Hello to all , The last new S&W that I purchased was a S&W 1911 pd commander back in 2005 Which has been outstanding. I am thinking about buying a new 1911 E series full size to add to the collection . My question is anyone use S&W Customer service lifetime warranty . How was your experience ? All opinions welcome .
Smith and Wesson life time warranty and Customer Service experiences .
- Thread starter mikede
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I have had good luck - eventually. Sometimes I had to send a gun back more than once to get a problem resolved, but in the end, they took care of the issue and shipping was always covered.
I have had the same experience as Tom S. I purchased a brand new Model 41 PC pistol and almost immediately had problems with it. Contacted S&W and they sent me a shipping tag and instructions for sending the pistol in for service. I did as they directed and about 6 weeks later I received my pistol back from them. It was repaired and had no other damage done to it. It has worked fine since then. This was during the Covid fiasco so I certainly can't complain and the repair work was completely covered by the warranty. With the relocation of the company to Tennessee and other issues warranty repair times are reported to be longer these days, but I have no complaints with my Model 41 work.
Rick H.
Rick H.
Piwo
Member
I bought a Sigma 40 years ago second hand. Price was too good. Used it as a beater gun. It was accurate and served it's purpose. The firing pin safety went south, had misfires. I returned it for service. The mothership said it was not repairable and replaced it with a new one. This was 2 weeks ago. I don't think Smith and Wesson could possibly exceed the high level of customer service that they provided me during my interaction with them. That has been my experience in my dealings with them over the years.
I've only had good experiences with them. Here's some examples over the past few years:
Bought a used 1982 model 10 with cracked frame. They sent me a new gun.
Sent them my 586 I bought used for the "M" mod. They paid for everything and had it back to me in 3 weeks.
Requested lanyard pin for a J frame and some moon clips for a different J frame. These where for guns I bought used. They sent me these items for free.
So yeah, I'm a fan of their CS.
Bought a used 1982 model 10 with cracked frame. They sent me a new gun.
Sent them my 586 I bought used for the "M" mod. They paid for everything and had it back to me in 3 weeks.
Requested lanyard pin for a J frame and some moon clips for a different J frame. These where for guns I bought used. They sent me these items for free.
So yeah, I'm a fan of their CS.
Years ago I sent several guns back to them. Repair was done and pretty fast. From what I read today, it takes longer
Have not used their service for a long time.
Have not used their service for a long time.
Picked up a 6926 about a month ago. Found out, via this forum, there was a recall on said model in 1993. Called S&W CS and they sent me a label to send it in for the warranty/recall. Should be getting my pistol back in the next week or so!
Hal H.
Member
About 15 years ago I purchased a new model 57 in blue. When I brought it home and took a closer look, the finish wasn't up to par for S&W. I called them to discuss the issue and they said to send it back and they resolved it and in fact they did. During my call, I told the lady that while I appreciated them saying they would fix the problem, I was disappointed that we were having the conversation in the first place. My comment went no where. That was my last new purchase of a S&W.
stuff happens and life, and things you buy, often aren't perfect. I don't so much mind that something less than perfect comes into my hands occasionally and am happy if it just gets put right. What I can't tolerate are things that are bad and the people behind them who don't care or fail or refuse to correct the problem.
I bought my first M29 in 1980. I was 20 at the time and every round that went through it was a 240 SWC over 22 grains of 2400. After many of these rounds the end of the center pin mushroomed and it was hard to open the cylinder. Contacted the factory shipped it back and they totally rebuilt the gun and shipped it back at no charge. After many more of these rounds it went out of time, back to the factory, another overhaul free of charge. After more rounds, the trigger stud broke, back to the factory, repaired, rebuilt, and reblued at no charge to me.
I really can't blame the gun, it suffered through a lot of abuse, I believe that the loading manuals now have a lesser charge of 2400 as the maximum. I still have the gun but it is fed light to mid range loads exclusively, it has been through enough and earned semi retirement.
In short my experiences with Smith's customer service has been exemplary and I have no complaints. I have shipped a couple other guns that had issues new out of the box and every time things were handled quickly and done right.
I really can't blame the gun, it suffered through a lot of abuse, I believe that the loading manuals now have a lesser charge of 2400 as the maximum. I still have the gun but it is fed light to mid range loads exclusively, it has been through enough and earned semi retirement.
In short my experiences with Smith's customer service has been exemplary and I have no complaints. I have shipped a couple other guns that had issues new out of the box and every time things were handled quickly and done right.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,735
- Reaction score
- 31,455
If you don't mind very long wait times and many instances when the gun needs to go back a second or third time for the repair to be done right, take a gamble. Maybe they think a Lifetime Warranty means a warranted repair that could take a lifetime to fix - lol.
When it comes to 1911's, I only buy Colts. I own many and they have always been high quality, of excellent fit and finish and very accurate. I have never had any issues with them other than a front sight did loosen up once. I staked it back myself - done.
When it comes to 1911's, I only buy Colts. I own many and they have always been high quality, of excellent fit and finish and very accurate. I have never had any issues with them other than a front sight did loosen up once. I staked it back myself - done.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2021
- Messages
- 271
- Reaction score
- 899
I own one Colt 1911, their "Classic" model whiich I purchased new in 2020. Have a few thousand rounds through it now and it's been trouble free.
Unfortunately I've not had the same experience with their revolvers. Purchased a new Python in 2023 and that had to go back for cylinder binding on the forcing cone. I recently bought a new Vioer and after a couple hundred rounds of .38 special, it began intermittently locking-up on me at about 1/4 the way through the DA trigger pull. I'm told to expect a six week wait.
At 0 for 2 on initial quality for Colt revolvers, I'm probably done. Unfortunately, any regular reader of this forum has read similar or worse for new Smith revolvers as well.
Unfortunately I've not had the same experience with their revolvers. Purchased a new Python in 2023 and that had to go back for cylinder binding on the forcing cone. I recently bought a new Vioer and after a couple hundred rounds of .38 special, it began intermittently locking-up on me at about 1/4 the way through the DA trigger pull. I'm told to expect a six week wait.
At 0 for 2 on initial quality for Colt revolvers, I'm probably done. Unfortunately, any regular reader of this forum has read similar or worse for new Smith revolvers as well.
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2019
- Messages
- 210
- Reaction score
- 151
Less than 2 week turn around on the recall for the M&P EZ 9.
Sent me some parts for my 9mm FPC to upgrade the original bolt to the new firing pin configuration at no charge. I'm closing in in 5k rounds thru that rifle and they sent me a replacement recoil spring.
Requested the bolt inspection gauge for the 15-22 and they sent it out.
I've requested info on some used guns I bought using their web site contact form and I've always gotten a prompt response.
There is nothing in my experience that prevents me from buying a new S&W. In fact I picked up the FPC Carbine in .22lr two days ago.
Sent me some parts for my 9mm FPC to upgrade the original bolt to the new firing pin configuration at no charge. I'm closing in in 5k rounds thru that rifle and they sent me a replacement recoil spring.
Requested the bolt inspection gauge for the 15-22 and they sent it out.
I've requested info on some used guns I bought using their web site contact form and I've always gotten a prompt response.
There is nothing in my experience that prevents me from buying a new S&W. In fact I picked up the FPC Carbine in .22lr two days ago.
S&W had my Shield Plus CC for 8 weeks. The gun had constant FTF right out of the box.
This is the 1st gun that they returned to me without a list of repairs.
I had to make a phone call to find out what repairs were made.
And to top that off, they returned my gun to the wrong store, 45 miles away.
At least the dam thing works like it should now.
This is the 1st gun that they returned to me without a list of repairs.
I had to make a phone call to find out what repairs were made.
And to top that off, they returned my gun to the wrong store, 45 miles away.
At least the dam thing works like it should now.
Oldsalt66
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2014
- Messages
- 855
- Reaction score
- 1,378
S&W has a one year "guarantee" after which the "lifetime service policy" kicks in under which S&W will continue to make repairs without cost.
When they first came out, I bought a very early production model E Series 1911TA which, due to necessary design and production changes, ended up being replaced with a new pistol under the "guarantee portion", and which turned out to be a fine pistol.
Buy that E Series 1911with confidence.
When they first came out, I bought a very early production model E Series 1911TA which, due to necessary design and production changes, ended up being replaced with a new pistol under the "guarantee portion", and which turned out to be a fine pistol.
Buy that E Series 1911with confidence.
