Another re-tread of an old thread, originally posted in Dec 2006......


Here is the second installment of my "Informal Pictorial Essay". This covers the 9mm and 357 Mag K frames in my collection.
There are plenty of holes, but that's what makes the journey fun.

Enjoy.

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.............SmithNut

Dup of above

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.............SmithNut

Starting this thread with fixed sight models followed by the adjustable sight models in my collection.

This first gun is a Model 13-3, blue finish with standard hammer and standard smooth trigger.
S/N 17D3xx, puts this late 1982 production (non-pinned barrel). Pretty straight, ordinary, but useful, gun.

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.............SmithNut

A companion to the gun above, this Model 13-3 is made in nickel about the same time. Features color case hammer & trigger (normal for early nickel guns).
S/N 17D1xxx puts this late 1982 (pretty close to the above gun).

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.............SmithNut

These Performance Center PC13's are from 1995. , and were billed by Lew Horton Distributors as a "Serious Carry Revolver".

Both are in my s/n 13....
The first one has the ports on the upper part of the barrel, a few weeks later the second one showed up at my dealer, the difference in the two is the location of the ports, the second one has the ports on the barrel rib near the front sight.
When the second one came in I passed, and another individual bought it. About a year later he traded it in on something else, and I decided that two with the same s/n would be great, since it's the s/n that I collected from the PC.

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.............SmithNut

This Model 65-3 is from 1986 (ANF7xxx) and still features flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth). Pretty straight forward gun, no nonsense but functional carry piece.

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.............SmithNut

Below are a couple Model 65-5 units. The first, BPK7xxx (1994 production) is a standard 3" gun, still using flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth).

The second Model 65-5 is the Lady Smith version with the shrouded ejector rod and bead blasted finish. S/N is BNB6xxxm produced in 1994. A pretty neat package, this gun still has the flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth) that lasted only a couple more years.

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.............SmithNut

Last of the fixed sight guns will be this Model 547 - 9mm revolver. This gun has the characteristic shortened tang hammer and was originally shipped with the longer Target Magna grips.

S/N ABK6xxx, manufactured in 1982 (non-pinned barrel).

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.............SmithNut

These three M19-2's have been shown before, so I'll add some shipping and configuration info.
All are in the K622xxx serial number range.

Top gun has a target hammer and trigger and was shipped on June 17, 1966 to Yorktown Custom Guns, Yourktown, OH.

The middle gun has a standard hammer and trigger and was shipped on March 3, 67 to Texas Gun Clinic, Houston, TX.

Bottom gun has standard hammer and trigger and was shipped on August 22, 1967 to a H. Miller, of Springfield, MA.

All three have a standard black ramp front sight. These guns were made up using the left over frames from the Naval ONI contract (4 inch RB revolvers.).

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.............SmithNut

This Model 19-7 K-Comp is from the second production run (1997 for Lew Horton), and is numbered in the "KCPxxxx" prefix. The first run of K-Comps was made for the Stocking Dealer Program (1994) and were serial numbered in the "SDAxxxx" serial number range.
The K-Comp model included the frosted blue finish, radiused trigger (w/trigger stop) and non-tear drop shape hammer (the earlier production run had that style), along with the front night sight and "power" style muzzle port. The original rubber grips are long gone in favor of Spegel Boot grips.

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.............SmithNut

Recently added this Lew Horton M19-7 to the clan. Not many made, about 55 I've read. This one is wierd in that the product code is from a standard production 2 1/2" M19 (100701),
while this has a 3" barrel. This gun sports the same bobbed hammer as the PC-13, the only other PC model made that had this hammer .
Mine is sporting Spegels, of course, and I've changed the ramp front sight out for a Patridge.

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.............SmithNut

This M66-2 is s/n AHJ1xxx and was shipped in 1985 to Ashland Shooters Supply. This is the first time they made the M66 in this barrel length. The original grips were not with it when I got it, so it's wearing some Spegels....

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.............SmithNut

This M66-4 is much later than the gun above, it shipped on Nov 11, 1994 to RSR. Serial number is CAA8xxx. This is one of my favorite late model configurations, it still has all the forged parts as well as the later style rear sight assembly, the fitting into the topstrap, to me, is very attractive.

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.............SmithNut

This next gun is a M66-5, the last of the configurations before they added the lock to this model. S/N CEC2xxx, this gun shipped to RSR on 4/25/2000. This is the engineering change that moved the firing pin from the hammer to the frame, as well as adding the integral frame lug. Again, the rubber grips were replaced by something that I can stomach..
The front sight has also been replaced with a Patridge style... Love it!

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.............SmithNut

This Model 66-3 F-Comp is from the first production run made for Lew Horton Distributors. S/N is PCP01xx and dates to 1993). Features include the flash chromed tear drop shaped hammer and trigger with integral trigger stop. PC shaped cylinder release and front night sight were standard with this model. Note the PC logo is laser etched on, under the cylinder release.
Gun is wearing Spegel Boot grips made from Macassar Ebony.

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.............SmithNut

This Model 66-4 F-comp was made for Lew Horton in the 1995. S/N is LHFxxxx. Has the same features as the gun above, except that the hammer is not tear drop shaped, and the logo is roll-marked on instead of laser etched.
Wearing Spegel Boot grips, it also has a rear night sight assembly that is not original.



One more! Recently added this M66-4 "Super-K" to the stable (Thanks Louie!), made in 1997 (product code 17090), this has a contoured barrel and magna ports as standard. The gun shipped with polymer magna grips, they didn't do it for me so it's now wearing Spegels (what else?)

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.............SmithNut

I really enjoy your pictorials.

A fine and interesting tour.

Thank You

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I Love This Site

Beautiful Smiths. Obviously a lot of thought, work and insight that is reflected in this collection. Thanks for sharing.

Smithnut is my HERO.

Thanks for the tour! I always appreciate your posts ... and your photos. Who installs the patridge sights for you?

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry,
I do the installations myself, with pinned front sight models it's pretty easy with the right drill size and an assortment of replacement sights (avail from the factory).
Lots of fun, and pretty easy as long as you take your time.

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.............SmithNut

Another thanks! Interesting and appreciated.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Man I like that PC13. The Lew Horton Model 19 is on time as well. Thanks for sharing!

Great guns and great pictures; I've always wanted a 3" 13 but never got around to picking one up. The 3" barrel does look so nicely balanced on the K frame

Bill

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Bill

Just when I thought I was out...you pull me back in!

I have shown this before--lots. I bought mine slightly used in 1997. It is a performance center 66-3. 3" ported barrel, night sight and all the goodies. Serial # is just 0XX. The lew horton paper was with it, box wasnt labeled. I no sooner bought it and I ran across another almost identical at another gun shop down the road. That one had a ivory diamound inletted in the grip. I paid the most I ever paid for a handgun, about $665 otd. Had to have it!

SmithNut - Where are you getting the S&W Emblems for your Spegel grips? Are you recycling them from old grips or do you have a source.

Thanks

Pepper,
Some years back, new medallions were available from a couple different sources, however I've been able to find any lately. Craig Spegel does have a good supply so if you are interested in his grips he can provide for a fee.

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.............SmithNut

Thanks SmithNut!! I have my 3rd set on order with Craig now and I never knew.

Pepper,
If you want Craig to install them, consider this - his normal speed loader cut is very agressive, extending fairly far down on the left grip panel, leaving very little room for a medallian since the blind screw escutcean (sp?) is just below the speed loader cut. I have him use a different speed loader cut, we call it the 1958 cut (patterned after a set of S&W Targets from a 1958 gun of mine), this cut is a bit less agressive, doesn't extend down quite as far, leaving more room for the medallian.
Look at my grips, hopefully there are some examples of the left grip panel to see, and decide what you want. If you go with his normal style speed loader cut, he will install the medallians lower on the left grip panel, it will not be symetrical with the right.
Something to consider.

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.............SmithNut

Thanks again SmithNut. I always like the way your Spegels look and now I know why!!! My new grips are for a working gun, so I need all the speed loader access that I can get. Guess I'll skip the emblems on this pair.

Great looking hardware!!

Thank you Rob, for your pictorials that have fired a compulsion for K magnums.

Regards ,,,AlleK-Frame


Edited to add,,,, the compulsion took ,and we now have a 3" 13-2 ,a model 547 ,and a
brace of 3" model 66s'




In these pictures are; 66-2,Ashland ,66-3 ,66-4 Lew Horton bead blast,magna ported.

A 66-5 3.25" roll stamped. A 66-5 3.25" ,acid etched markings. The absolute last pre lock
stainless Smith. I have seen earlier alpha serial numbers that had the lock.





























A barrel profile comparison between the earlier 66-2 ,66-4 and the heavier 66-5









Regards ,Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Just when I thought I was over K frames! SmithNut you are a stellar advocate for K Frames.

Would reeally like to see LH bring back that Model 13.

Gotta love those 3-inch barrel K-frames. SmithNut for President!

I too have a fondness for the 3" K-frame guns,......my 65-5

Thanks eveyone for sharing your beauties with us.
Keep em coming folks....

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A true american

SmithNut as far as model 13's used by the FBI , were there any differences in these and the civilian versions?

what is the amount of acceptable end play in the K frame? I have had mine about thirty years, bought it new from a police force that was going to the 5902 semi-auto. Several thousand rounds thu the gun, seems the timing is getting off and I have about 6thousands clearance at the cylinder to barrel connection.

Greetings wbrswll, and welcome to the forum.

According to the Kuhnhausen S&W shop manual, end play (sometimes called endshake) ought to be corrected once it reaches .006" or more. Many prefer to correct it before that; about .001" end play is thought ideal.

Cylinder-barrel gap should be measured with the cylinder held back by hand. If that's how you did it, .006" gap is about perfect. S&W old specs considered out to .010" acceptable; today that's pushed (rightly or not) out to .012".

If your revolver is starting not to time correctly, likeliest culprit is a worn hand -- something any qualified S&W revolversmith can replace quickly and at low cost.

Again, welcome to the forum -- it's a great place, chock full of knowledge and good folk. If you have any more gunsmithing related questions, there's a subforum specifically for it; feel free to start your own threads there or in any of the other topic-specific subforums.

I think that if you look closely, you'll see that the hammer and trigger are color case hardened. The trigger is a smooth combat style. The top strap has been drilled and tapped for a scope mount at the factory. All these features appear on my 3" 66-4. IIRC, mine came with those awful rubber grips.

Great looking guns and pics!!

Enjoy my old pics....

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.............SmithNut

Good stuff