Cracks in my brand new Smith and Wesson 986

[plinker 777]

I don't think its a crack either, but plain old rubbing alcohol will verify. Just pour over the area, on the flats or where there is no crack the alcohol will evaporate rather quickly. Where there is a crack, the thin viscosity alcohol will seep into it and not evaporate as quickly leaving what looks like wet lines (which are in fact cracks).

Poor man's dye test/ magna flux test...and it works.

(safety Sam says "no open flame around when using wood alcohol, it will burn you...though you won't see it until its too late.")

 

[tgt40]

Mass production not hand picked, hand built. 1400 prunes is a lot of dough but it's not collector grade or custom money.

You should try and take it back and hand pick one yourself that you're happy with. Me - I'd shoot it and be happy.

......and they're not cracks

 

[Mark-II]

I'll give you $800 for that awful POS


Yes, I'm with the don't worry camp.

 

[ronm4c]

You can should a dye penetrant test and find out for sure

 

[enefgee]

Put 1000 rounds through it and don't clean it - problem solved. Not cracks, just mim/cast parts and sloppy stamping.

 

[Brutus]

Fair enough. What was the pre-'60 9mm revolver model number?

Uhm........the Model 1917/1937/25-2 IIRC.

A real caliber.

 

[CV32]

It cracks me up you guy care about a tiny seem and not the aweful electric pencilled number S&W will laugh you off, if you complain about a common seem from the manufacturering process

True enough. Btw ... s-e-a-m.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

no cracks there. Just poor set up on the stamping machine, and some machining marks that didn't clean up. But if you hate it that much i'll go to 801$

 

[Mark-II]

Mmmmm.... I'd go to $801.25 if it were the aforementioned 25-2, but not for a 9mm...

The titanium cylinders on those bother me. I've seen photos of them eroded. Guess I just can't get past not having all steel firearms for a less worrisome life.

 

[badboybeeson]

first off the 986 marking and machined not stamping that deal would crack that part, also it shows no displacement of metal from the impact of stamping.
The other 2 sets of marks, the 4 lines around the 986 and the other square markings are for clamps or part holders from a CNC machine, this happens. I know I have done it many times.
Its a shame and if it was my part I would have polished it out or made another.
$1000 it a lot of money, but you would get a hand finished and polished pistol for a $1000 now days
bbb

 

[Avenida]

well, those marks in a brand new pistol/revolver are not acceptable.
Now, what the heck are those numbers are the top, the look like somebody used a cheap wood chisel to engrave 095! ???????

 

[Ian Robertson]

I recently bought a 929 and it had many similar problems. This is the new quality level to expect from all S&W guns acording to the Canadian service guy. All CNC with little hand fitting. If you have a bore scope don't look or you will really get depressed. My 929 had burrs all over the place and a barrel that looked like sewer pipe. After I did some work on the trigger work and removed most of the burrs it functions and shoots well. It comes down to do you want the gun or not because you will not get one in better shape.

 

[BCRider]

The "V" like marks are from the stamping. The box like mark that you think is a crack is not a crack at all. It's a mark left from the forging or machining of the metal.

The gun is perfectly fine to use. They will not warranty anything for this.

 

[luke s]

Now, what the heck are those numbers are the top, the look like somebody used a cheap wood chisel to engrave 095! ???????

Yah wtf is that. It looks awful

 

[Mark-II]

I recently bought a 929 and it had many similar problems. This is the new quality level to expect from all S&W guns acording to the Canadian service guy. All CNC with little hand fitting. If you have a bore scope don't look or you will really get depressed. My 929 had burrs all over the place and a barrel that looked like sewer pipe. After I did some work on the trigger work and removed most of the burrs it functions and shoots well. It comes down to do you want the gun or not because you will not get one in better shape.

the crowns are burred on my 66 and 69, and I should have those dealt with.

I was a bit gobsmacked when I read that they use an EDM process to rifle those barrels. I think I'd rather old school button rifling to something eroded into the metal...

 

[Ian Robertson]

The barrel on my 929 is certainly not cut by edm based on all the tool marks.

 

[Pietro Beretta]

Tool marks. VERY superficial .....can't see when actions closed.

It's fine

 

[Dsiwy]

Million dollar question.... how does it shoot? if you want something pretty buy a tiara

 

[Lee Enfield]

Well my Brand new 986 came in the mail today. I was very excited. The gun looked mint, until I looked at the crane of the revolver. There was a couple gouges and a hair line crack.

Now I am going to run this gun hard, should I be worried about the crack and return it or just keep it and shoot it. This is not going to be a safe queen.

Those are mold and forging marks.

You'll find similar marks in Ruger's and colts, they are important as they control the crane/yoke mating.

 

[TACTICAL111]

My 986 is the Performance Centre "baller" edition which comes with a special non existent ball detent lock up.
It's sweet and apparently free from the custom shop