I've read just about every thread on the subject and there doesn't seem to be any definitive answer. Most of the knowledged folks tend to agree that the scandium frames didn't come out until the 340PD, but some guys say that they started using scandium in all the PDs in 2001. One gentleman notes that the SCSW lists a 342PD as having a scandium frame in 2001, with visible titanium pins and a blast shield. I don't have the SCSW otherwise I'd look, but my 342PD has a test fire date of May 2004 and while it does have the titanium pins, it does not have the blast shield.

Does anyone know for sure when S&W started using scandium frames, in the J-frame in particular?

Oh, and pic for attention:

My 342PD has a scandium frame and looks just like yours, except for the inner tube / shoe horn grip.

All the scandium J-frames I'm familiar with have blast shields. Not saying there might be one out there without, one I'm not aware of, but a blast shield is a sure sign of a scandium frame.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

My 342PD (sn CEF0xxx) did not come with any literature that indicates it has a Scandium-alloyed frame. It appears to have a Titanium cylinder and frame pins and says "AirLite PD" on the frame above and behind the trigger. No "blast shield." Absent of a claim by S&W that it has a Scandium-alloyed frame, I would presume it would not have it since I believe the idea of the specially alloyed frame was associated with the .357 Magnum 340PD model.

Edit... the OP's gun appears to have a more conventionally fluted cylinder similar to the 340. My 342 has a cylinder with very deep flutes and also has a red-ramp front sight. Don't believe I have seen a 342PD with a fiber optic sight until now.

Note that no modern aluminum gun is made of pure aluminum. All alloy aluminum with other metals to make it stronger.

I was under the impression that Smith's main point in combining Sc with Al was to make a frame that could withstand the use of 357 Magnum ammo.

They found a tiny percentage of Sc (a very expensive metal) make Al frames much stronger.

The 340PD shoots 357 Mag. The 342PD is limited to 38 sp +P.

The former has Scandium in the frame, the latter probably does not.

The blast shield was put in to prevent frame cutting. The 357 Magnum rounds tend to cause frame blast cutting, hence the presence of the blast shield on the Scandium guns.

But you collector experts know more than I do, so I may be wrong.

I have a 7 shot 242Ti L-frame with an Aluminum frame. It's not a Scandium gun and it is limited to 38 sp+P. It also doesn't have a blast shield.

But the M386 guns that came out a few years later do shoot 357 Magnum and are Scandium. And I think they also have blast shields.

I had the same question a couple of days ago. Check out this post which I think will answer your questions.

The latest edition of SCSW says the 342 has an alloy frame and no blast shield. I personally believe Scandium was not used nor needed.

Questions about 342TI

Your post is all true. However, there are scandium .38 Spl J-frames that have blast shields. (That's not always true regarding K-frames). AFAIK all scandium J-frames have blast shields, irregardless of chambering. Just what I've seen so far. Would welcome the details showning otherwise.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I have what appears to be the same gun; 342PD CDW26XX (Build date ??) with red ramp front sight and no blast shield.

I also have a 337-1 CDR14XX (build Feb 9, 2000?) Ti 3" adjustable sight, black ramp front sight with no blast shield.

Both of these guns have a titanium cylinder but I'm not sure about the frames. I thought that the scandium frame guns had the "atom" symbol like ours on them.

Neither of these guns have been fired...but...one of these days the temptation will get to me!

Gary

I have a 342PD too. I like this little gun a great deal. I carry it a lot. Shoot it a little. Others I shoot much more.

No blast shield in mine.

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America First

Mine has an upgraded XS Big Dot, but it did come with the traditional red ramp. No blast shield either here.

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All AirLites have the atom symbol but if you count the actual atoms, the scandium guns have 21 and the Ti guns (just a titanium cylinder) have 22. Per the periodic table.

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Those were some great J-frames. What makes you think they have scandium frames?

Post the Product Codes if you know them. Might be able to confirm on S&W's website.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

The atom means airlite which almost always means titanium cylinder.
There are lots of Scandium aluminum guns, usually but not always called air weight. The short list of titanium cylinders:
242 296 325 327 329 331 332 337 340 342 357 360 386 396, some 520, 646: there are several variants of each (e.g 386sc 386pd 386 mountain lite, 386xl/ng- this last one is scandium cylinder not titanium: first 3 are titanium)

I think you meant stainless cylinder.

My 386Sc/S is scandium frame and stainless cylinder.

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Are you replying to me? I was only pointing out that AirLite doesn't always mean scandium.

My 342PD is product code 163816. SCSW lists it as 1-7/8" 5SH BK RB FS SG IL RR PD

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The 300 series guns have scandium frames, some, not all, had titanium cylinders. The 242 and 296 also had scandium frames and came with Ti cylinders. There haven't been any guns made with scandium cylinders.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Not to you or anyone in particular. To anyone who thought they might have a scandium J-frame without a blast shield.

According to the SCoSW there was a .38 Spl M&P variation of the M342 that had a scandium frame and a blast shield (163075). This is in addition to a M342Sc scandium prototype which was made just for display at the SHOT show. They don't say if that gun had a blast shield.

I don't think the standard Model 342 PD had a scandium frame. Unfortunately, it been out of production for so long there's nothing in S&W's archive of catalog cut sheets on the 163816.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I've heard it plenty of times myself that the PD means it's titanium cylinder and scandium frame. That's true of most all PDs except the 342, I believe.

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I'm curious too as I just ordered one with lock, but no box.
(Also ordered a plug.)

I guess it doesn't really matter as the 642, 442, and other Airweights only have aluminum alloy frames and they are known to last many thousands of rounds, and they don't need a blast shield either.

Pretty impressive actually.

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<><

Alexrex20 is correct on 386 sc
My bad - thx for pointing that out

I thought S&W used Aluminum alloy doped with a small amount of Scandium in all their hand guns that use Aluminum frames. S&W has a patent for the process of how the Scandium is added to the Aluminum. At some point their marketing and sales people jumped on this.

This means that other people are using Scandium and not using the S&W process or paying S&W to use their process and not advertising it.

At one point I think they sort of overdid it with their 1911s.

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