Would you be upset?

[b737lvr]

While I'm the second owner, my recent Model 36-2 purchase was in excellent cosmetic condition (with little use) but once in my possession I noticed that the barrel/cylinder gap was excessive (over .015), it had about .005 end shake, and the timing was slow on 2 or 3 chambers.

Given the minimal use and nature of the issues, the gun likely left the factory in that condition so I believed the issues should have been warranty related fixes but since I'm not the original owner, I agreed to pay for the work. I also did so with the expectation that Smith and Wesson would perform the proper work which was important to me.

After waiting 4+ months (with minimal communication), I received the gun yesterday and was immediately disappointed.

Rather than performing (my understanding of) the proper barrel/cylinder gap adjustment (turning down the barrel shoulder, setting the barrel back, re-face the barrel, and re-cut the forcing cone), I was surprised to see that the smith installed a new (+P) marked barrel which (in my opinion) significantly diminished the value of the gun since it's not the original (or even a period correct) barrel.

Mechanically, the barrel/cylinder gap is now around .005/.007 with virtually zero end shake and the timing is perfect so would you be upset with the barrel replacement or am I overthinking it?

I know I'm late to chime in on this but quite literally the only thing here worth being upset about was the 4+ month wait. But even then at only $160 they did you a big favor. Sounds like they did a fantastic job.

 

[walkin' trails]

Per my original post...

"since I'm not the original owner, I agreed to pay for the work."

With regards to what I paid, the cost was $160.

I consider that cheap. I paid $150 to have the $3 firing pin spring on my 1994 mfg .38 Special 640 no-dash replaced earlier this year. I dint have the tools, the experience, nor were there any YouTube videos covering that particular iteration. So I was at the mercy of a local gun smith who did it in about a week as opposed to S&W's current less-than-timely turn around I'm experiencing with them trying to get my 43c problems ironed out. I hate the idea of just selling or trading a problem gun without first fixing it, but bad service despite the warranty is making it an attractive alternative.

 

[Dan W. Cady]

While I'm the second owner, my recent Model 36-2 purchase was in excellent cosmetic condition (with little use) but once in my possession I noticed that the barrel/cylinder gap was excessive (over .015), it had about .005 end shake, and the timing was slow on 2 or 3 chambers.

Given the minimal use and nature of the issues, the gun likely left the factory in that condition so I believed the issues should have been warranty related fixes but since I'm not the original owner, I agreed to pay for the work. I also did so with the expectation that Smith and Wesson would perform the proper work which was important to me.

After waiting 4+ months (with minimal communication), I received the gun yesterday and was immediately disappointed.

Rather than performing (my understanding of) the proper barrel/cylinder gap adjustment (turning down the barrel shoulder, setting the barrel back, re-face the barrel, and re-cut the forcing cone), I was surprised to see that the smith installed a new (+P) marked barrel which (in my opinion) significantly diminished the value of the gun since it's not the original (or even a period correct) barrel.

Mechanically, the barrel/cylinder gap is now around .005/.007 with virtually zero end shake and the timing is perfect so would you be upset with the barrel replacement or am I overthinking it?

Your over thinking it.

 

[cowboy94916]

It was broke, you had it fixed and its a shooter not a collector. In good conscious you couldn't use it or sell it the way it was.
So enjoy your working gun it will not lose value in todays market. My vote shoot hell outta it and enjoy.

 

[AlHunt]

Like anything else, we must put in writing in detail what we expect and then the other side to the contract knows what we expect.

... and does whatever they want to anyway.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Don't worry:
Be happy.