I've noticed a few 28-2s with a gap between the frame and ejector shroud. Is this something not to be concerned with if you have one?
It caught my eye when I first looked at mine and thought the barrel may be canted. My FFL said that maybe the frame was bent?
May be that none of the above is fact, and it's just the way they were made since I've seen more than one like it.
Does anyone have any info on this?
Sorry, the gap only shows in the last photo.
I have not had a chance to shoot it yet.

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No concern as far as I know. My NIB '72 28-2 has such a gap.

I'm hoping that's right and think that since this gun is built like a tank, that it probably is.

I just checked both my 25-2 and 29-2. Same tiny gap present. I say we're good!

My 27-2 looks just like that. I don't see that it would be any issue, since the area is under zero stress.

It only shows with the cylinder opened. I've just never seen it on any other Smith I've owned.

Now you had me looking! Just checked my 6-inch 28-2 bought new in '74. Once I looked, I remembered seeing the gap before. It's barely wide enough for a sheet of copy paper to slide in.

It's never been a problem. No need for concern that I can see.

If you've been shooting it since 74' with no problems, I guess not!

Actually, it's been fired only once since around '75. I took it to the range about four years ago. It was my dad's, but that's another story for another time.

You see such a gap on a lot of N-Frames.

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You're shy a few manners.

That is more common that not on S&Ws that have the shroud, and nothing to fret over.

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Pisgah

question is more about the quality of the FFL who has no idea about the basic thing.

If your bbl. isn't canted it is ok. I have a couple like that. Absolutely no problem.

My 1985 M624, ~1970 M28-2, and 1954 HD all show such a gap. I'll not lose any sleep over it.

Larry

It's normal, nothing to worry about.

That's a valid point. Especially the "bent frame" thing. How many bent N-Frames has anyone seen? Seriously.

There has to be a bit of clearance so the shroud won't drag on the frame when the barrel is installed. Evidently, the gap varies. Other than a very slight cosmetic issue, I don't believe it matters one whit.

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NRA Benefactor

My 1974 M28-2 and 1977 M29-2 is the same.

I have a Machine Shop and have 40 years designing and making assemblies. I am pretty sure it is intentionally recessed so that the housing edge doesn't mark the the frame during assembly.
The barrel is threaded into the frame and the very last bit of rotation to get the barrel tight would leave a scratch on the frame without the clearance.
Larry

No doubt about it; that gun is shot. But I'll give you $100 for it.

Naw, thanks anyways, but that would leave me down $20.

Tyrod and LarryMNH are correct. There is a round boss on the barrel around the threaded part that butts up against the frame. Anything else is turned back a couple of thou. for clearance. The difference in gaps is only due to manufacturing tolerances.

See my comments, made today:

S&W Revolvers: The Gap: How Big Should It Be?


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I've always regarded that gap as an eyesore and look for guns without it. And not just N-frames, either.

Guns perfectly fitted there exist, but treasure them if you find one.

All of the several M-60-4's I've handled inc. the two I bought, were perfect there, and so is my 1990-made M-66-3, bought new.

Colt and Ruger seem not to have that problem, and their barrel shrouds usually fit fine. In a couple of cases, that contributed a lot to my buying a Ruger DA revolver instead of a Smith. (Security-Six and GP-100 vs. M-66 and M-686.)

Just checked my 28-3 and can get a .005” feeler gauge in the gap but a .006” won’t. Don’t know if being a -3 makes any difference in the size of gap or not.

I've never seen an N Frame without the gap. Just the size varies. My old 28-2 had a much bigger one than my present one has, but it wasn't as big as the gap was on the two Model 29's I shot about the same time. The FFL thinking the frame might be bent isn't a shock either, my last one seemed to know nothing about any gun made of steel. Except for a couple of old .25's, all he had were polymer guns. I was very disappointed in his collection. But I'm old and like steel, so..