Smith & Wesson 624 - .44Special

[alfsauve]

I'm watching two S&W 624 on Gun Broker.  The dealers want an astronomical price for them ($700+).   Now I own a 6.5" barrel one and wouldn't mind adding a 4" to my collection.   There were only 7,500 made in '85-'86.

Here's the problem.

BAD: There was a bad batch of stainless steel and some of the cylinders are bad.   Neither of these guns have been tested and are subject to recall.

GOOD:  S&W still honors the recall and will test them for you.

BAD:  There are no more .44Special cylinders.

It's unclear today, (2011) what S&W will do if they find a bad one.   Nobody has sent one in recently to be tested and found bad.  They could:

a) Send it back with a warning not to fire it.
b) Replace cylinder with .44Mag and but in new barrel, so you technically have a 624 in .44mag. (a-la 629 in 624 clothing)
c) Send you a current model 629

For liability purposes they won't do a).   And b) is pricey and time consuming though desirable since you end of up with a unique gun few others have.  b) is what they did at one time.  A current model 629, option c)  though nice, is hardly a equivalent to a 1985 629. Though, conceivably I could resell  it at a profit and use the money to buy a pre-2000 629.

SO:  I'm thinking of writing the gun stores and make them a low ball offer, explaining the recall problem.  I'd dip into saving if they'd sell them for $350.   

[tombogan03884]

There is a D) alternative, they may not have any more 44 Sp cylinders to sell because they are holding the ones they still have to honor the recall.
Best bet would be to call and ask.

[alfsauve]

There is a D) alternative, they may not have any more 44 Sp cylinders to sell because they are holding the ones they still have to honor the recall.
Best bet would be to call and ask.

Others (S&W Forum) have already confirmed this.  They haven't had cylinders for several decades.   There weren't actually that many found to be bad.   

[alfsauve]

DURN IT

The first one actually sold for $780.  Wow.  Almost twice what I paid for mine only 6 months ago.

I'm guessing the buyer knows about the recall.

[Pecos Bill]

Alf, there's an E option. Since Smith is making a blued version of the 24 they could simply substitute an unchambered 629 cylinder and chamber it for 44 SPL. Wouldn't be cheap but cheaper than sending back a 629.

Pecos

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

Alf, there's an E option. Since Smith is making a blued version of the 24 they could simply substitute an unchambered 629 cylinder and chamber it for 44 SPL. Wouldn't be cheap but cheaper than sending back a 629.

Pecos

Not sure what you have in mine.  They could take a blue Mod 24 cylinder and put it on the 624, but then you wouldn't have a stainless gun.   They can't put .44mag cylinder on a 24 or a 624 with out replacing the barrel, because the barrel is screwed in a little further on the model 24/624s to make up for the shorter cylinder.  Frames are same size.

Of course they could go to the machine shop and cut down a .44mag 629 cylinder. 

Nah, I think it's just cheaper to replace the bad 624 with a whole new 629.   Remember S&W would only have to take the hit for their actual  cost of the 629 which is less than they charge distributors/wholesalers.  I don't know what the markup is Smith to distributor to dealer to retail, but I'd guess Smith's cost is about $300?  Roughly.


ANYWAY.  Scratch my idea of getting one cheap because of the recall.   Since one just closed on GB for $780, it's only going to encourage the sellers to hold out for $700+ 

[Pecos Bill]

Sorry Alf, I forgot about the barrel hanging out farther on the 24. You're correct it probably would be cheaper to replace with a 629 than modify a 629 cylinder.

Pecos, who didn't look at his guns before he spoke.

[fightingquaker13]

This is one of those times where I think its easy to outsmart yourself. Option one, you luck out and get a good gun at market price if its not got a cylinder issue. Option two, you knowingly buy a bad one and try to finagle it for something better and get screwed. In the case of option two, my sympathy is limited. Just walk away and buy the non problematic gun you want. If you try to game the system, the house generally wins. There are plenty of .44 specials and .44 mags out there that work just fine. Buy one of those. Just my .02.
FWIW
FQ13

[alfsauve]

This is one of those times where I think its easy to outsmart yourself.
[snip]
There are plenty of .44 specials and .44 mags out there that work just fine.

I don't just want any old .44.   I like these.  Limited run, made in the mid '80s. No safety.  Case hardened hammer and trigger.

Gaming the system is......uh..................well................part of the game.   The "hunt" is part of the fun.

One, which has not been tested in the recall, just sold yesterday for $790!!!  I know it wasn't tested because I asked the seller to check for me.    I don't think I can loose if I'm only willing to pay less than $400.   Worse case, to me, is I end up with a current model 629, in .44 Mag, for $400, worth $600+ easy.  Best case is I have a certified collectible shooter that's worth twice what I paid for it.

There are two up for auction, a 3" snubby and a 6.5" this Saturday at Hewlett's March Auction in California.

[justbill]

SO:  I'm thinking of writing the gun stores and make them a low ball offer, explaining the recall problem.  I'd dip into saving if they'd sell them for $350.   

I'd be shocked if the seller would accept $350. That's less than I paid for my 3" 624 back when they were new.