Directive #586

[AudieMurphy]

pertains to changing the threads on the extractor rod....I'm in the process of restoring an post directive N frame 44 mag...Not cosmetically but period correct. For example I aquired a 44 mag that a previous owner slightly customized/changed the hammer or trigger. I'd put it back to origonal. In this gun the extractor and rod are left threaded. Now we all use the visual rule of thumb as if theres a gap behind the knurled end that means it the newer version. But after digging through my pile of excess parts Ive found at least three stems with no gap behind the knurling that have left twist threads. Has anyone else come across this? Actually to relieve a lot of stress. I could just change the stem and use the same extractor thats in it now....VISUAL problem solved, but I really dont want to do that. I'm thinking S&W just used up existing stems that were already knurled but hadnt had the threads cut for the new directive.....just my opinion though

 

[Retired W4]

I believe there came a time when machining the groove behind the knurling was no longer necessary. They were all LH threads.

 

[cgt4570]

Interestingly, of my 100ish Smith hand ejectors (most of which are vintage RH thread), the only one that's ever had the ejector rod back out and lock up the action was a 629-2.

 

[adamwharton896]

Yeah that actually sounds pretty plausible. Manufacturers usually use up existing parts before fully switching over, so some overlap wouldn’t surprise me at all. I’ve seen similar things in other older gear too nothing is ever as clean cut as the ‘rule of thumb’ makes it seem

 

[Hondo44]

Yeah that actually sounds pretty plausible. Manufacturers usually use up existing parts before fully switching over, so some overlap wouldn’t surprise me at all. I’ve seen similar things in other older gear too nothing is ever as clean cut as the ‘rule of thumb’ makes it seem

At the time of the thread change on the K and N frames, hand ejectors had model numbers and dash numbers to indicate changes, so if the gun has the - number for the left hand thread, a dash 1 in the case of the Mod 29. S0 once the stamped dash number was used it's highly unlikely stamped guns would not have left hand thread, but not impossible.
I would agree that there was overlap between dash 1 stamped guns with left hand thread and no dash guns with right hand thread.

In my observation, the explanation of Retired W4 is the correct explanation; the OP has left hand threaded extractor rods without the telltale groove behind the knurling which are much later production when a left had threaded rod would be obvious.
Or rejected rods because the groove was accidently left off of them and rejected for use in -1 stamped production frames.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Smith & Wesson's first J-frame revolver came onto the scene in October 1950 with left-hand extractor rod threads.

 

[Hondo44]

But after digging through my pile of excess parts I've found at least three (extractor) stems with no gap behind the knurling that have left twist threads. Has anyone else come across this?

Yes if they were shorter in length than K or N frame rods.
They could be J or I frame extractor rods which did not have the groove behind the rod tip checkering. I frames were changed to left hand thread in the late 1940s.