Forum Members,
Please assist me in confirming those models which have straight barrels. I thought I knew but after checking some of mine with a micrometer, I'm not its so easy to make the call between straight and slight straight taper. If S&W has a criteria for such, please provide a reference. Please share your collective wisdom including other segments of S&WS.

Model 10 straight heavy barrel. That's the only one I have.

Well , obviously, the Models 64 and 65 leap out. The blue .357 equivalent to M-65 is Model 13, the .357 version of the heavy-barrel M-10.

These barrels certainly look straight, but I guess if measured, they may possibly have a slight taper. Don't think it's ever come up. If so, many would be interested.

Add the M-14 and similar K-framed target guns, and the big N-frames, like Models 29, 57, 25-2, 25-5, etc.

You've opened a pretty large can of worms. You even have to include special order police guns like the Combat Masterpiece with non-tapered barrels, but marked as Model 15, which traditionally had a tapered barrel until late production.

The 36-1 3" Chief's Special has a heavy barrel.

__________________
Because of the metric system?

Good examples of tapered barrels are the 4" model 10-5 and 64, the model 15 through the -4 and the model 27. A 4" 10-6 and a 64-3 have a heavy barrel; as noted above, they appear to be the same diameter from frame to muzzle but I have not measured them.

What is a little confusing is what one calls the barrel on a 3" model 36 (not the -1, which has the heavy barrel) and earlier 3" model 10s, out to the -5. These have more of a straight taper out to the muzzle. I have heard these called the "standard" barrel but tapered seems to fit them also.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for info so far. According to the SCoSW, the designation Heavy Barrel applies to both straight and straight tapered barrels. So I guess the real question is how much taper would constitute Straight Taper or how much taper is allowed in a straight profile barrel? Still digging.

Without measuring each example of what S&W considers "Heavy" barrels, I would expect to find a slight taper to them all.

I'm not aware of any S&W criteria for "straight barrels". The only model I'm aware of that could be considered a straight-walled barrel is the one already mentioned . . . the Model 10 Heavy. A similar barrel profile was also used on the special-ordered Model 14-2 Dayton Guns.

Here are comparison profiles of a 4" Model 14 Heavy barrel (left) and a 4" Model 14 Dayton barrel (right).








Russ

Thanks. I really like that Dayton barrel.

Late model M15's have a straight barrel, this one is a M15-7.

__________________
.............SmithNut

There were also a handful of the M617s with a straight non-underlugged barrel, this one is a 4", but the 6" is also straight.

__________________
.............SmithNut

My model 64-3 is a heavy, straight 4" barrel.

__________________
I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

There are bunches of 'em.

Model 19



Model 36



Model 65



Model 547 3"



Model 547 4"



Model 629




Model 66



Model 64



Model 617P

__________________
Bob