's .22 cal Victory broke for the second time right in the same place.

Its that threaded part that holds the barrel on. It breaks off and you cannot get the screw out that locks it all together.

Wife called, the clerk looked it up and noted they had done the gun before. Clerk volunteered that they hoped to have it back in around 21 days, gave my wife a return label on the computer.

Then she called FedX for a pick up and he came 3 hours later.(Feb 27, 2024)

 

[dogdoc]

Long wait times annd shipping cost/hassles are why , if you have the tools and resources, to do some things yourself . Of course sometimes this is beyond the home smith. But, many things such as revolver timing, endshake , trigger jobs and others are within easy reach of the mechanically inclined.in the last 40 years I have amassed a ridiculous amount of gunsmithing tools (brownells) but I enjoy the work and consider it part of the hobby.