But it
did contain the blast. And no one was hurt. Thank goodness.
To reference Guillermo's example, I always look over a car after a mechanic has serviced it. I look over the "killer" items. And that would be the wheels. And I re-torque the lug nuts if anyone has touched them. Even tire stores. (BTW, they're usually over-torqued.).
If this story is genuine, I would not excuse S&W in this. They produced a flawed product.
But we, as shooters, also bear a responsibility to understand our firearms well enough to know if they are reasonably safe to operate.
And, if someone considers themselves competent enough to perform an "action job" on a brand-new revolver, then shouldn't that person be able to recognize a potentially dangerous flaw in the revolver?
Does that mean that we Magna-Flux each cylinder or barrel at home? I don't think so.
But how many here check the barrel for obstructions before firing their guns? That is actually one of the "Ten Commandments" of gun safety (if anyone remembers them).
It is easy to beat up the manufacturer of a faulty product. And, if they indeed produced this revolver, then they certainly deserve it.
But if the owner had sent this to a competent, professional gunsmith, (as opposed to performing the work himself), would the professional have noticed this flaw?
Just some thoughts for the aspiring litigants out there.
Best to all -
gd
P.S. I learned a while back to "index" my revolvers. By that, I mean that I align the chamber with the barrel when closing the cylinder (DA) or closing the loading gate (SA). I do this to minimize the turn line on the cylinder, but I have become accustomed to feeling where the flutes are in relation to the barrel. Just my personal practice.