I actually experienced this malfunction at the firing range. Disengaging the manual safety (which lowers the hammer) actually caused the pistol to fire. Surprised the hell out of me the first time, fortunately I was smart enough to have the pistol pointed downrange when I did it. This is one of the reasons I got rid of the damn thing along with the fact that it constantly jammed when using ammunition other than Federal Eagle. I wonder if Smith & Wesson quality control problems extend into other areas as well such as their revolver lines. Makes me very hesitant to buy any of their products.
S&W Issues Recall for Walther PPK/PPKs Models
- Thread starter FrankZappa
- Start date
I got the same e-mail about couple weeks to get label (now not sent until mid-March per another post) and 10-12 weeks for repair. Is that them erring on the side of caution? I sure hope so. I would guess that if you hedge on sending it in, the delay in getting it back will increase in the short term, but I have a hard time believing it can be that long.
Smith and Wesson Recall: Walther PPK and PPK/S Series
On February 20, 2009 Smith & Wesson Corp. issued a recall of certain pistols that could fire without the trigger being pulled. The gun maker said it was recalling all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols that it manufactured from March 21, 2002, until February 3, 2009.
Smith & Wesson posted a recall notice on its Web site at:
PPK Hammer Block Recall - Smith & Wesson
The issue is a problem in the affected pistol models that "may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled." Smith & Wesson has identified a condition that may exist in certain PPK and PPK/S pistols which may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled. When the manual safety is disengaged, Smith & Wesson's Product Engineering Group has determined that the possibility exists in certain firearms that lowering the hammer may cause a chambered round to fire.
This recall applies to all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols manufactured by Smith & Wesson from March 21, 2002, until February 3, 2009.
The Serial Numbers of the pistol subject to this recall are as follows:
0010BAB - 9999BAB
0000BAC - 9999BAC
0000BAD - 9999BAD
0000BAE - 9999BAE
0000BAF - 9999BAF
0000BAH - 9999BAH
0000BAJ - 9999BAJ
0000BAK - 9999BAK
0000BAL - 5313BAL
0000BAM - 1320BAM
0000LTD - 0499LTD
0001PPK - 1500PPK
0026REP - 0219REP
0001WLE - 0459WLE
To facilitate the repair of these pistols, please contact Smith & Wesson's customer service department to receive instructions for the return of your pistol to Smith & Wesson. You will receive a UPS pre-paid billable stamp and shipping instructions to arrange for the modification of your pistol by calling Smith & Wesson directly at 1-800-331-0852. Smith & Wesson, will replace the existing hammer block feature with a new part at no cost to owners. The firearm will be returned and owners should note a punch dot which appears at the back of the frame. This marking is verification that the new hammer block has been installed and that your pistol is safe to handle.
On February 20, 2009 Smith & Wesson Corp. issued a recall of certain pistols that could fire without the trigger being pulled. The gun maker said it was recalling all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols that it manufactured from March 21, 2002, until February 3, 2009.
Smith & Wesson posted a recall notice on its Web site at:
PPK Hammer Block Recall - Smith & Wesson
The issue is a problem in the affected pistol models that "may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled." Smith & Wesson has identified a condition that may exist in certain PPK and PPK/S pistols which may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled. When the manual safety is disengaged, Smith & Wesson's Product Engineering Group has determined that the possibility exists in certain firearms that lowering the hammer may cause a chambered round to fire.
This recall applies to all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols manufactured by Smith & Wesson from March 21, 2002, until February 3, 2009.
The Serial Numbers of the pistol subject to this recall are as follows:
0010BAB - 9999BAB
0000BAC - 9999BAC
0000BAD - 9999BAD
0000BAE - 9999BAE
0000BAF - 9999BAF
0000BAH - 9999BAH
0000BAJ - 9999BAJ
0000BAK - 9999BAK
0000BAL - 5313BAL
0000BAM - 1320BAM
0000LTD - 0499LTD
0001PPK - 1500PPK
0026REP - 0219REP
0001WLE - 0459WLE
To facilitate the repair of these pistols, please contact Smith & Wesson's customer service department to receive instructions for the return of your pistol to Smith & Wesson. You will receive a UPS pre-paid billable stamp and shipping instructions to arrange for the modification of your pistol by calling Smith & Wesson directly at 1-800-331-0852. Smith & Wesson, will replace the existing hammer block feature with a new part at no cost to owners. The firearm will be returned and owners should note a punch dot which appears at the back of the frame. This marking is verification that the new hammer block has been installed and that your pistol is safe to handle.
orchidhunter
Moderator
Expensive mistake -
Smith & Wesson Sees $900,000-$1.3M Impact From Pistol Recall
Tuesday 02/24/2009 4:44 PM ET - Dow Jones News
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) said Tuesday that, in connection with a recall of some Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols produced by the company, it expects a negative effect on net income of between $900,000 and $1.3 million.
The pistols are being recalled because the company identified a condition that may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company is recalling all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols manufactured from March 21, 2002, through Feb. 3, 2009.
The company said it will replace the hammer block in every pistol that is returned.
Shares of the Springfield, Mass., company closed Tuesday at $3.53, up 15.74%, but fell in after-hours trading 6.52% to $3.30. orchidhunter
Smith & Wesson Sees $900,000-$1.3M Impact From Pistol Recall
Tuesday 02/24/2009 4:44 PM ET - Dow Jones News
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) said Tuesday that, in connection with a recall of some Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols produced by the company, it expects a negative effect on net income of between $900,000 and $1.3 million.
The pistols are being recalled because the company identified a condition that may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company is recalling all Walther PPK and PPK/S pistols manufactured from March 21, 2002, through Feb. 3, 2009.
The company said it will replace the hammer block in every pistol that is returned.
Shares of the Springfield, Mass., company closed Tuesday at $3.53, up 15.74%, but fell in after-hours trading 6.52% to $3.30. orchidhunter
HisSoldier
New member
Please, someone explain this to me. Engaging the safety lowers the hammer, right? If the hammer block were broken and you engaged the safety the hammer would drop and could possible hit the firing pin.
If you disengaged the safety, well, the hammer is already down! Right? How could it have enough force to hit the firing pin? The reason I'm making such a fervent point about this is that that is how S&W phrased it also, "Disengaging the safety".
Is this just a poor choice of one word or is there some miraculous force that draws the hammer back again when you disengage the safety?
coondogger
New member
I assume this doesn't affect the Interarms models. Am I correct?
HisSoldier I wondered about that wording myself. If it has a chance of firing when the safety/decock is engaged causing the hammer to fall.... that seems different than if the safety is already on/hammer down and it is disengaged. Why not just chamber the first round with the safety/decock down to start with?
HisSoldier
New member
Well, I've thought about it a bit. I'm not sending mine in without better info. Not with the wait they are talking about. They need to cough up exactly what the problem really is, and the fix. If I can fix it by replacing the safety why should I lose all that time?
S&W Recall
The problem with the S&W produced PPK series is not the safety. It's the hammer block. When you compare the S&W part to the German made and the Interarms products, the S&W hammer block is a thin shell of the original part. Easy to see how it breaks with repeated dropping of the hammer with the safety lever.
The problem with the S&W produced PPK series is not the safety. It's the hammer block. When you compare the S&W part to the German made and the Interarms products, the S&W hammer block is a thin shell of the original part. Easy to see how it breaks with repeated dropping of the hammer with the safety lever.
What a bummer. I love that pistol, I really am not looking forward to being without it. We had better at least get at free mag out of the deal.
Forgive my missunderstanding but is this pistol safe if you don't use the safety? I would rather hold onto mine for a while and use it as a range gun than wait the 10 to 12 weeks that I read they were estimating earlier, but I don't want to do something stupid.
Forgive my missunderstanding but is this pistol safe if you don't use the safety? I would rather hold onto mine for a while and use it as a range gun than wait the 10 to 12 weeks that I read they were estimating earlier, but I don't want to do something stupid.
HisSoldier
New member
Stan,
That's why I want more info. Assume the problem is the hammer block breaking, which is actually a common tendency of all PP,PPK's and PPK/S's according to the book Troubleshooting Your Handgun written in the 70's by J.B. Wood .
If that's the case then we might also assume that the first S&W PPK safety recently broke, and the lawyers went berserk. Given that scenario I'm thinking of taking Mr. Woods advice in the book and lowering the hammer with my thumb when activating (Or engaging
) the safety, which is what I've been doing anyway since reading the book. Assuming that's the problem then lowering the hammer is a solution, plus at anytime one can replace the safety with one made later.
The rub in all that is liability, mine. Also when I go to sell it if it doesn't have the special mark it may not get a proper price.
Dilemma.
That's why I want more info. Assume the problem is the hammer block breaking, which is actually a common tendency of all PP,PPK's and PPK/S's according to the book Troubleshooting Your Handgun written in the 70's by J.B. Wood .
If that's the case then we might also assume that the first S&W PPK safety recently broke, and the lawyers went berserk. Given that scenario I'm thinking of taking Mr. Woods advice in the book and lowering the hammer with my thumb when activating (Or engaging
) the safety, which is what I've been doing anyway since reading the book. Assuming that's the problem then lowering the hammer is a solution, plus at anytime one can replace the safety with one made later.The rub in all that is liability, mine. Also when I go to sell it if it doesn't have the special mark it may not get a proper price.
Dilemma.
I'll fire mine at the range (if I can find some .380!), but won't carry it with one in the chamber. If the pin block is bad, then lowering the hammer with your finger on it might result in an AD, and dropping the pistol hammer-first could fire it also. The "fix" mark is indeed important if resale is contemplated. So mine sits on the shelf, waiting for return authorization, and until then, I bought a new holster for my J-frame.
HisSoldier
New member
Marty, It's easy to see if your safety block is cracked, they aren't too hard to remove.
David the Gnome
New member
I filled mine out on day one but I'm still waiting.
Talked to S&W today
I called today, the return labels and authorization have started going out. Get this, if you did it on line (like me) there is a extra delay. Their software isn't that hot, and somebody has to go through these, and manually create authorizations. (sheesh!) I registered on line as soon as it came out. The lady told me to expect the return label in the next 5 days.
She said as many as 90,000 pistols were involved, but they have no idea on how many will come back, or when. She also told me to expect an 8 to 12 week turn-around. (sheesh again!)
I called today, the return labels and authorization have started going out. Get this, if you did it on line (like me) there is a extra delay. Their software isn't that hot, and somebody has to go through these, and manually create authorizations. (sheesh!) I registered on line as soon as it came out. The lady told me to expect the return label in the next 5 days.
She said as many as 90,000 pistols were involved, but they have no idea on how many will come back, or when. She also told me to expect an 8 to 12 week turn-around. (sheesh again!)