Relocation of rear sight leaf screw?

aterry33 · #1 06-16-2010, 08:31 PM

Can someone please explain this engineering change? Thanks.

snw19_357 · #2 06-16-2010, 08:42 PM

On a K-frame, prior to 1968-ish (announced in 1967) the screw that held on the front of the rear sight leaf was located directly over the gap between the barrel and cylinder. The K-frame -3 change moved it slightly forward, over the barrel. There are a couple pictures that illustrate that (from the top) here.

Doc44 · #3 06-17-2010, 07:45 AM

Chris is correct in his explanation. It is also interesting that this change was made on N-frame target revolvers about ten years earlier and never mentioned by S&W. For some reason, they did not make the change on K-frames at the same time, but waited ten years and then made the change a model variation.

Bill

snw19_357 · #4 06-17-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc44

...this change was made on N-frame target revolvers about ten years earlier and never mentioned by S&W. For some reason, they did not make the change on K-frames at the same time, but waited ten years and then made the change a model variation.

Thanks Bill! I didn't know they moved it on the N-frames. Must be my current K-frame tunnel vision.

...now I'm going to have to go back and look at my N-frames too. As if there weren't already too many questions needing answers.

Doc44 · #5 06-17-2010, 05:39 PM

Chris...It is not a well known fact. I discovered it when I was going to change a rear sight rib and found the screw had been relocated. I talked to Roy about it and it was news to him also. This was about 7-8 years ago. The serial number range I determined from my collection was pretty narrow, S167145-S167601, but it may actually be based on shipping date. Let me know what you find.

The devil is in the details.

Bill

29aholic · #6 06-17-2010, 06:11 PM

Here is an early 57 44 magnum with the old screw location. I have/had several from 57 with the new location, so the N frame change came in 1957 about 1st quarter.

Doc44 · #7 06-17-2010, 06:43 PM

Curtis...What is the s/n of your 44 Magnum? Just curious.

Bill

29aholic · #8 06-17-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc44

Curtis...What is the s/n of your 44 Magnum? Just curious.

Bill

Bill,
The number on this one is S161554 shipped 1/11/57 as a 4"

valkyriekl · #9 06-17-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc44

It is also interesting that this change was made on N-frame target revolvers about ten years earlier and never mentioned by S&W. For some reason, they did not make the change on K-frames at the same time, but waited ten years and then made the change a model variation.

I'll bet moving the rear sight leaf screw has to do with the Magnum cases and flame cutting. The N-frames, meant to take a steady (or steadier) diet of Magnum rounds, would have seen flame cutting into the screw/screw-hole a lot more readily so the N-frames already had the screw moved by the time model numbers started being stamped in 1957. The location of the screw on the K-frame guns, meant to shoot mostly .38 Specials for practice and .357 Magnums for duty, wouldn't have been much of an issue...until police departments started shooting .357 Magnums regularly for practice, prompting S&W to have the K-frames follow suit.

Maybe; I'm just guessing.

Doc44 · #10 06-18-2010, 07:22 AM

valkyriekl...I agree with your conclusions.

Bill