I've seen plenty of oddball defective S&W revolvers. It's actually a sub-field of collecting. (There's some SWCA member who'd probably give that dude the cost of a new gun for his used one.)
Any time you churn out mass quantities of something and there are humans involved in the process, you will get defective examples.
The difference between good companies and bad ones is whether a gun like that is a rare and collectible oddity, or something you run into every other week.
I'm not a collector. I would not have thought of this as a collector piece, but now that you mention it, that seems like the best way to deal with this gun. The guy should keep any correspondence from S&W but sell it to a collector. That way no one is likely to try to shoot it and S&W gets an ongoing reminder that even they are not perfect.
That gun passed through a lot of hands on S&W's shop floor before it made its way to the customer. I'm not surprised that something like that could happen in a manufacturing plant, I am very surprised that with all of the hands that that gun passed through that it made it out the door without being caught.
I am very surprised that with all of the hands that that gun passed through that it made it out the door without being caught.
Sadly I am not surprised. Thanks for linking that Tam. Another good reminder of why we should never buy anything (and definitely not shoot it) without a thorough examination.
I dunno, the chamber wall thickness and forcing cone on my no-dash 696 aren't much better, and it's configured "correctly" as far as I know. Luckily, I can only run .44 Special pressures...
@Tam- Considering I have several post WWII S&W's here, I find your retort to anon 8:38 refreshing and with all the candor I would expect!
Just got the standard catalog today. It appears the Highway Patrolman was from the 78-80 years. Just somewhat confused on the grips. Came with two sets. One I assume is aftermarket, the other standard S&W N frame.
So for now I have sent the PDF manuals for the little Cannon camera to the Kindle Fire. I need to take better pictures of the hardware and I found the little books packed with the thing a bit uh, crappy.
I just learned about this thread. The gun's mine. It was a new 686 SSR that I bought on 12/16/11. I kept the cylinder and S&W is replacing it. It's fun showing the cylinder to shooters at a match. S&W has been real good about it. Photos are now all over the gun forums. John Viera, FL
Well, as of today, S&W has had my gun for two weeks. Considering the fact that it’s the subject of distinctly unflattering threads on 15 different firearms forums and S&W’s Facebook page, I thought I might get a little quicker action.
Yikes! Definitely not something i'd keep around.
ReplyDeleteThat's one more reason why I like your blog, Tam. Checking for that kind of goof is something I've never thought of, before.
ReplyDeleteOuch! How the hell did that happen? CNC machine have a bad day? It had to. Off center and cutting too deep.
ReplyDeleteI love my M&P 9, but do I need to keep buying 30 year old stuff just to make sure it works?
There seem to be seven "lands" on the cylinder but only six chambers.
ReplyDeleteHmm. That's gonna mess with someone's religion, right there. The'll assume it's a Charter or Taurus at first or something...
ReplyDeleteYou get what you pay for, or something...
TinCan Assassin,
ReplyDeleteI've seen plenty of oddball defective S&W revolvers. It's actually a sub-field of collecting. (There's some SWCA member who'd probably give that dude the cost of a new gun for his used one.)
Any time you churn out mass quantities of something and there are humans involved in the process, you will get defective examples.
The difference between good companies and bad ones is whether a gun like that is a rare and collectible oddity, or something you run into every other week.
Keads,
ReplyDelete"Ouch! How the hell did that happen? CNC machine have a bad day? It had to. Off center and cutting too deep."
A seven-shot cylinder blank found its way into a bin of six-shot blanks.
Definitely a keeper, if only for the novelty value. I definitely wouldn't keep shooting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a collector. I would not have thought of this as a collector piece, but now that you mention it, that seems like the best way to deal with this gun. The guy should keep any correspondence from S&W but sell it to a collector. That way no one is likely to try to shoot it and S&W gets an ongoing reminder that even they are not perfect.
ReplyDeleteThat gun passed through a lot of hands on S&W's shop floor before it made its way to the customer. I'm not surprised that something like that could happen in a manufacturing plant, I am very surprised that with all of the hands that that gun passed through that it made it out the door without being caught.
ReplyDeleteI am very surprised that with all of the hands that that gun passed through that it made it out the door without being caught.
ReplyDeleteSadly I am not surprised. Thanks for linking that Tam. Another good reminder of why we should never buy anything (and definitely not shoot it) without a thorough examination.
I dunno, the chamber wall thickness and forcing cone on my no-dash 696 aren't much better, and it's configured "correctly" as far as I know. Luckily, I can only run .44 Special pressures...
ReplyDeletemeh, if they left the fluting off to begin with there wouldnt be a problem. Just saying...stop throwing stuff....please...
ReplyDelete@Tam- makes perfect sense now that you explained it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why I won't buy a S&W made after 1970, and pretty much stick to pre-1940 models.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:38,
ReplyDeleteYour faith is touching.
@Tam- Considering I have several post WWII S&W's here, I find your retort to anon 8:38 refreshing and with all the candor I would expect!
ReplyDeleteJust got the standard catalog today. It appears the Highway Patrolman was from the 78-80 years. Just somewhat confused on the grips. Came with two sets. One I assume is aftermarket, the other standard S&W N frame.
So for now I have sent the PDF manuals for the little Cannon camera to the Kindle Fire. I need to take better pictures of the hardware and I found the little books packed with the thing a bit uh, crappy.
If that was mine I would consider telling S&W that Ruger was interested in buying it and ask them what they were willing to do for me...
ReplyDeletethe interesting thing is that the OP has the paper work there the QC signed off on it December 13th.
I just learned about this thread. The gun's mine. It was a new 686 SSR that I bought on 12/16/11. I kept the cylinder and S&W is replacing it. It's fun showing the cylinder to shooters at a match.
ReplyDeleteS&W has been real good about it. Photos are now all over the gun forums.
John
Viera, FL
Well, as of today, S&W has had my gun for two weeks.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the fact that it’s the subject of distinctly unflattering threads on 15 different firearms forums and S&W’s Facebook page, I thought I might get a little quicker action.
Guess not. I haven’t heard a word.