Is this normal? S&W 629 4.2"

The 686 I just bought new yesterday is beautifully made with no peening or any issues whatsoever. Beautiful trigger too. I would never compare it to Norinco.

A few years back, die hard Remington fans said the same thing about Remington. A few decades ago, Chevrolet and Ford vs. Toyota and Honda...

Believe me, I am not rejoicing the demise of S&W. I was just getting ready to buy a 686 Pro. But the facts are facts. Pictures don't lie.
 
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well, i have a 686 pro i'm quite happy with. It lives beside the 627. That being said, they aren't as nice as my older M27s, but then, they don't have the hand fitting the old guns had either.
 
A few years back, die hard Remington fans said the same thing about Remington. A few decades ago, Chevrolet and Ford vs. Toyota and Honda...

Believe me, I am not rejoicing the demise of S&W. I was just getting ready to buy a 686 Pro. But the facts are facts. Pictures don't lie.

Right... so because a few guns from one batch of the 629 had bolt slots that peen easily, you are ready to throw the manufacturer under the bus forevermore. I guess I'm a little more realistic in my expectations.
 
well, i have a 686 pro i'm quite happy with. It lives beside the 627. That being said, they aren't as nice as my older M27s, but then, they don't have the hand fitting the old guns had either.

NOTHING S&W has made over the last 30 years is as nice as a Model 27. They were the flagship gun in S&W's heyday and competed directly with the Colt Python. Not really fair to compare that gun to any other S&W you are likely to encounter apart from an early triple-lock IMHO.
 
NOTHING S&W has made over the last 30 years is as nice as a Model 27. They were the flagship gun in S&W's heyday and competed directly with the Colt Python. Not really fair to compare that gun to any other S&W you are likely to encounter apart from an early triple-lock IMHO.

I don't know there Claven, my M29-2 is pretty sweet ;)
 
^^

I've been spending to much. Rossi en route as well as a Ruger SP101 (and the 629 was an unplanned buy.)
Need cash, no love lost.
 
I was at The Shooting Edge last week and looked at the 4.2" 629 they had for sale. Some slight peening and drag marks, if I had to have one this example would not have prevented me from buying it. $1100. is a chunk O' change though, and I like my 4.2" Redhawk in 45 Colt.
 
It seems the peening issues are with the stainless models; my 629 has slight peening (less than the OP's) but my 29-10 is perfect.

Quality control at S&W?


Actually seems to be limited to the "Canadian market only" 4.2's. Perhaps, a gift from S&W to us, polite Canadians who always take it without a complain!:rolleyes:
 
I looked at a late 90's 6" 629, lo miles, yesterday at my LGS on consignment - peened worse than any of the ones shown here, but still passed a cylinder plug gauge. I think you guys need to re-adjust your tinfoil hats.
 
So you found the same markings on a (used) late 90's low mileage model and from there, you came to the conclusion that it is normal for brand new revolvers to come out of the box with those very same markings? :confused:
 
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Another dissatisfied customer

I also bought a new "Canadian" S&W 629 and have the notch peening and cylinder scratch. It seems like we all got defective revolvers. Will it get progressively worse? Do we hold the dealers accountable? If I bought a $1000 TV I would not accept scratches and chips so why do the dealers think we would accept damaged handguns? Eh, P&D?
 
No, I came to the conclusion that ppl saying they have used parts or that the older ones (last 20 years or so) were "better" is utter BS. And the ones with bad markings from the factory, dimes to dollars, would trace to someone at NS or retail playing with the thing, despite any of their claims to the contrary.

How many non-canadian batch S&W's have you examined in stainless? I own two and have examined 5 others since this thread started and all of them have some level of peening. The blued guns do not. IMHO it seems to be a wear characteristic on stainless revolvers from S&W.
 
No, I came to the conclusion that ppl saying they have used parts or that the older ones (last 20 years or so) were "better" is utter BS. And the ones with bad markings from the factory, dimes to dollars, would trace to someone at NS or retail playing with the thing, despite any of their claims to the contrary.

How many non-canadian batch S&W's have you examined in stainless? I own two and have examined 5 others since this thread started and all of them have some level of peening. The blued guns do not. IMHO it seems to be a wear characteristic on stainless revolvers from S&W.


Pretty sure i said that awhile back, i even posted a pic of an old prohib that showed peening.
 
It's BACK... much better. I threw on the S&W500 Tamer grips in orange to see how they fit, not perfect, but they are tight and will work:
4sale2_zps72b072da.jpg


The wobble is gone:


Peening is improved and the drag marks no longer go continuously around the cylinder:
4sale3_zps5888c1c2.jpg


Anyway, I'm done.
Already decided to EE it once I got it back.
Hopefully everyone learned something.
 
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