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10-30-2016, 07:59 PM
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Strange holes on a 686-3... factory or strange?
Hi everybody,
I just picked up a 686-3 with the 8 3/8" barrel, it is currently going to be in CA 10 day jail, so better/ closer pics will be a while.
I have not seen this before and it appears to be done well, but why was it done? Was it an option that is no longer there... a way to better maintain it? No idea.
If you look at the crane arm there are 2 small evenly spaced holes on the crane arm. Not sure if threaded or how deep.
Any insight or previous experience would be great.
Thank you,
Josh
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10-30-2016, 08:07 PM
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I would have to say strange, never seen that before.
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10-30-2016, 09:04 PM
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Maybe added a ball detent
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10-30-2016, 09:13 PM
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strange......
At least to me.
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10-30-2016, 10:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redford
Maybe added a ball detent
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^^^^^^
This - not factory
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10-30-2016, 10:23 PM
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Don't know but seen pistols with ball detent on the crane
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10-30-2016, 11:25 PM
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That is not how a ball detent lock is installed......
Last edited by Big Cholla; 10-31-2016 at 12:51 AM.
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10-30-2016, 11:38 PM
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I don't know about the ball detent, I have two S&W revolvers with them added and there are no visible holes on the outside of the crane arm.
bob
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10-31-2016, 12:15 AM
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I HAVE AN 8 3/8" NO DASH 686, A 2 1/2" NO DASH 686, AND A 4" 686 MOUNTAIN GUN WHICH I BELIEVE IS A -3. SEVERAL OF MY RANGE MATES SHOOT 686s OF VARIOUS VINTAGES AND LENGTHS. NEVER HAVE I SEEN A 686 WITH HOLES LIKE THAT IN THE CRANE. I DOUBT THAT IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A BALL DETENT, AND I AM 99.99% CERTAIN THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A "FACTORY OPTION". WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE, BEFORE AC WAS STANDARD EQUIPMENT....
IT IS A VERY STRANGE FEATURE, INDEED. IF THE HOLES ARE DRILLED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, THEY COULD BE SOMEONE'S IDEA OF A BENEFICIAL PLACE TO INSERT A FEW DROPS OF OIL, PERIODICALLY. I AM NOT A 'SMITH, BUT THAT IS THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPLANATION THAT I CAN OFFER......
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Last edited by one eye joe; 10-31-2016 at 06:24 PM.
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10-31-2016, 02:33 AM
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Round butt with 8 3/8" barrel is a little strange. The extra holes are just weird.
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10-31-2016, 03:32 AM
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Give S&W a call and see if they can resolve this issue. you can send them a pic.
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10-31-2016, 09:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Cholla
That is not how a ball detent lock is installed......
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It may not be the proper or conventional way to add a ball detent but that doesn't mean whoever did it wasn't thinking outside the box, or was inexperienced enough to do it somehow with the added holes. I can't imagine any other purpose for the yoke modification. We'll just have to wait until he gets his hands on it.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
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10-31-2016, 10:06 AM
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Rather unusual to say the least. Did you notice if the holes went completely through the yoke? If threaded it could possibly be for some sort of attachment for a stabilization device. Could be you will never know unless you are able to contact the original owner. Regardless, if it does no harm and the revolver shoots well, I wouldn't worry about it.
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10-31-2016, 03:03 PM
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The crane has been lightened to make reloads faster.
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10-31-2016, 04:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sasu
The crane has been lightened to make reloads faster.
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By .01 ounces?
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10-31-2016, 06:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sasu
The crane has been lightened to make reloads faster.
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LOL.............
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10-31-2016, 06:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sasu
The crane has been lightened to make reloads faster.
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THIS MAY ACTUALLY BE TRUE, BUT TO ME IT SEEMS VERY FAR FETCHED.....
THE HOLES ARE SMALL, AND THE AMOUNT OF METAL REMOVED IS MINISCULE. THE VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT REMOVED SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WITH REGARD TO RELOADING SPEED.........
NO EXPERIENCED REVOLVER SHOOTER IS GOING TO BE OPENING AND CLOSING THE CYLINDER BY SNAPPING THE WRIST--AS IS COMMONLY SEEN IN "B GRADE" DETECTIVE MOVIES. THAT IS A SURE RECIPE FOR BENDING THE CRANE........
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10-31-2016, 06:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sasu
The crane has been lightened to make reloads faster.
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Ummm - Methinks sasu is expressing a bit of sarcasm here? They seem to be well and carefully drilled - I think a pic of the other side of the crane would be helpful ...
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11-14-2016, 02:24 PM
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Update
Well, I was able to look at it the other day to see what was going on. The holes were drilled very clean, and upon opening, it has 2 ball detents installed on the crane. Why I do not know, but it doesn't seem to effect anything. Still happy with the purchase. Pre lock, 8 3/8", round butt, in Kalifornia for $750. I think I can live with the detents.
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11-14-2016, 04:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FFJAB
Well, I was able to look at it the other day to see what was going on. The holes were drilled very clean, and upon opening, it has 2 ball detents installed on the crane. Why I do not know, but it doesn't seem to effect anything. Still happy with the purchase. Pre lock, 8 3/8", round butt, in Kalifornia for $750. I think I can live with the detents.
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Just a note. If you had opened the cylinder before posting this "mystery" we could have avoided the drama and then we could have just discussed the pros/cons of dual ball detents where they don't seem to be needed.
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11-14-2016, 06:52 PM
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Hey it's a modern Triple-lock. Quadruple lock if you count the detents individually.
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11-14-2016, 07:03 PM
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I'm not sure I'm a fan of drilling holes in the frame right there under the barrel. If a revolver frame is going to crack, that's one of the places it's likely to happen.
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11-14-2016, 08:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlHunt
I'm not sure I'm a fan of drilling holes in the frame right there under the barrel. If a revolver frame is going to crack, that's one of the places it's likely to happen.
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It's like they asked, "Where is the frame most likely to crack?"
"Okay. Let's drill not one, but TWO holes, right THERE!"
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11-14-2016, 08:12 PM
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I'm betting someone intended to work up some really hot loads and wanted to make sure the lock up stayed tight. Maybe overkill.
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11-14-2016, 09:29 PM
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Is it threaded.......
Are they threaded for Zerk fittings??
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11-14-2016, 09:56 PM
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From a lock up point of view that is a much better approach than the normal ball detent in the horizontal axis, in my opinion of course. But then there is the frame integrity thing. If the recesses are well radiused they should not act as stress risers, and there is still a lot of metal left.
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11-14-2016, 11:29 PM
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FWIW, the Performance Center 686-3 Competitors came with a single ball detent in the same location, and this was from the factory. The removable weights in the barrel lug preclude a traditional lock-up at the front of the ejector rod on the Competitors. This design cannot be all bad if Performance Center engineers saw fit to incorporate it on a factory gun. I don't know if the current generation of Competitors use the same design.
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11-15-2016, 12:30 AM
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He couldn't open it while it was being held at the shop, I guess. Neat set up IMO.
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11-15-2016, 08:37 AM
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I still don't see what necessitated drilling the two small holes in the crane. 
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11-15-2016, 10:34 AM
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Somebody was brain storming in their machine shop. If nobody ever experimented where would we be. If one ball detent is good, 2 has to be better? The work does look well done, but I don't get the side holes either. A way to clean out and lube the spring holes? But also a way for stuff to get in. Be interesting to remove the cylinder, install jut the crane and see how solid it locks up by itself to see just how much it helps hold the crane in.
On the comments on messing with the weak spot on the frame, please note that the spots for the balls to lock into are well off center and away from the thin center portion.
Interesting, but, I really can't see the need myself.
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11-15-2016, 11:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver
Somebody was brain storming in their machine shop.
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IMHO, Doesn't look like an amateur job. Either it was done by a smith that knew what they were doing or it may have been a P.C. distributor model, maybe a Lew Horton. I'd call S&W with the S.N. and see if they knew. Other than that, I'd just shoot it and enjoy.
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11-15-2016, 12:17 PM
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I have installed many a crane ball bearing/indent lock in S&Ws, both at that location and down in the pivot barrel. I can see no real need for these two holes to accomplish something as simple of installing one or even two crane locks. I would like to see detailed pictures of this job from all possible angles. Better yet, I would like to discuss this procedure with the pistolsmith that thought it up and then did it. ..........
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