4516 Barrel Length Question

[ACEd]

So on doing some research on differences between original 4516 and 4516-1, 4516-2 I came upon a potential change that I had not previously observed.
I know the early 4516 had stepped frames and the 4516-1 & -2 had wider unstepped frames - but was there also a change in barrel length from 3.5 in to 3.75 in?
TCP is an original No Dash 4516 "3.5 in"
TEH is a 4516-1 "3.75 in"
VAV is a 4516-2 "3.75 in"

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I've never had a -0 to say with certainty but I believe they've always been 3.75".

There are three different barrel PN#s in the S&W catalog & two different slide assembly PN#s.

The 4013 (non-TWS) are made on the same large frame but they are, & always have been, actually 3.5" barrels when measured from the crown to the end of the hood. This made for some obvious differences between the two calibers.

For some reason 3.75" was the standard compact length for 45s but for everything else it was 3.5". I believe they just started marking the length accurately on the box labels.

That difference was not discussed in this vintage thread:
4516 vs. 4516-1 vs. 4516-2

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[BLUEDOT37]

I forgot to add, that barrel length label difference discrepancy wasn't limited to the earlier models.

I have a pre-rail 4553TSW, made in Nov-1999, that is labelled as being a 3.5" barrel.

I measured it & I assure you it is 3.75" long.

Some labelers apparently insisted on calling them 3.5" barrels.

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[4T5GUY]

Interesting, (maybe,) is that in 1999 both the 3 1/2” and 3 3/4” barrel lengths were stated on labels. (Pre-rail and non-railed railed TSW’s.) Maybe that was the year when the change was made.

In 1997 even the PC was listing the barrel length at 3 1/2”.

Jim

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Interesting, (maybe,) is that in 1999 both the 3 1/2” and 3 3/4” barrel lengths were stated on labels. (Pre-rail and non-railed railed TSW’s.)
Maybe that was the year when the change was made.

In 1997 even the PC was listing the barrel length at 3 1/2”.

Jim

"The change"?

When they stopped erroneously labeling 3-3/4" barrels as 3-1/2"?

How would we know that?

You're not suggesting that there were actually both sizes made, like ACEd asked about?

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[4T5GUY]

"The change"?

When they stopped erroneously labeling 3-3/4" barrels as 3-1/2"?
How would we know that?

Wow

I mistakenly thought we had moved on from the actual barrel length of the 4516’s and 4513’s, (3.75”,) and moved on to the mis-labeling, (3.5”,).

Getting the information from S&W would most likely be nonexistent on when they started correctly labeling. By comparing labels here there could at least be a hypothesis. Seeing both 3.5” and 3.75” labels was interesting to me as I never paid much attention until ACEd brought it up. Early examples I have are labeled 3.5” and a few years after 1999 are correctly labeled 3.75”. Again, both 3.5” and 3.75” were labeled in 1999.

Guess this is another thread I regret responding to.

Jim

*** Edit to add NO edit ***

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Wow...
Guess this is another thread I regret responding to.

Wow is right! You thought I was trying to be difficult??

I was just asking for clarification on what you were trying to say & meant.

Sorry to see your feelings get hurt so easily.

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