The mystery of the 340PD production.

Outlaw2013

Outlaw2013

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I bought a New In Box 340PD a few days ago on GunBroker. It's a 103061 SKU, no internal lock, red ramp front sight model. From what I have assumed based on S&Ws online catalog, the SKU has been re numbered 163061 and is archived, ie no longer in production/available. The 163062 (I believe formerly 103062) model has an internal lock & HiVis front sight, and is listed in the catalog but is out of stock everywhere (seems to be common for scandiums, maybe related to only big scandium mine is in Ukraine, and they have issues....I digress...).

So I assume it's commonly believed the no lock 340PD, IMO the most valuable and desired model, is no longer in production or available and is out of stock everywhere as well.

So that brings me back to my gun. Which has a shell casing test fire collection date of 8/12/2014.....wait what? That's last month!

So is my gun a recent production and they are actually making the no lock red ramps again? Or is this gun one that was made back when they were in production and S&W just didn't get around to testing and releasing it because of back ups or whatever?

Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

2014-09-11%2009.01.50_zpsawtzd2uw.png
(Note on the picture: I used a photo editor to black out the serial number on the pouch, but it matches the gun.)
 
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What is the s/n? Knowing that I can tell you ship date month and year. X-out the last two digits.

I have one 163061 in my s/n collection and it dates to Jan. 7, 2004. It had a RR front sight and the lock. It's doubtful your gun is older than a few months. The FC date likely coincides with the gun's s/n. S&W has better inventory control than to keep a high demand revolver in stock for years and years.
 
Kernel Crittenden said:
What is the s/n? Knowing that I can tell you ship date month and year. X-out the last two digits.

I have one 163061 in my s/n collection and it dates to Jan. 7, 2004. It had a RR front sight and the lock. It's doubtful your gun is older than a few months. The FC date likely coincides with the gun's s/n. S&W has better inventory control than to keep a high demand revolver in stock for years and years.
Click to expand...

CWP44xx

I noticed the box also has the same date as the pouch listed on the product info label as well.

If it really was made just last month, this could be great news for those looking to get their hands on this top of the line no lock model. I wonder why they don't list the SKU on the website? Maybe 103061 is the new SKU and they just haven't added it to the online catalog yet? Maybe I'll call the dealer I bought it from and ask where they got it. I has assumed it was new-old-stock.
 
That's a new gun. S&W can get them to market pretty quick. You see guns on GB that are less than a week old. I've seen S&W go back to the old 103xxxx product code before when they did away with the lock. Regarding the Hi-Vis sights, I believe the PC on those was 163062. Just one digit different.
 
I also have one purchased in June box dated 4/10/14. I have only seen 4 including mine on GB. One sold on GB that was one number up from mine. If you think about it thev340m&p no lock frame with ti cylinder different lettering & a different front sight is what the 340pd no lock is.
 
Thanks for the info. That's good news and bad news. Good news that it's hot off the presses and those looking for this hard to find gun can eventually secure one.

Bad news in the area of awareness and marketing. I've been looking for a new one for the usual "few hundred off MSRP" that all Smith's sell at for over a year. I thought all the $1k+ examples were just priced like that based on the "you can't get one elsewhere" factor. You'd think a company as big and fancy as Smith would keep their online product listings up to date and more relevant. How many sales are they missing out on from people that don't know a product even exists anymore? It makes me wonder what else I'm missing out on? I'd love a sub 4" or sub 5" PC 500 but they don't offer one......or do they? Haha.
 
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It's my understanding that all the original 340PDs came with "the lock".

The earlier models had the red plastic insert in a ramped front sight, the later models have the fiberoptic front sight.

I have one of each, bought new, several years apart.

If they made a small "non-lock" run years ago, it's news to me.

OTOH, i they're making new "non-lock" 340PDs now, I'd expect they'd be producing 'em with the fiberoptic front sight, but maybe not.
 
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From what I can tell the 061 now is no lock red ramp. 062 is lock with fiber optic sight.
 
How many sales are they missing out on
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As long as they quickly sell every single one they make they're probably happy and think they're doing it right.

S&W has a history of making what they want to make. Ignoring customer demand when highly desirable models are quickly snapped up. I think it's a marketing strategy and they do it on purpose.
 
Kernel Crittenden said:
As long as they quickly sell every single one they make they're probably happy and think they're doing it right.
Click to expand...

Everybody who lived through S&W's "Gun Of The Month" period, raise your hand.....

I thought it was an interesting model - produce a limited run of something, see how fast it sells, and then add it to the regular lineup if the numbers looked good. IIRC, the 625 is a poster child for the era, but I may be misremembering. :D
 
I just picked up a NIB Model 340PD for $800. Cartridge collection date is 5/8/2014. SKU on the box is 103061. Serial # is CWA06XX. Has the red ramp front and is most definitely a 340PD.

so far, love this gun. carries like a cotton ball, shoot like a cannon.
 
Maybe a little off topic for that model gun but I have heard smith is making guns again no lock. Bought a 442 earlier this summer new no lock from a dealer with the spent shell dated about a month before I bought it. They had 642 there also new no lock.
 
Today I saw a S&W black padded case on eBay. It was for a M360 PD and dated to February of 2002. AirLite & Scandium. Had a red ramp and a product code of 163063. Only one digit off the M340 PD with the Hi-Vis.
 
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Mine is CJB6731. Don't know the date but bought it in early 2000's and it has the lock and red ramp front sight.
JR
 
The no lock was particularly important to me based on the weight and caliber of this model. I read it was light. I saw that it was light on the website with the listed weight. But nothing prepares you for actually holding one and realizing how crazy light it actually is. I swear it's lighter than just the fully loaded 9 round short mag of my Springfield XD-40 Sub-Compact, and that's a fairly light auto pistol for that caliber.

I haven't shot it yet and probably won't for a bit as I'm still hiding it from the wife, but damn, I love it already. What a cool first S&W. One of many hopefully.
 
Congratulations on the new gun! They are amazing when you first hold one. Even more amazing when you first touch off a hot round :)

Just for kicks, I ordered a Taurus View revolver, which is 2 oz LIGHTER than the 340pd. Should be a real kick in the pants with 158 LSWCHP.
 
Outlaw2013 said:
I haven't shot it yet and probably won't for a bit as I'm still hiding it from the wife, but damn, I love it already. What a cool first S&W. One of many hopefully.
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First congrats on your dandy new gun.

J frames require a lot of practice to be able to shoot accurately. I bought a M&P 340 no lock in the past year and with standard pressure 158 gr 38 specials, I don't like to shoot more than about half a box before my hand starts feeling uncomfortable. For me personally the 442/642 series is the threshold point for comfortable shooting. I can shoot those as well as any of my steel frame J's. My suggestion is get one of the 442/642's for the bulk of your practice (or even one of the steel frame J's) and just shoot the 340PD a bit to make sure you are confident with it.
 
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