Brand new 637 and the crane bent!

Thinking that the small alloy frame guns might be weaker, I just finished "flipping" my 642 about 100 times, half with the cylinder loaded, half with it empty. Nothing broke, nothing bent. A range rod shows no misalignment of the barrel and cylinder. So again, I don't claim that "flipping" is good, but I will take with a very large grain of salt the claims of your LGS.

FWIW, the only revolver I ever had to fix because of a bent crane was due to "flipping" - "flipping" the gun across the head of a miscreant who became somewhat unruly when a police officer tried to restrain him. That gun was a Colt. I advised the officer to use his baton or blackjack in the future.

Jim
 
That's confusing feedback from the smith. Did the gun show any signs of misalignment when new? Was is spitting lead out the gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone? "Alignment" problems would not be hard to see since the fit is so tight and if it had problems I'm not sure I'd be satisfied with the smith doing a manual realignment. Better to let S&W diagnose it and replace parts or the entire gun if necessary.
 
In hindsight, you would have been better off sending the gun back to S&W and letting them take care of it under warranty. Hopefully your gunsmith didn't void your warranty. Nonetheless, contact S&W. They may still want to see the gun and if there is a problem, they will take care of it.

Please update what they have to say.
 
Everyone puts out a lemon now and then. I would not let it put you off of S&W they stand behind their product and generally make a terrific one. Same with Ruger.
 
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I'd bet money it was damaged by someone prior to you owning it. Perhaps the 'display' one or some such. I've seen plenty of guns damaged at gun shows by amateurs who think they know it all.

Also i find it strange that the local smith fixed it instead of sending it to S&W for free... Perhaps he was aware it didn't ship damaged?

I'm not saying S&W can't make a bad gun but some things about this seem strange. I've had issues with a smith and after contacting them they were very quick to correct it.
 
i dunno folks, i seen Gun Tests report on the Ruger Redhawk 4" 44mag, vs. S&W M629 4" 44mag, the Redhawk got a A, the 629 got an F, i just hope S&W QC fluke, but the crane bending like that on the OP's 637 i hope this isn't a case of S&W going the way of Taurus.
 
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I'd bet money it was damaged by someone prior to you owning it. Perhaps the 'display' one or some such. I've seen plenty of guns damaged at gun shows by amateurs who think they know it all.

Also i find it strange that the local smith fixed it instead of sending it to S&W for free... Perhaps he was aware it didn't ship damaged?

I'm not saying S&W can't make a bad gun but some things about this seem strange.
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This is where I'm at. Especially when the OP states the Gunsmith was a bit elusive about the problem and the fix. Since the OP did not get the real facts from the gunsmith as to what was wrong, it would be hard to contact S&W and snibble about their poor quality when it could have been damaged in the store, or by the owner. I've still to hear how the OP knows it was a bent crane.
 
I will be sending them a e-mail describing what happen too
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What are you expecting S&W to respond with?
Your crane somehow bent it's self while shooting 5 rounds... can't happen.
Your gunsmith fixed it but won't tell you how or why!?!
Not much for them to go on.

There may have been something that prevented your cylinder from closing but it was apparently an easy fix.
Curious, but did your gunsmith even charge you?

Jim
 
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Gunsmith did not charge me, although I just purchased it from them two months prior. Got an e-mail back from Smith they want me to send them the gun for inspection. In hindsight that is what I should have done in the first place. Maybe it was a easy fix but I feel better having Smith give it the once over. I don't really know that much about fixing guns but I assume that the yolk/crane was either bent or misaligned the latter probably being the case.
 
Good advice....I've had great service from S&W ! Speaking of the flip close method on a wheel gun , I had a friend do that to my S&W model 17 once and he has never touched another one of my handguns since ! Some folks just don't get it ! Hope things work out in your favor !
 
Got an e-mail back from Smith they want me to send them the gun for inspection
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Good to hear. But, it might save some time and money if your smith told you what was actually wrong and what he did to fix it.
Anyway, hope everything works out in the end.

Jim
 
What a mystery this is. A mystery problem, and then a mystery repair by the guy who sold the gun to you.
 
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