Heat Treating on Hand Ejectors

[handejector]

"Can someone direct me to that thread, please?"

Found it. Post # 20 by Texas Star talks about the 1917 heat treatment.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/143479-455-2.html

Duh, I was in that thread!
I still DO NOT believe 1917 cyl's were heat treated.
See post #17 in that thread.
I just don't believe they took the time to develop heretofore unused heat treating when they were pushing so hard for production.

The cryptic remark in McHenry & Roper is "Heat treated with No. 1". M&H is often confusing and misleading. I just don't trust data in it unless verified elsewhere. Start reading Chap XVII on page 104, and you will easily get the impression that the K frame PRECEDED the I frame, and that the 32 S&W Long was invented for the 32 HE of 1903!

 

[bananaman]

O.K. my M&P .38, was shipped from Smith in June of 1919.Serial#2996xx, most likely does not have a heat treated cylinder. Am I allright shooting standard velocity ammo, and mild reloads? Gun is 92 years old, and got it from my father. I do not want to damage it. Thanks in advance! Bob

 

[Oyeboteb]

O.K. my M&P .38, was shipped from Smith in June of 1919.Serial#2996xx, most likely does not have a heat treated cylinder. Am I allright shooting standard velocity ammo, and mild reloads? Gun is 92 years old, and got it from my father. I do not want to damage it. Thanks in advance! Bob

You should be alright shooting Standard factory Loadings of .38 Special or ( lighter ) Mid Range Wadcutter Loadings also.

The Standard .38 Special Bullet for the last 110 years or so has been 158 Grain Round Nose Lead Bullet...Semi Wadcutters of close weight would be fine also of course...and with either, FPS will vary with Barrel Length and fit of the Chambers and Cylinder Gap.

I would stay with Soft Lead, and steer clear of any FMJ or Jacketed or semi-jacketed or +Ps regardless of weight.

 

[walnutred]

I think one of the things to remember is that loads in "standard" ranges are what your revolver will probably shoot best with. If you stick with the traditional 158 gn or 148gn cast loads you revolver is much more likely to shoot to point of aim. The most common jacketed bullet available at the box stores around here is the 130gn FMJ load that duplicates the old military load. I've NEVER seen a revolver that shot its best with that load.

 

[glowe]

Lee - wouldn't it be reasonable that the later M1917s were heat treated? They made these until after WWII and by the 1930s, heat treating was totally accepted practice.

 

[handejector]

Lee - wouldn't it be reasonable that the later M1917s were heat treated? They made these until after WWII and by the 1930s, heat treating was totally accepted practice.

Sorry, to clarify:
I was talking about WW I U.S. 1917's NOT being heat treated.
I would assume Commercial 1917's were heat treated with all other N frame guns, the possible exception being leftover cylinders from WW I used well into the 20's and even on the 1946 Brazil contract.

 

[Muley Gil]

"Duh, I was in that thread!"

Waal, I didn't want to bring that up and make you feel bad!

Losing your memory ain't all that bad. At least, you can hide yore own Easter eggs!