Would you send this gun back if you'd just received it?

To repeat myself once again:

There are two---and ONLY two philosophies extant within the world's manufacturers.

The first is "We will be successful if we build our product to be the best possible for the price.".

The last is "We will be successful if we build our product at the lowest possible cost.".

In the beginning, S&W CLEARLY held with #1.

Now they just as clearly hold with #2.

If you're inclined to continue buying this garbage, so be it.

If you're not so inclined, it will send a message---sooner rather than later.

It pretty much stands to reason there are no dummies running S&W today---whenever you decide "today" came to be. There are, I believe, folks running S&W today who are inclined to push their luck. I also believe (actually I KNOW it for a fact) there will come a day of reckoning.

For myself, I haven't owned a S&W revolver made since the end of the "5 screws". Picky? You bet!! Lunatic fringe? Right again!!

The bottom line: If you buy it, they will continue to make it. If you don't buy it, maybe someone will buy them-------and make some changes---from the top down as far as deemed necessary. Or maybe they'll just go away. That happens pretty much every day---more's the pity!

Ralph Tremaine
 
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One never knows! :D
mare-of-easttown-hbo-episode-6-billy-gun.png

Dang, what kind of fish are you going after?
Or are you fishing where there might be some 2-legged animals taking offence to you fishing in their spot.
 
A couple points I've not seen mentioned here. When you call S&W about this it will help your case to be polite and pleasant. Any negative talk of the product, veiled threats, or foul language will do nothing for your gun and just maybe get a few notes written on your warranty file. Remember the person on the phone did not build or box your gun but they are your connection to a favorable outcome. The same applies to the letter that should accompany your gun. Keep it short and polite.
 
You bought it to carry. On a carry gun one expects blemishes. Wear and tear happens. Does it function correctly? Unless you wanted it as a BBQ piece to look pretty, keep it and use it. You can try to send it back and they may replace the cylinder and maybe the barrel due to the roll mark issue. If they refund your money, then you won the lottery. Wish you the best of luck!
 
NEW

I quit buying NEW Smith & Wesson's when they came out with the lock. I can buy almost every model Smith in nice used condition with out the hole. There is only one they make today I would possibly buy and that's their 17 caliber revolver. It was never made without the hole and I would check it out before I laid my money down. As far as blemishes, I want to put them on my gun, not accept someone elses boo boos. Would you accept a new Pickup truck with scratches and dings?
SWCA 892
 
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I quit buying NEW Smith & Wesson's when they came out with the lock. I can buy almost every model Smith in nice used condition with out the hole. There is only one they make today I would possibly buy and that's their 17 caliber revolver. It was never made without the hole and I would check it out before I laid my money down. As far as blemishes, I want to put them on my gun, not accept someone elses boo boos. Would you accept a new Pickup truck with scratches and dings?
SWCA 892

Would you buy one of the pre-lock Smiths for carry purposes? I had the option to buy a really nice, almost unused 66-2, but I'm afraid that I wouldn't carry it because it's too nice and has collector's value. I may still buy it when I have the money, but yeah, the more I think about it, it will probably just sit in the safe. Do you carry nice pre-lock Smiths?
 
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Who'd you order the gun from? I'm assuming it's brand new.

I ordered it from Battlehawk Armory. They shipped it really fast. I was happy about that. I sent them an e-mail and asked if they could help. They replied in 2 minutes asking if it was still with the FFL. They wouldn't take it back after I accepted it. I don't blame them, I doubt anyone would.
 
I'm tempted to keep it, or not send it back. I have a holster arriving for it tomorrow, new grips the next day, and 500 rounds of ammo shipping sometime soon. I'm just worried about that notch. Some here say the notch in the cylinder could be a problem, some say it won't. I completely agree that this is a learning lesson. One I should already know, as I've had to send a new Smith back in the past, twice I think. Those were both trigger issues, so you'd better believe I checked that trigger thoroughly at the FFL, to the point that I was worried I was annoying everyone behind the counter. I didn't even think to look for issues like these.

Everyone says it's either a pretty safe queen or a carry gun, but I want it to be a pretty carry gun, lol. I sent Smith an e-mail last night, they responded this morning requesting my shipping information. I expect they'll send a label. I'll keep ya posted. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and opinions.
 
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What garbage. What type of monkeys are running that plant? Obviously, they are not paying their workers enough or something. Guns from a Pakistani bazaar look better than that. Probably shots like **** also. I would have a brand-new gun issued to me from S&W if I was dealing with them. Write the CEO if you have to. How pathetic. Sorry.
 
You won't know if there are trigger or other issues until you run some ammo thru that pitiful gun.
My 460 had a great trigger at the LGS, after one round had problems, and after the second round it went back to S&W.
Trigger and cylinder stop broke.

Your cylinder and barrel ain't right and you may regret not getting it resolved now.
 
Keeping that gun encourages more of the same------not directly certainly, but most certainly indirectly.

I don't know what happens when a CLEARLY faulty gun goes back. What are the consequences? Whose, if anybody's feet are held to the fire? Given the quantity of complaints I see here, there are no consequences. That sorry state of affairs speaks volumes about the quality of S&W management----from the top down. They could care less!

Now, all that said, I'm quite certain lower levels of management are aware of our pissing and moaning. I'm just as certain they regard us as the lunatic fringe, and regard our contribution to their well being (adequacy) as insignificant.

You can prove them right by keeping the gun.

As for me, I'd send the gun back---- (Personal & Confidential) to the Chief Executive Officer. The only comments I'd send along is a simple question: Is this really an example of the quality of merchandise you want going out the door?

There's an old saying about fussing and fuming: "First you have to get their attention!"

You can do your part------or not.

Ralph Tremaine
 
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A few things come to mind here. First, you should shop around a bit before buying. Not more than a week ago, I bought an as new in box 66-3 2.5 inch for a fair amount less than you paid for that, and it is immaculate. Second, before you ever take possession of a firearm and fill out the 4473, inspect it thoroughly. I know the excitement of a new gun makes it difficult to be objective about things, but once you fill out the form and pay your money… it's yours. Finally, unless you plan to resell it, I'd just run it for a while and see how it does. If the gun is accurate and reliable, perhaps let Smith replace the cylinder due to the defect and call it a day. I certainly wouldn't consider any of the aesthetic flaws to be any more of an eyesore than the lawyer lock they put on these new revolvers.
 
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