S&W 642 broken pin

[Rugerfan]

My 642 Airweight has a broken trigger pivot/hinge pin. I sent the form in to S&W for a warranty repair and am awaiting their reply.
Has anyone else here had a similar problem? The pin is pressed/permanently attached to the frame. It broke off flush with the frame.

This gun sees routine practice sessions with standard .38 SPL loads, no "hot" loads or +P. It has ~1000 rounds through it.

 

[Mike-Mike]

Haven't seen that particular break but I would expect a top notch repair in a few weeks.

 

[Pilgrim]

never heard of that particular problem.... but they'll take care of it PDQ.

 

[yanici]

Yep, I had the exact same problem, but it was the hammer stud, in a 2008 made gun. They had to replace the guns frame. The repair will need to be shipped to an FFL because of the new frame and ser.#. Make sure you have an FFL lined up to accept it.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

I had this happen to the hammer pivot stud in my 686. S&W replaced the stud. It looks great form the outside, but the inside of the gun shows extensive peening marks from the installation of the new stud.

The repair will need to be shipped to an FFL because of the new frame and ser.#.

This is by corporate policy, not law - as federal law allows direct shipment of a replacement with a different serial number without involvement of an FFL.

 

[Greg Derr]

"This is by corporate policy, not law - as federal law allows direct shipment of a replacement with a different serial number without involvement of an FFL."

Well, I believe if you get a new serial # is has to be registered through an FFL, It is a new gun. I've been down this road. If they destroy the old gun they can issue the same number and you could avoid a new registration. I doubt SW will duplicate a serial number.

If someone has an ATFE link saying otherwise, please post it.

 

[Len-2A Training]

"This is by corporate policy, not law - as federal law allows direct shipment of a replacement with a different serial number without involvement of an FFL."

Well, I believe if you get a new serial # is has to be registered through an FFL, It is a new gun. I've been down this road. If they destroy the old gun they can issue the same number and you could avoid a new registration. I doubt SW will duplicate a serial number.

If someone has an ATFE link saying otherwise, please post it.

Although commonly done, BATFE does not require it to go thru an FFL.

From their Q&A:

(P25) A firearm is delivered to a licensee by an unlicensed individual for the purpose of repair. Is the return of the repaired firearm subject to the requirements of the Brady law? Would the transfer of a replacement firearm from the licensee to the owner of the damaged firearm be subject to the requirements of the Brady law?
​

Neither the transfer of a repaired firearm nor the transfer of a replacement firearm would be subject to the requirements of the Brady law.Furthermore, the regulations provide that a Form 4473 is not required to cover these transactions. However, the licensee’s permanent acquisition and disposition records should reflect the return of the firearm or the transfer​

of a replacement firearm.

Also S. 922 (a)(2)(A)

(A) this paragraph and subsection (b)(3) shall not be held to preclude a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer,licensed dealer, or licensed collector from returning a firearm or replacement firearm of the same kind and type to a person from whom it was received; and this paragraph shall not be held to preclude an individual from mailing a firearm owned in compliance with Federal, State, and local law to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector;

​

 

[Retired-LEO]

Haven't seen that particular break but I would expect a top notch repair in a few weeks.

+1

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Well, I believe if you get a new serial # is has to be registered through an FFL,

This is not correct (under the limited conditions Len's post describes), however, the prevailing policy among gun companies is to require the use of an FFL for replacement transfers. Plus, if one did have a manufacturer provide one not via FFL in MA, one would then have to file their own FA-10.

 

[Greg Derr]

However, the licensee’s permanent acquisition and disposition records should reflect the return of the firearm or the transfer
of a replacement firearm.( this is with the same serial number) a new serial # would require a a 4473 and in this states case an FA10

 

[Len-2A Training]

No 4473 according to what I read, just an explanation in the mfr (in this case) BB explaining that the S/N was "retired" and new S/N issued. FA-10 is on the owner when he/she receives the gun DIRECT from mfr. That is all that is required. If mfr insists on going FFL route, then . . .

Think of this . . . if the gun is NOT on the approved EOPS Roster and/or AG compliant the FFL could NOT transfer the gun to the rightful owner if everything had to go thru FFL for replacement frames!!

 

[Rugerfan]

Just spoke to S and W. Frame was replaced with new serial number. This can only go through FFL for return to me according to them.

Am awaiting return call from Smith to select FFL I want to use.

 

[Rugerfan]

Picked up my 642 at Blue Northern today. Had to pay $35 transfer fee. Can't blame the FFL, but Smith needs to sort this out and do it right so owners don't get stung like this.

 

[Billsail]

Picked up my 642 at Blue Northern today. Had to pay $35 transfer fee. Can't blame the FFL, but Smith needs to sort this out and do it right so owners don't get stung like this.

Wait! You bought it from them, and they charged you for the transfer?? If they did this they'd better rethink their policies. If it's true, then they've just been outed on NES! I hope not, because I like that shop, despite being expensive. Please confirm!?!?

 

[Garys]

Wait! You bought it from them, and they charged you for the transfer?? If they did this they'd better rethink their policies. If it's true, then they've just been outed on NES! I hope not, because I like that shop, despite being expensive. Please confirm!?!?

I don't see where he said he originally bought it from Blue Northern. When Smith replaced my broken 442 with a 642, I had to pay the transfer fee to the FFL. It wasn't a "sale" it was a transfer. The FFL made nothing on the transfer other than the transfer fee. I suppose you could argue that S&W should have picked up the transfer fee, but then again they replaced a 20 year old firearm with a brand new one. Unlike the Ginsu Knife people S&W is still around to honor their lifetime warranty.

 

[Billsail]

I don't see where he said he originally bought it from Blue Northern. When Smith replaced my broken 442 with a 642, I had to pay the transfer fee to the FFL. It wasn't a "sale" it was a transfer. The FFL made nothing on the transfer other than the transfer fee. I suppose you could argue that S&W should have picked up the transfer fee, but then again they replaced a 20 year old firearm with a brand new one. Unlike the Ginsu Knife people S&W is still around to honor their lifetime warranty.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Rugerfan]

Original purchase was from Four Seasons. Blue Northern is closer and easier for me to get to. That is why I used them.

My real issue is Smith and Wesson could do this without changing s/n's resulting in no need to go through an FFL. They just can't be bothered.

 

[yanici]

I bought my 642 from FS and it too needed to be replaced with a new frame (broken hammer stud). I had S&W ship it to FS for transfer and I too had to pay a transfer fee of $25. It would have been more, I was told, except that I had bought it there and got the discount.