I Rollo'ed my SW 642

4043 Views 32 Replies 13 Participants Last post by PEF, Apr 10, 2013

PEF

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2013

Well I decided to clean my trusty 642 by taking off the side plate yesterday. I followed Kuhnhausen's direction in his shop manual, and I know how to disassemble these things.

I immediately noticed something was amiss.

The trigger would not travel and the cylinder stop was depressed so the cylinder spun freely. Odd.

After some investigating I noticed the trigger pin on which the trigger rotates was broken. To get the gun back together, I must push upward on the trigger while laying the sideplate in place. Once the sideplate is installed, the gun functions normally. Apparently the combination of the sideplate guide hole and the dimple in the frame from which the trigger pin broke off are enough to support the trigger pin in the proper place for the gun to function normally.

I filled out the warranty form on SW and I should receive an e-mail with a label in a couple of days.

So I've joined Club Rollo (if you recall his 637 had the trigger plunger fall out repeatedly). Smith made my model 60 right, so I expect they will come through on this as well.

Anyway, Rollo, make room on the island, you are no longer alone.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

oneshot

· #2 · Mar 18, 2013

Holdin' my breath, as I own a 442, am buying a 637 shortly, and my mom owns a 642.

With as many of these that are out there, I suspect this is a small issue at this point.

PEF

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 18, 2013

oneshot said:
Holdin' my breath, as I own a 442, am buying a 637 shortly, and my mom owns a 642.

With as many of these that are out there, I suspect this is a small issue at this point.

I think it's just the luck of the draw. My 637 has about 1000 rounds through it, been completely stripped, and it's fine.

Cook74

· #4 · Mar 18, 2013

I have had my 642 and 442 apart and no problems noted...

bgusty

· #5 · Mar 18, 2013

I just put a big payment down on a 640, so I am interested to see how smith takes care of you.

PEF

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 18, 2013

bgusty said:
I just put a big payment down on a 640, so I am interested to see how smith takes care of you.

I have a 60 - 14 that had a loose yoke a while back. I talked to the guy at SW warranty, he said that was normal, but I said I didn't like the play (the revolver functioned fine). So he sent me a shipping label; I sent it in and they replaced the several parts and it came back much tighter. There was no muss and no fuss from SW.

You will like the 640. I have several. I use the Galco concealable belt holster for my carry one, and I replaced the larger grips with boot grips for concealability.

bgusty

· #7 · Mar 18, 2013

I normally carry a 3" 1911, but I am looking to get something a little more concealable for my summer carry. I didn't want an airweight and I found a good deal on a 640 so thats on layaway now.. I have a front night sight on the way and was wondering about getting a wood grip for it. Does the regular rubber grip catch on clothing much or have you found that to not be an issue?

PEF

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 18, 2013

There are two rubber boot grips - the newer ones are a smoother rubber and the older ones seem to be a softer, checkered rubber. The older ones catch more than the newer ones. But I have found the newer ones to catch as well - seems like rubber will catch the cotton any chance it gets.

Altamont has some reasonably priced boot grips (I believe they make them for SW too, so just go directly to Altamont Company and order them to save a few bucks).

Another option I like are Ahrends, available at Brownells, but they are about $70 w/o checkering, and the altamonts you can get for about 45 with checkering.

BigJon10125

· #9 · Mar 18, 2013

I am no rollo, but seems smith will make it right. Glad you found out before you had to depend on it!

bgusty, My 442 is ALWAYS with me (now). Thing is too easy NOT to carry.

bgusty

· #10 · Mar 18, 2013

How well have you found them to conceal with an OWB holster? I am debating about an OWB holster (looked at hays pancake), or am I better off with an IWB? Looking to conceal in a t shirt and shorts. Sorry to hijack this thread a little.

PEF

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 18, 2013

bgusty said:
How well have you found them to conceal with an OWB holster? I am debating about an OWB holster (looked at hays pancake), or am I better off with an IWB? Looking to conceal in a t shirt and shorts. Sorry to hijack this thread a little.

If you wear a decent belt and shirt with a longer tail, the Galco concealable belt holster works fine for concealing. For IWB, I use a Galco Royal Guard or a Desantis Summer Heat. The Royal Guard is better but more pricey.

bgusty

· #12 · Mar 18, 2013

I'm new to revolvers in general, so just out of curiousity how common are these problems with revolvers?

PEF

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 18, 2013

bgusty said:
I'm new to revolvers in general, so just out of curiousity how common are these problems with revolvers?

I wouldn't worry about it with at 640, which is all stainless steel. The 642 has an aluminum frame and is more likely to fail at high stress points relative to steel. But even for the aluminum airweights it seems to be rare.

Rollo

· #14 · Mar 18, 2013

Yep, sounds like you have exactly the same issue I did. With both mine... The first time around S&W replaced the frame. This was a bit of a hassle as it had to ship to a FFL because the serial number changed. Smith will reimburse you for the FFL transfer fee. The second replacement is where the fiasco started that turned me off of S&W for forever. Good luck and I hope they get it fixed for you. I personally will not trust a non steel S&W revolver. I sold mine and was quite happy with the LCR I replaced it with.

OldVet

· #15 · Mar 18, 2013

Oh dear, it's contagious.

bgusty

· #16 · Mar 18, 2013

The curse of Rollo strikes again?

10thmtn

· #17 · Mar 19, 2013

Not a curse so much as sub-optimal design. Casting the trigger pivot pin into the frame gives you a stress point that can fail over time. I'm actually surprised that S&W designed it this way.

PEF

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 19, 2013

10thmtn said:
Not a curse so much as sub-optimal design. Casting the trigger pivot pin into the frame gives you a stress point that can fail over time. I'm actually surprised that S&W designed it this way.

Seems to be the same frame design in the old stainless 38's. But stainless is a lot stronger than aluminum....

Reactions: 1

BugDude

· #19 · Mar 19, 2013

I've got thousands of rounds through my 442. I've had it apart, changed out main and trigger return springs, no issues as of yet. I also swapped out grips with an older S&W j-frame I had and put the old school wooden grips on it. I now have the same style old S&W wooden grips on all of my j-frames. They conceal well and I guess I just got used to shooting with them over the years. It just feels right in my hand and I shoot it better that way.

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RoscoeSmith

· #20 · Mar 19, 2013

Axis pin cast integral with frames? I believe they a press fit into steel and alloy frames. Not repairable in an aluminum frame.

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