Frame-barrel gap

[Richard93]

Is this normal?
I've seen photos of revolvers with this gap. If you don't put a light in you can't see it. Is this an assembly error? Do you think it's dangerous?

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

No, it's just unsightly, but not at all dangerous. That's just a shroud over the actual, separate barrel tube inside the shroud. I don't think it's an assembly error but rather a machining error. It could be caused by the mating surface on the shroud where it meets the frame not being flat, or the threaded bore in the frame that the barrel screws into not being square with the face of the frame, not allowing the shroud to seat flat against the frame.

I would definitely send that back to S&W if it were mine.

 

[stansdds]

It's a purely cosmetic issue, some S&W revolvers with ejector rod shrouds have a bigger gap than others.

 

[Protocall_Design]

When they make the barrels, there is a round part that contacts the front of the frame, then a .002 or .003 step for clearance, outside of the circle. They are all made like that intentionally. If you look at a barrel that's not on a gun, you can clearly see it. All one piece barrels are like that.