californiabill
03-19-2015, 11:54 PM
I'm new here and thought I might get a bit of help in getting my old Contender shooting again. I purchased my Contender (SN 1269xx) in January 1980 with 2 10" bull barrels (22lr and 357 mag). After a short while the action became really difficult to open and I didn't take advantage to have the barrels fited with new locking bolts. It just took too much effort to open the action of a 22lr so it wasn't fun to shoot anymore. I liked shooting the 357 barrel but then the centerfire firing pin began piercing primers. I tried using small rifle primers but they also were getting pierced. So my pistol has spent the last 30 years in the back of my safe.
Last week I met a fellow at our range who was shooting a Contender and he suggested that I should ship it back to the factory and get it repaired. So I called the Contender customer service person at Smith & Wesson. The lady explained that they no longer had the capability to upgrade the locking bolts but she said that they still honor the lifetime waranty on the frame to fix the firing pin and upgrade the hammer and she emailed me a pre-paid FEDEX label. The customer service lady gave me the name of sombody in Oklahoma who can fix the hard opening action problem. I researched it on the web and found that they are no longer in business. I thought the free shipping was a very nice gesture considering I bought the pistol 35 years ago and the original waranty required that I pay for shipment to the factory. I returned my pistol with including both barrels hoping that they will take care of both problems.
My pistol is still at the factory and yesterday customer service said it will be 4 to 6 weeks. I give and updated report when I hear from the factory or get the gun back. If they don't fix the locking bolts how can I get the required parts? CS said that they didn't have spare parts.
Thanks for your help.
Last week I met a fellow at our range who was shooting a Contender and he suggested that I should ship it back to the factory and get it repaired. So I called the Contender customer service person at Smith & Wesson. The lady explained that they no longer had the capability to upgrade the locking bolts but she said that they still honor the lifetime waranty on the frame to fix the firing pin and upgrade the hammer and she emailed me a pre-paid FEDEX label. The customer service lady gave me the name of sombody in Oklahoma who can fix the hard opening action problem. I researched it on the web and found that they are no longer in business. I thought the free shipping was a very nice gesture considering I bought the pistol 35 years ago and the original waranty required that I pay for shipment to the factory. I returned my pistol with including both barrels hoping that they will take care of both problems.
My pistol is still at the factory and yesterday customer service said it will be 4 to 6 weeks. I give and updated report when I hear from the factory or get the gun back. If they don't fix the locking bolts how can I get the required parts? CS said that they didn't have spare parts.
Thanks for your help.