We know the "book" says 1982, but we also know that's not completely correct. Parts and Supplies were used as long as they were still available. In particular, it's apparent that in the Model 25-5 that was for a pretty long time.

I have a 4" pinned barrel Nickel 25-5 .45 Colt in the tri fold blue and white box, with a Special Order number 3133 so March 13, 1983. That gun is S#N826082.

Today at the Fort Worth Gun Show I found a 6" pinned barrel Nickel 25-5 .45 Colt also in the tri fold blue and white box, with a Special Order Number of 5164 so May 16, 1984. Serial number on this one is N826494 only 412 numbers away from the 4" that was ordered over a year earlier.

What's the latest dates you have for a pinned and/or recessed revolver?

Thanks,
Earl

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Earl Battey

Pinning the barrel did not necessitate a part change so S&W revolvers would not see a revision change for simply deleting the barrel set pin.

Magnum revolvers with recessed cylinders did not have a revision change until the supply of recessed cylinders ran out... If you remove the barrel of the early transitional non pinned guns you will likely see a groove cut for the set pin.

Agree on all of that. What I'm after is how late were pinned barrels actually used? From my own small collection, I know at least 1983 and mid 1984 with the 25-5.

I learned what you stated the hard way. The first 4" 28-2 I purchased was a late one - over N900,000 range. I hadn't been collecting Smith's for long and just assumed all 28-2's were pinned and recessed. I didn't look at the revolver as close as I should have. Sure enough when I did I noted that the cylinder was recessed but the barrel was not pinned.

Earl

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Earl Battey

Within the past few years, our esteemed Forum leader handejector auctioned off an N frame - either one of a limited edition run or commemorative - that had a pinned barrel and dated to the late 1980s or early 1990s (?!). If he sees this thread he probably remembers the gun and will post about it.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The serial numbers stated in post #1 date the frames prior to the change being authorized that deleted the barrel pin and embedded headed space in the cylinder for N-frame (magnum caliber) revolvers (1981). The using up of old parts, including barrels, frames, and cylinders could have gone on for several years as it did for other changes made previously by S&W to its firearms. It is impossible to say how long this went on and collectors would have to report guns they find and eventually compile a list by shipping date to answer your question.

Bill

Earl, the Julian dates you have are just a little off. The first number is the last number of the year. The last three are the numbered day of the year. So 3133 would be May 13, 1983.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Thanks guys. Would be an interesting tidbit to know. Late 80's or 90's as you say just depending on when the last parts were found and used. Waste not, want not.

Aha, thanks 75Vette for the correction on the date conversion, hadn't caught that before on the special order codes. It also makes sense to me now as the 6" has later style speed loader cutout N frame targets dated April 1985. I thought they were added on by someone that wanted the later style grips since the gun was ordered in 1984 - but with your correction I see its a 1985 gun and the grips date to it and are correct. So it makes the pair even more interesting, only a little more than 400 numbers apart but the guns were built/shipped 2 years apart.

Thank God I looked at the forum before heading off to the gun show again today. I was prepared to swap those grips for a set of non speed loader cutouts, not now.

Thanks again,
Earl

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Earl Battey

Dates in the SCSW and other publications define when an engineering change was authorized, but not when the change was implemented. For example, the change to the extractor rod with a left hand thread was authorized on December 22, 1959, but took approximately three years to be completely implemented for the Model 29. Implementation time of changes by model probably was dependent on production schedules and first implemented for the highest volume models like the Model 10.

Bill

My 25-5, SN N8450xx is pinned. Willyboy