Rigger posted this pic of his pre-28 a couple days ago. I noticed the contour of the front edge of the ejector shroud is more rounded than on my 28-2 and 27-2. When did S&W change from the rounded contour to the sharper angle?

I think it has more to due with the person who was polishing that day than anything else!

Here's a 5-screw .357 Magnum from 1957 that is sharper, like a later one.


That said, it seems that have happened in the mid-60's

I've noted that, too, and I think it was a cost-saving step.
That contour is probably hard to do right. Looks good, though! I think the change was in the mid to late 1950's.

T-Star

I can't recall ever having seen that contour before, and I did a quick run-through of maybe 100 photos of examples this afternoon. None matched that contour, but some were pretty distinctly, but just a bit, more rounded than the "standard". It's an interesting variation, especially if factory-done.

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Pisgah

DCWilson's Heavy Duty looks pretty rounded:



And this Registered Magnum looks pretty rounded:

The "contour" of the ejector rod shroud varied quite a bit over the years. Some were more rounded, and some not. However, the more rounded profile generally disappeared after 1956. The profile had nothing to do with which was correct or not, just a manufacturing variation.

Bill

Here is the rounded ejector shroud on my Heavy Duty. Riggers 28 looks a lot like this.

Attached Images

HeavyDutyLugProfile.jpg (183.4 KB, 44 views)

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