Slide Crack

[stevo44544q]

As title says, I have a Crack in my Slide.
Its not from firing, I dropped it while cleaning only a few feet and it bent inward, no longer allowing the firearm to be assembled. I gingerly bent it back, but a cracked formed. It is aft the slide guide and crack never touches the guide unless being disassembled.

What should I do? if anything.
*I was thinking about Milling a small hole to stop crack, "IF" it even spreads.

*Tig weld a small bit and polish back, just to piece it some.

* Leave it alone and see what happens (probably nothing)

*Decommission

I'll try to attach a few pictures so you can see what I mean. Any advice would be nice. I am a machinist and have done some light Smithing. So not worried about making repairs. Curious if anyone has experienced this.

 

[03hemi]

Decommission.

 

[shottist]

Tig weld, refinish, keep on truckin

 

[moosedog]

Is it me? or is that some brittle steel?

 

[star1]

ebay , about $150 or see if Smith will sell you one

 

[Steve912]

How did 'dropping' it flatten out the last serration,
below the crack?

 

[Disabled1]

Send it back to S&W and ask for a new slide. If they ask what happened, "Well, it cracked."

 

[Big Cholla]

Unless you are a master TIG welder and darn good with files the cost of having it done will all but match just the purchase of slide only off fleabay. IF you do repair, the repair will be obvious forever unless covered by Cerakote or some other form of coating. Repair plus coating would put the cost way above replacement cost. IMHO, just find a replacement slide. Give us the model of your handgun and we can also be looking in places you probably wouldn't know to look for a replacement.

 

[ou1954]

Hard to understand how a drop from 4' (typical cleaning position) would do that.

 

[S&W Rover]

Send it to S&W. They will replace it. Probably for free, or at worst case, for cost.

I would not attempt repair.

 

[GeoJelly]

Gunsmith I am not – but that crack makes me wonder if the slide is cast or forged. It kinda looks like cracked pot metal ... I would be sorely tempted to send it back to the mothership.

 

[GRU_ 7_ mech]

Am I missing something in this thread? What is the debate for not sending this in to S&W? I was not there, did not see what happened and will not even begin to say if ...........what ever, I just do not understand anyone with any kind of experience with firearms even thinking about doing 90% of what you are even thinking about doing to actually keep this firearm in operating condition.

 

[growr]

A very famous gunsmith named Bubba said that a little bit of JB Weld and a dremel tool....you are good to go!
All you have to do is hold his beer for a few minutes....

Randy

PS. Everyone knows Bubba don't they?

 

[ou1954]

I agree with the folks who say to send it back to S&W but I suspect they might question the notion that a simple drop, while cleaning, would do that much damage.

It's worth a try, however.

In any case, if the metal of that specific slide is that fragile, for whatever reason, I would not risk firing the weapon.

 

[shawn mccarver]

This type of break is VERY common when the slide of almost any top quality pistol is dropped to a hard floor while the weapon is disassembled. While disassembled, there is simply nothing to "reinforce" the slide rail and a bending or breaking is exceedingly common, even from a shockingly short distance, especially if the drop is on a hard floor, such as concrete.

I do not know about S&W, but I suspect the answer is the same as for the 1911, the Glock, and every other auto pistol out there.

REPLACE SLIDE.

There is no other option.

Lesson: Disassemble over a work bench!

I know that at the Glock armorer's school, students are told that it requires a new slide. By the way, Glocks are prone to breaking the recoil spring retainer (the circular part under the hole cut for the barrel in the front of the slide) from a drop to a hard floor. This is one reason the new Glock 17M has a reinforced recoil spring retainer. The answer when this part of the Glock slide is cracked from a drop is the same: replace the slide. It happens so often, the instructors even tell us the price of a slide at every class!

 

[Steve912]

The answer when this part of the Glock slide is cracked from a drop is the same: replace the slide. It happens so often, the instructors even tell us the price of a slide at every class!

"Darn, those fragile Glocks!"

Ok, now explain the compression/mashing of the grasping serration, over area where crack developed.

 

[Disabled1]

"Darn, those Glocks with the slick frying pan finish!"

Ok, now explain the compression/mashing of the grasping serration, over area where crack developed.

There, I fixed your reply.

 

[Steve912]

There, I fixed your reply.

Now you're gonna get Shawn and Mister X all spun up...

I'm still wondering about the mashed 'grasping groove' on that broken slide. Would be nice to see better shots of it, as well as the left side of the slide.

 

[Dlbasinger]

Do it right. Send it in to S&W. This isn't a hobby to take shortcuts with.

 

[ADP3]

If I'm not mistaken S&W's have a Lifetime Warranty so I would certainly send it back. I'd also remove the internal so I could keep them for spares. S&W will not sell you a striker assembly so this would be an opportunity to secure a spare.

Best Regards,
ADP3