My 686 Pro has a "feature"!!

Posted by Scholar:
Why does unfluted cost more and is a custom option? I know it's stronger and looks awesome, but isn't it actually LESS machining they have to do?
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It's not part of their standard product line. The Performance Center handles unfluted cylinders and other "special order" stuff.
 
...and what you are calling the 'bolt' is offset to the right on this one...
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im calling it the "bolt" because in smith and wesson speak thats the correct term "cylinder bolt"

in colt terms its "cylinder stop"

ruger calls it "cylinder latch"

dan wesson calls it "bolt"

:p
 
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UPDATE: 1/25/12

I got a call from Jon Young at S&W Customer Service. He says getting an unfluted cylinder installed won’t be a problem, BUT:

1. When he told me on 1/3 that I could keep the screwed-up cylinder, that wasn’t true. They want it back. He’s sending me a return shipping label.

2. When he told me on 1/3 that nobody would change anything inside the gun, that all I had to do was specify in my letter that I wanted the action job left alone, that this was routine and wouldn’t be any problem, that wasn’t true. They’re going to replace the Bang, Inc springs and the C&S extended firing pin. The parts will be returned to me and I’ll have to install them again.

Jon claimed he thought what he told me was true, but when I questioned him, it turns out he claimed he didn’t know and was just guessing. He actually had no damn idea if what he was telling me was the truth. I strongly suspect he was just making it all up as he went along, telling me what he thought I wanted to hear. To say I’m displease at having smoke blown up my rear end on two separate issues by a guy who’s representing S&W is a titanic understatement.

He’s walking the gun back to the repair section. He says they expect to ship my gun tomorrow.

Right now I’m seriously POed. Up until now, this was a case of carelessness and failure of Quality Control in the manufacturing process. Now I’ve been lied to. Flat-out lied to.

I am not happy.
 
Yes, I can see that in your post! :eek:

I wonder what recourse you have at this point?

I'm not liking this much, either. :mad:
 
Japle, I don't blame you for being POed.
Congrats on the unfluted cylinder.
As for Number 1, the cylinder, they don't want that beast out there. But you have photos of it.
As for number 2, that sux. I would tell the CS Rep I wanted the money for a gunsmith to reinstall the springs and pin. it's probably a "corporate" policy that they can't ship a gun back unless it's up to factory specs. But after you were sold that gun with a potentially lethal defect they should make an exception.
You still did good with what you've got so far. I love the look of an unfluted cylinder.
I like the old S&Ws. But I would not buy a new one.
Refer the CS rep to this thread.
Heck, I'm POed now:mad:
 
I hate they lied to you - but at least they're getting a move-on for you.

I called the first of this week; same story. "It might be awhile". Jeez, you've only had it since November and it's almost February...


Hope they make it right for both of us.
 
1. When he told me on 1/3 that I could keep the screwed-up cylinder, that wasn’t true. They want it back. He’s sending me a return shipping label.
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Just thinking outloud here but, I'd take my time before sending it back. If your guns comes back first I'd say keep it.

2. When he told me on 1/3 that nobody would change anything inside the gun, that all I had to do was specify in my letter that I wanted the action job left alone, that this was routine and wouldn’t be any problem, that wasn’t true. They’re going to replace the Bang, Inc springs and the C&S extended firing pin. The parts will be returned to me and I’ll have to install them again.
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While that sucks, it does not suprise me. Ruger is the exact same way. They will remove any aftermarket parts/mods and return them.

Jim
 
1. When he told me on 1/3 that I could keep the screwed-up cylinder, that wasn’t true. They want it back. He’s sending me a return shipping label.
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Did he tell you this on the phone or by email?

Does your cylinder have to arrive before they'll ship the gun? If not, I'd hold on to it.
 
Thanks for the update. I've been following this thread and wondering how it would turn out.

It doesn't surprise me either that they are returning the gun to spec, but they shouldn't have led you to believe otherwise.
 
Yep. After reading these last few responses I would say when you get the gun back, don't send in the old cylinder. What they gonna do???
 
I can see why one would be upset over the lack of respect shown to you by this particular rep. I can't say I have direct experience with S&W Customer Service myself, but I do hope this is only a one time occurrence on how it was handled.

Yep. After reading these last few responses I would say when you get the gun back, don't send in the old cylinder. What they gonna do???
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What I imagine they will do is not send the gun back until they receive the defective cylinder. Either that or they could send the repaired gun back, complete with a bill for the unfluted cylinder and any labor incurred because the defective part in question was not received and could not be documented for warranty work or something along those lines.

That's just an assumption on my end, as I don't work in any aspect of the industry; but based on the experience already, I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if something like that was pulled.

Best of luck to you Japle.
 
Gee, if the cylinder was just unfluted in the first place all this could have been avoided. ;)

I think it's coming out OK for you though. The whacked cylinder would have been a curiosity for sure (and maybe of some value to a collector) but I can understand why they want it back. At least they are sending your AM parts back, what a hassle if they decided not to!

I would say when you get the gun back, don't send in the old cylinder. What they gonna do???
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Ignore him on the next issue?
 
I have re-thought my previous post. S&W may see a liability issue with that defective cylinder being out there. Someone could put it back in the gun or try it in another gun and blow it up. I can see famous last words, "Naw man, dat cylinder won't ever blow up on ya, watch". :eek:
Or, somebody could put it in another gun and then send that gun back to Smith and they'll have to put another unfluted cylinder in that one too.

Another question, has any one ever compared the weight of an unfluted cylinder to a fluted one? And what is the purpose of putting flutes in a cylinder?
 
I would have to bet that finding a cylinder that was mis-machined and still made it out of the factory is a once in a lifetime find. The rarety must be VERY high with something like that.

If it were me, I might consider keeping the gun and the cylinder and look for a new cylinder on gunbroker or keep my eye out at a gunshow. You may in fact have somewhat of a collectors item there.

Try to do whatever possible to keep the mis-machined cylinder. You will never get another one and its definitly a cool conversation piece with your shooting buddies!!

-George
 
UPDATE: 1/26 @ 10:07AM:

Jon just called from S&W CS. They’ll install the unfluted cylinder (he said they have it ready to install right now) and they’ll leave my action job alone.

So we have some progress.
 
"Like the sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

This guy is a three headed monster. How many different sides of his face does he speak from?
 
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