LERK's REVISITED---OH THE SHAME OF IT ALL

[rct269]

Those who give a rat's behind one way or the other may recall me fussing and fuming about the use of LERKS on post-war K frame targets---noting they required a machining operation not otherwise anticipated by the design of the post-war barrel----all this based on my presumption LERKS were being used in order to use up obsolete pre-war parts---and that they'd have been better off to scrap the leftover LERKS. Remember all that? Well guess what?!!

For openers, LERKS weren't being used in order to use up leftover pre-war parts. They were being used by design. I suppose one might fuss and fume about it being a bad/expensive design---and that's pretty much what eventually happened. But I didn't know that----and I damn well should have.

So what did happen? On October 4, 1946, an engineering change order was issued to stop using LERKS and start using whatever we call the straight design in order to increase production. That sort of sounds like something Hellstrom would have done, but there's no indication of the author.

And where was this obscure pearl of wisdom hiding all this time? Right in front of my face, on page 238 of N&J----and it even has pictures! It's a good thing all this happened here instead of the private forum---Jinks would've had me flogged!!

Like I said, "Oh the shame of it all!!"

Ralph Tremaine

[glowe]

I refuse to reply!!!! . . . oh wait - I guess I just did . . .

[delcrossv]

LERKS???

[weatherby]

Originally Posted by delcrossv

LERKS???

LERKS= Large Ejector Rod Knobs
I think Ralph came up with the acronym.....jesting

[delcrossv]

Aah. Thanks!

[larryofcc]

I have a K22 with LERK, and I am not ashamed of it. OH THE HUMANITY !!!! Big Larry

[Bob L]

I just picked up my first LERKS and really kind of like it.

[two-bit cowboy]

Your posts are always entertaining, Ralph, especially so when you're the brunt of your own medicine.

LERK, LERK, LERK!

(Think of the Three Stooges' Curly: "nark, nark, nark"),

Bob

[gmborkovic]

Ralph, I fear you are LERKphobic. Not very PC, but from Tenn. I understand.

[JP@AK]

Ralph
I noted this change order (October 4, 1946) quite some time ago, in my M&P database. What is interesting, however, is that implementation (at least on the M&P) took place quite a bit later. The earliest shipment I've recorded for an M&P with the smaller rod end was in February, 1947 (serial number S874114). Tons of M&P revolvers were shipped with the old knob between the change order (approximate serial number S844xxx) and the appearance of the small knurled end. Basically all the rest of the year. It is clear to me that this was a process of using up parts machined before the order was issued. Of course, we also have to consider a time gap between production and shipment.

BTW, this only applies to guns with barrels longer than 2". The 2" guns always had the smaller end on the rod, for obvious reasons.

I suspect the reason there were so few K target guns with the larger rod end is simply because far fewer of them were being produced at that time than of the M&P, which was in high demand.

[Hondo44]

I was aware of the change order date. But as we know, use of newer design parts always had a transition period between the time of the change order and when old parts were exhausted or no longer used.

However I never believed the transition period was to use up the old Pre end of WWII barrel shaped knobs. There's hundreds of NOS (new old stock) barrel knob rods still available. I believe it was to use up new barrels in stock already notched for the barrel knob.

S&W never wasted anything and barrels represent a much greater investment than barrel knob ext rods.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

I believe it was to use up new barrels in stock already notched for the barrel knob.

Jim
I, too, tend to think that is the case. I've said so on previous occasions.

[RWJ]

Originally Posted by larryofcc

I have a K22 with LERK, and I am not ashamed of it. OH THE HUMANITY !!!! Big Larry

Are you sure you don't mean.....

[DWalt]

The lowest K-series SN on my list known as having a knurled extractor rod tip (KERT) is K4647. I don't have a shipment date for it, but based on other nearby SNs it probably shipped about September 1947. Unless things have been updated, the highest K-series SN known having the barrel-shaped knob is given as K5680. If true, then the changeover took place over the production span of slightly more than 1000 K-series revolvers. Seems reasonable to use up old notched barrels in parts inventory.

[larryofcc]

Originally Posted by DWalt

The lowest K-series SN on my list known as having a knurled extractor rod tip (KERT) is K4647. I don't have a shipment date for it, but based on other nearby SNs it probably shipped about September 1947. Unless things have been updated, the highest K-series SN known having the barrel-shaped knob is given as K5680. If true, then the changeover took place over the production span of slightly more than 1000 K-series revolvers. Seems reasonable to use up old notched barrels in parts inventory.

My LERK K22 # K 4339, was shipped 9-23-1947, which is my 5th birthday. Real nice revolver too. Big Larry

[410bore]

I have a pretty neat LERK K-22 on the way to me at the moment

[larryofcc]

Originally Posted by 410bore

I have a pretty neat LERK K-22 on the way to me at the moment

I bought mine at a Reno show a few years back. It was one of the first S&W's I bought. Had no idea what a One Liner or a LERK was. I bought it for the low serial number. After reading up on this revolver, I discovered it to be a very much sought after revolver. Checked the stocks, and they matched. Got lucky on this one. Big Larry

[hibbs]

My K22 with LERK is K4208, shipped Oct.1947

Richard

[woodsltc]

Here is my K-22 with LERK.....I know it was early 1947 when shipped but I don't know the month.

Don

[larryofcc]

Most of the LERK's I have seen, seem to be in better than average condition. Some nice ones posted here. Big Larry