SMITH AND WESSON 686 - WARRANTY?

[johnny blaze]

My son and I were shooting the other day. He brought out his S and W 686. He had purchased it along while ago, but never fired it. In trying to load it, one chamber would not take a round. Upon closer inspection, there is a large burr in the one chamber preventing the cartridge from being loaded.
I called Smith and Wesson, and told them the situation and when it was purchased. They told me to send it back. I asked them if it was under warranty, and they said that they would have to look at it to determine that.
I know that guns made prior to a certain date, do not have the lifetime warranty. This one does/ should have the lifetime warranty.
I have also read that S and W will pay the postage both ways, but that was not mentioned to me from the S and W conversation.
The thing that I really find hard to believe is that this got out of the factory this way.
I have read how great the repair department is at Smith, but after the phone convesation, I am a little doubtful. I have never had a warranty claim before.
I have a 686, one of the first ones, and it shoots really well without any
problems.
This revolver is fine if you just want to use 5 chambers.
I am about to the point of just taking a small, real fine file, and taking the burr out myself.
Any comments/information would be appreciated.

 

[gudel]

If I were you, I'd contact them first rather than play gunsmith on your gun.

Please contact our Customer Support Center for instructions on how to return your handgun for repair: 1-800-331-0852 (Inside USA) 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Monday - Friday).

 

[Ala Dan]

I feel sure that the management of S&W will gladly accomodate your
request. Past practice has proven that they are really above average
in customer service relations~!

 

[Sheldon]

I think that is there patent answer till they actually get to examine the weapon. My guess is they will fix it under warranty.

 

[bpisler]

I would take it to a local gunsmith first and
see what they can do with it.It shouldn't
cost more than a couple bucks to remove
a burr.Yes S&W will fix it but why be with
out your pistol for couple weeks.

 

[Frandy]

My recent experience with them was stellar. Fairly new 625 needed the throat polished. At least I thought so. Called them...got the label mailed to me. Shipped it. Had it back (I live in NC) in exactly 7 working days...throat polished.

Your issue sure looks like they will handle it.

 

[Smith & Wesson Man]

My two cents is- send it back. Smith will take care of you. If it is something that is their mistake they will take care of it. Anything that looks stock and you didn't touch it, they will fix. If you did your own trigger job, and you sent it in because of the tigger your probably out of luck. I have a 686 and the local gunshop had fixed the timing twice. It was still going off. The shop sent it in, smith fixed everything, plus did some work on the barrel, which wasn't asked to. This is what has happened to me, and I have a lot of smiths (couldn't tell by my name ) and the company will take care of you! I think I waited about a week to get mine back.

 

[johnny blaze]

I called Smith again, got a different person. Was told that they would be glad to fix the problem.
I guess that they are like any company, depends on who you talk to. Thanks for the replys. I have changed my first opinion of Smith and Wesson.

 

[johnny blaze]

Smith and Wesson is sending me a shipping label to return the 686.
What a difference talking to the right person makes.
My son is getting his 686 fixed.

 

[bpisler]

Yes it does,it took me two calls before i
got them to send me a shipping label.

To S&W's credit they replaced my broke
38-2 with a new 638,only took 7 business
days.

 

[bouis]

I sent back my "new" SW 1911 that came all scratched up (****ing internet dealers) and S&W replaced the slide (but it took three weeks) and is doing a trigger job for $25 (3-4 more weeks). They paid for overnight shipping both ways.

Someday I'll get the gun, and that will be a nice day!