Right hand-left hand threads on extractor rod

[DWalt]

Something I have never thought about much is when the ejector rod threads changed from RH to LH. I have a K-22 (unlettered) which from its SN (K34xxxx) had to have shipped in 1958 or 1959. It has the groove under the knurling, and sure enough it has the LH thread, as I unscrewed it. I had always thought that the switch to LH threads occurred later than that, around 1961. There is absolutely no question that my cylinder is correct and mated to the frame. So when did the thread change occur for the K-22?

 

[JP@AK]

According to the Standard Catalog it was in 1959. It should be marked a dash 1, since that is the engineering change denoted by the first dash number. It is, of course, possible that it is marked only as a Model 17. Screw-ups happen (no pun intended).

 

[DWalt]

It is just Mod. 17

 

[Hondo44]

It's not really a screw-up.

It's caused by the fact that there were frames of every model already in production just marked with the model #s with no dash during implementation of the change order. When those frames got to the cyl fitting/assembly station, the left hand threaded versions were already there.

This is not uncommon, and most common on dash one models; of course the first use of dash #s. After this S&W's logistics improved.

On another note: the 1959 order change only applied to K and N frames, not I frames which were changed upon their re-introduction following WW II; with some exceptions where old pre war right hand threaded parts were used up.

 

[Andy Lowry]

I have a Model 10 that used to unscrew itself until I fixed that. The threads on that model changed with the -2 in 1961, so I had presumed the other models were straightened out around the same time. Looks like I was wrong. Dang, that's the third time this year I've been wrong. Good thing the year's almost over so I can start again.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a Model 10 that used to unscrew itself until I fixed that. The threads on that model changed with the -2 in 1961, so I had presumed the other models were straightened out around the same time. Looks like I was wrong. Dang, that's the third time this year I've been wrong. Good thing the year's almost over so I can start again.

Shoot, I make more mistakes than that DAILY!!!!

 

[Doc44]

The engineering directive to change the thread direction on the extractor rod and extractor stem was not issued until December 22, 1959 and took over two years to implement for most models with -1 marked revolvers being shipped in late 1961 and throughout 1962. Your K-22's serial number dates it to late 1958 to early 1959, before the directive was issued, and it should have an extractor rod and extractor stem with a right hand thread. Unless the revolver was shipped very late, I believe it was sent back to S&W the the changes (improvements). I have seen this on other revolvers, but not many.

The SCSW lists the year the various directives were issued and implies that is when the changes took place, but usually it took six months to over two years to implement the changes.

Bill

 

[cgt4570]

I ruined the ejector rod/extractor assembly on an early post-war 5-screw Terrier a few years ago. I wrongly assumed it would be right hand threads like K and N. Thankfully it was already a project gun with a 'bubba' front sight modification and not high condition. Lesson learned.

 

[Doc44]

I don't keep track of Model 17-1s, but the one I know of has a serial number in the K427000 range and was shipped in 1962.

Bill

 

[DWalt]

I am not sure there is a good answer to my question. For certain, the cylinder and rod has a LH thread, and the correct matching SN is on the back side of the extractor star. My best guess is that if the LH thread assembly was not actually in production until after 1959, then it seems most likely that my frame was not assembled into a revolver until later, after some LH cylinder assemblies became available. No big deal, I just thought it was something slightly unusual. Anyway I have already sold the K-22.