Were the factory extractor stars always numbered on the NM#3.

I have one that is numbered on the backside, and with a punch dot at the end of one of the arms on the front side, and one that looks factory but is unnumbered with no punch dot.

Regards,
bcowern

Hi There,


I don't know the answer but I have 2, NM#3's and the "standard"
one (which was shipped to Takata & Co.) is unnumbered, in-
the-white but has the punch dot. I also have an 8" target
model and the extractor star is numbered, blued and also has
the punch mark.

So, I have one of each. It is possible the unnumbered extractor
is a replacement and the punch mark is an indication the Factory
might have done the work.


Cheers!
Webb

Replacing the extractor was a simple task and the most productive to repair a malfunctioning timing issue since the extractor has the timing ratchet on it.

I have replaced several myself over the years. Extremely productive repair.

That being said, I’d say the vast majority have been replaced having zero impact on value except to increase value when correcting a timing issue.

Murph

I have a Takata gun with the punch dot, un-numbered on back of ejector star.

__________________
Ain't This Fun Though?

My NM3 with the numbered extractor star is a target variation.It has an adjustable rear sight and a Paine bead front sight. It is .45 S&W Schofield calibre.

[IMG][/IMG]

Regards,
bcowern

I should, but don't know the entire/correct answer to this. I can tell you this much:

Any/all parts fit to the frame are numbered. So too are any/all parts fit to parts fit to the frame. The reason being S&W finished guns in pieces---the various pieces placed on racks/fixtures in the ovens/tanks (depending)---and when that's done, all these (numbered) pieces are sorted, and find their way back to where they belong. I say they're sorted, I'm inclined to believe they were initially placed for finishing in order in the first place, rather than sorted after the fact----makes more sense.

My knee-jerk reaction to the fact some extractors are numbered, and some are not, is that those not numbered are replacements---and any that have been in Japan (or anywhere else where they were subject to an organization's armorers) may very well be numbered to a gun other than that they're on now. Jinks tells me S&W's service/repair folks work on one gun at a time---with no parts from other guns on their bench so, 1. There's no chance of a mix-up, and 2. There's no need to number replacement parts.

Ralph Tremaine

My gut feeling is that the 'odd' caliber extractor stars were numbered to avoid confusion at the final assembly. I'll venture that the stars are most likely hand fitted as well. Since the majority of the NM #3 production was .44 Russian, just imagine the poor sot that assembles a .45 Schofield star on a .44 Russian cylinder.

__________________
Mike Maher #283