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

[357 shooter]

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.

Good , no reason to except such shoddy "workmanship." Hopefully Smith will fix the revolver to your satisfaction.

 

[Autonomous]

The bean counters at S&W have set an acceptable rate of return for their product.
The only tool we have to get their attention is to cost them money via shipping expenses and repairs.

 

[BillBro]

Keeping that gun encourages more of the same------not directly certainly, but most certainly indirectly.

But sending it back will do absolutely nothing to discourage it.
Not sure why someone needs the opinions of others about what to do with THEIR gun. Its your money, do what satusfies you. If it was bought as a carry gun youre going to have to be very careful with it if this sort of small cosmetic blemish bothers you this much.
I am not trying or intending to sound rude I just think you might be being overly critical. The worst thing I see is the rollmark with missing script. Othetwise ho shoot the dang thing, get good with it.
My advice though is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[DUSTYDOGDAN]

Send it back. The photo of the engraving on the "M" from Magnum is so sad.

 

[Junglekat]

send it back,New smiths dont look as good as new colts,fact

 

[hemiram]

I've sent back guns not nearly as bad as the Op's. I stopped buying new S&W revolvers for both the hole, and the lack of QC. The last one I did buy was a 686 no dash, new, and my only real complaint was those awful "Cheese grater" grips it came with. A trip to the LGS fixed that for about 15 bucks. A friend has a 686-6(?) with a canted barrel and it's not well machined at all. It shoots fine, and he carries it in his truck a lot. Lots of "patina" on it.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

My father told me, "You will never be happy with second best," therefore. send it back.

 

[bmcgilvray]

That can only be described as contemptible quality.

I knew there was a good reason that I shun new in favor of good ol' traditional Smith & Wessons of yore.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Is the manufacturer date right after the SuperBowl? Cuz someone was hungover

 

[pantannojack]

I had a 686 2.5" with combats. It looked like it fell out of a motorcycle cop's holster at high speed. It was the best 25yd bullseye shooter I ever saw. I would never accept a "NIB" one in that condition. I would trade it off for something more lovable.

 

[smoothshooter]

As long as customers accept ****, Smith is going to keep sending it out.
Make them spend some more money fixing their mistakes. If we run their warranty costs up enough that it hurts, maybe it will get their attention and they will do something about it.

 

[Glenn54]

Unacceptable. You paid good $$ for a new product which should be exactly that...new, pristine, unflawed.

How YOU will use it, and how its condition/appearance will be at a later time is totally irrelevant.

I agree 100%. If you had only paid $200 or less, then you could look at it like it was a used revolver.

 

[sniper]

One never knows!

That tackle box is TOO neat!...Orrr...is it the gun tackle box?

 

[jem102]

I bought a new 66 a year or so ago. It is poor cosmetically compared to any of my pre lock guns and two of my older post lock guns. Its just the S&W's of today I guess. I would be a little concerned about the cylinder notches. "I" think it will lock up OK but essentially the long term service life lock up may be compromised... That would be your decision.
On the + side mine has a great trigger, shoots everything from wad cutters to full house mag loads accurately. I have the 2.75" and it balances very well making it easy to handle and the small amount of extra barrel give my old eyes better acuity on the sights. It conceals well but is a bit heavy for a K frame. All in all I find it a very versatile and useful wheel gun. If you keep it or get another be sure to open it up and clean the internals. They use some kind of compound in machining or polish or whatever. At first glance you think its rust but its not. Anyway, clean it out of the guts.

 

[JJEH]

3: Incomplete engraving, tops of letters and numbers missing

It's factory new, right?!

With this mistake alone the gun should have never left the factory! What happened to pride of ownership?!

Yes, after the transfer happened most manufacturers like to complain, but it's clearly not you who put the tool marks there and missed out on the stamping.

Tell 'em the store was busy and you felt pressured.

 

[ccjcc81]

I sent it back today. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad I didn't blow it off, it would have driven me crazy.

Does anyone know what the current turnaround time is for S&W service?

 

[Roofuss]

Last time I shipped a revolver { model 629 } to S/W it was a couple years ago to replace some small parts. Total time till I got it back was close to 3 months. The work was done right, and they paid shipping both ways....I have had no issues to date. It's a shame you have to do this with a new gun....!

 

[PALADIN85020]

Smith & Wesson's old-time quality control was superb. This M&P is 84 years old (1939). It still works and looks pretty much the same way it did when it left the factory...



And this one is 100 years old as of this year. Same song, second verse.



I don't buy the new slung-together stuff. Life's too short to buy expensive cheap junk. Click on each picture for a larger view of these guns from the days that quality counted.

John

 

[scruffy]

Send it back. I'd be pissed. That should have never made it through QC.

 

[ccjcc81]

I called S&W and got an update. The turnover is 4-6 weeks now, unless a refinish is involved, then it's indefinitely longer. I requested an exchange, and was told that an exchange wasn't an option unless the blemishes couldn't be repaired. I'm concerned that when they grind those gouges out of the barrel shroud it will look obvious that material was removed. I'm pretty upset about the delay after saving money for nearly a year to buy this thing, getting it, and having to wait another 2 months to use it. I don't think I'll ever buy a S&W product again. The last 3 S&W revolvers I've purchased new had to go back to Smith. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now, but it's sinking in.