I have a Model 342 Ti that, based on the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson could be rare (or not).
The "Engineering and Production Changes" section in the Standard Catalog on the 342 TI provides the following information:
1998 – 342 Ti introduced
2001 – 342-1 introduced with the internal lock system
2002 – Markings changed from four lines to two
2004 – Model 342 Ti was discontinued
My gun is a 342, not a dash 1. It has the two line markings and does not have the internal lock. Here's the story of how this came to be, followed by my questions.
I bought the 342 Ti in 2000/2001 for use as a backup/off duty law enforcement gun. Around 2004 while at the firing range and after shooting ~150 + "Plus P" rounds the frame warped to the point that the cylinder, when ejecting empty rounds, would bypass the cylinder stop and slide all the way to the grips. Another weapon had the same malfunction. I contacted S&W and sent digital photos (unfortunately, I no longer have them) and described the problem. S&W asked me to send it back for examination and repair. Several weeks later I received the weapon back from the factory. There was no documentation with the weapon when returned. I immediately noticed that the frame had been replaced; however, the serial number was the same. When the weapon was sent to S&W it had the four line "Made in USA, etc." on the right side. When returned the weapon had the two line "Made in USA" markings. It had the original 342 marking inside the crane (not the -1) and did not have the internal lock. I assume S&W destroyed the original frame and re-engraved the original serial number on the new frame.
Since it returned from S&W the frame has shown no signs of stress or warping even when large numbers of +P ammo is fired from it in rapid succession causing the weapon to become extremely hot.
Questions:
Is it common to replace frames (the cylinder was not replaced as it had the same marks on it before/after return to the factory) and engrave the same serial number?
Obviously there was a problem with the aluminum frames causing them to warp under extreme use and causing them, in this instance, to be replaced. Since the 340 Sc (Scandium frame) was being produced at the same time and since the 342 was discontinued in 2004, could the replacement frame actually be a 340 scandium frame marked as a 342?
Thanks,
Bill
The "Engineering and Production Changes" section in the Standard Catalog on the 342 TI provides the following information:
1998 – 342 Ti introduced
2001 – 342-1 introduced with the internal lock system
2002 – Markings changed from four lines to two
2004 – Model 342 Ti was discontinued
My gun is a 342, not a dash 1. It has the two line markings and does not have the internal lock. Here's the story of how this came to be, followed by my questions.
I bought the 342 Ti in 2000/2001 for use as a backup/off duty law enforcement gun. Around 2004 while at the firing range and after shooting ~150 + "Plus P" rounds the frame warped to the point that the cylinder, when ejecting empty rounds, would bypass the cylinder stop and slide all the way to the grips. Another weapon had the same malfunction. I contacted S&W and sent digital photos (unfortunately, I no longer have them) and described the problem. S&W asked me to send it back for examination and repair. Several weeks later I received the weapon back from the factory. There was no documentation with the weapon when returned. I immediately noticed that the frame had been replaced; however, the serial number was the same. When the weapon was sent to S&W it had the four line "Made in USA, etc." on the right side. When returned the weapon had the two line "Made in USA" markings. It had the original 342 marking inside the crane (not the -1) and did not have the internal lock. I assume S&W destroyed the original frame and re-engraved the original serial number on the new frame.
Since it returned from S&W the frame has shown no signs of stress or warping even when large numbers of +P ammo is fired from it in rapid succession causing the weapon to become extremely hot.
Questions:
Is it common to replace frames (the cylinder was not replaced as it had the same marks on it before/after return to the factory) and engrave the same serial number?
Obviously there was a problem with the aluminum frames causing them to warp under extreme use and causing them, in this instance, to be replaced. Since the 340 Sc (Scandium frame) was being produced at the same time and since the 342 was discontinued in 2004, could the replacement frame actually be a 340 scandium frame marked as a 342?
Thanks,
Bill
