Will S&W Repair a Used Revolver If I Pay for It?

[SWFan27]

Hi S&W Folks, I am really thinking about buying a used S&W 686+ that is on consignment at a local shop. It is a dash 6 model. I live in The People's Republic of California and certain models do not seem to show up new around here.

I can it get for a cash price for $888 out the door with tax and CA registration included. It looks pretty much brand new though there would not be a blue S&W box coming with it. The L frame feels basically like my K frame S&W model 66-8 which I bought new.

My only concern or worry is that if it ever has a problem where it needs to go back to the factory for repair. I know the S&W warranty is not transferrable and I would be glad to pay for service. I am just not sure they would service it if I were not the original owner. My question is has anyone here ever sent a S&W firearm they purchased used back to S&W for service? I see the Performance Center offers some upgrades at a cost and I may even buy it and send it to the PC to trick it out a little.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

The factory will work on your revolver even if you aren't the first original owner. That's no problem. You must be the current owner.
They are very straightforward and send you a letter with the work involved for you to accept and make payment. If you don't accept them to do the work. You just pay them the shipping back.

They are very easy to work with.

 

[SWFan27]

The factory will work on your revolver even if you aren't the first original owner. That's no problem. You must be the current owner.
They are very straightforward and send you a letter with the work involved for you to accept and make payment. If you don't accept them to do the work. You just pay them the shipping back.

They are very easy to work with.

Awesome and THANK YOU!!!

 

[chief38]

My suggestion (for any gun) is to learn the basics of repairing them yourself. If you have no desire, skills or tools or just don't want to be bothered, try and find a competent local Gunsmith (not easy to do that now days).

Shipping out guns today is a very expensive and inconvenient hassle. As far as the S&W repair dept. is concerned, unless you have absolutely no other choice, I'd find a better alternative. Factory repair work is not what it used to be and sadly they will not work on many of their own older models. Even if they were willing, refinishing will not match their older finishes due to the different chemicals and processes they now use. Just my opinion of course.....

 

[steelslaver]

First they do not have many problems, next many of the ones that do occur are easy to repair with basic mechanical skills and some guidance. You do need a good screw driver that correctly fits the side plate screws. That and a good drill chuck or padded vice to grip the ejector rod and you can do everything but remove the barrel. The trigger and hammer has a couple small pin holding small parts. These very rarely fail, but are removable with a real small punch and a hockey puck with a small hole in it to lay the part on and drive pin into hole. Some parts are fitted, usually with a fine diamond file or stone.

Some people should never take off a side plate, some can do most of it. Unless you are real heavy handed or do something totally ignorant like pry on stuff, beat on things with a hammer, have a free for all with a file or dremel tool you can always take the pile of parts to a Real smith to reassemble.

 

[ladder13]

I sent back a 642 with a cracked frame. I was at least the third owner. S&W sent my FFL a new gun and even reimbursed me for his transfer fee.

You may or may not get a free repair, but they will repair it nonetheless at a reasonable cost.

 

[murphydog]

This gun falls under the "Lifetime Warranty" policy. Opinions and responses to this vary but as the 686-6 is a current production model (for the past 20 + years) you should have no concerns about the factory being able to work on it for many years to come. Hopefully you will never have to find out about factory major repairs or a replacement.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The factory repaired this S&W 63 for me in 2010 after it was thrown from a moving vehicle. IIRC, the cost of parts and labor was a few cents short of $125.00.

 

[ColbyBruce]

It cleaned up nicely and shoots just fine.

 

[steelslaver]

The factory repaired this S&W 63 for me in 2010 after it was thrown from a moving vehicle. IIRC, the cost of parts and labor was a few cents short of $125.00.

OUCH. Nice thing about stainless is no need to for any kind of blue. Just refinish the surface.

 

[austintexas]

My brother doesn't go anywhere or do anything without his M-60, He was clearing off his driveway a couple of winters ago and leaned over and his M-60 fell into his running snowblower. After much wading around in foot deep snow he found it and sent it back to S&W and they repaired under warranty.
SWCA 982

 

[Bald1]

My brother doesn't go anywhere or do anything without his M-60, He was clearing off his driveway a couple of winters ago and leaned over and his M-60 fell into his running snowblower. After much wading around in foot deep snow he found it and sent it back to S&W and they repaired under warranty.
SWCA 982

Wow, that could have gone very very badly. Amazing it didn't discharge. Ok amazing might be a little to strong but luckily it did not.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

My suggestion (for any gun) is to learn the basics of repairing them yourself. If you have no desire, skills or tools or just don't want to be bothered, try and find a competent local Gunsmith (not easy to do that now days).

Shipping out guns today is a very expensive and inconvenient hassle. As far as the S&W repair dept. is concerned, unless you have absolutely no other choice, I'd find a better alternative. Factory repair work is not what it used to be and sadly they will not work on many of their own older models. Even if they were willing, refinishing will not match their older finishes due to the different chemicals and processes they now use. Just my opinion of course.....

Smith and Wesson ships your gun from you for free. And only charge you to return it if it's a non warranty issue.
It's actually very simple. They send you a return slip via email that you print and put on the FedEx box with your return. No money , credit cards or hassles are involved at that point.

 

[LEEEAGLE]

I just received a model 19-7, it was an estate gun. Excellent condition, nearly perfect! Except for one major problem. There is a nasty gouge inside the barrel about halfway down, two and a half inch barrel. I didn't notice it until went to clean it and the patches were actually snagging. It does not affect the accuracy, shoots very nice. I wouldn't mind replacing the barrel with a 4-inch but can't seem to find one, especially one is nice as the rest of this model 19. Any ideas?

 

[Bill In Texas]

My current experience is this. The last two revolvers that I've sent to S&W haven't been repaired.

I sent a 637-2 to them about a year ago. It was gifted to me by a friend right before he passed away from cancer. This is only important because there was no transfer paperwork. The problem with the 637 was the cylinder would not rotate intermittently. I couldn't figure it out so I sent it in. S&W told me that it was unrepairable due to the hole in the flame shield where the cylinder locks up being wallowing out. They said the gun had been abused and didn't offer to replace it.

Back in March I sent my 640-1 to them because it looked like the firing pin had protruded into one of the cylinders. The cylinder couldn't open or rotate. On Tuesday of this week I called to check on it and was told that the gun was unrepairable due to S&W not being able to source a part. The customer representative couldn't tell me what the part was. I was told that I'll be getting an offer letter for a new gun. Hopefully, I'll get my UM's stocks back because the customer rep said they won't send me the 640 back. I bought it at a pawn shop so there's paperwork.

I'm not trying to judge here as I still love S&W products. Just passing on my experience since the OP asked.

 

[Baxter6551]

I sent my early 642 (non plus P rated) back for a cracked frame last fall. I sent it with no grips. S&W examined the gun for about a month and offered a free replacement. I requested a 442 no lock instead (prefer the blue finish) and they obliged but took a few months as it was on back order. Only cost was dealer transfer to me. No complaints.

 

[SWFan27]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I bought the used 686-6 today and get to pick it up on 6/20. Can't wait to shoot it. I need to pick up the S&W catalog so I can date it by the serial number. It looks extremely clean though I noticed this morning when I was paying for it and doing the paperwork some very minor scratches on the cylinder. Maybe they will buff out with some Flitz metal polish. $850 out the door.

 

[murphydog]

Feel free to post the three letter SN prefix and we can get a pretty close age estimate. Better still if you have the box with original end label, there is a date code on it.

 

[SWFan27]

Feel free to post the three letter SN prefix and we can get a pretty close age estimate. Better still if you have the box with original end label, there is a date code on it.

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately it is just the revolver and no S&W case included. The SN starts with CSJ. I did post it a little earlier on the thread about dating by SN. I am sure someone will chime in soon enough.