Quote:
Originally Posted by THREEDFLYER
The cylinder does not have a serial number stamped on it, only the letter "F".....not sure if it was the original M58 cylinder reamed out to .45 Colt or a cylinder from a M25??
The barrel is obviously for Model of 1955, but has been cut down to be able to work with the .45 Colt cylinder. There is NO serial number on the barrel.
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Tom,
That's a real honey you found!
There is a rear sight with longer front tang made for short barrel Model 66s and a few others that extends to the end of the front of the top strap to meet the barrel rib and fills that little gap on the top strap.
The lack of serial # on barrel and cylinder is also normal for that vintage:
Officially, on May 1, 1957 S&W eliminated the Soft Fitting Operation: So it generally corresponds with model numbers ordered June 12, 1957. It was no longer necessary to routinely stamp the serial number on the barrel, cylinder & yoke arm rear surface and show up unstamped over a transition period. So guns in process or in inventory as of 5/1/57 can still have more than 3 and up to 6 locations, and guns shipped after this time may have some of the former number locations because assembly was done over time and as inventory from the old process was used up.
The 6 serial # locations were down to only 3 left on the majority of models (but not all) from c. late 1957 thru 1959 which are:
1. Butt
2. Extractor star - backside
3. Right stock – backside (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required.)