I recently saw an add for a 'lunchbox special', a gun that walked off the factory floor at some point before it was completed. It made me wonder what the manufacturing sequence is for putting the various stampings on the gun (brand, trademark, assembly, caliber, serial number,etc.) in relation to when fitting, polishing, blueing and final assenbly takes place.
Manufacturing sequence
- Thread starter dpsix
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I recently saw an add for a 'lunchbox special', a gun that walked off the factory floor at some point before it was completed. It made me wonder what the manufacturing sequence is for putting the various stampings on the gun (brand, trademark, assembly, caliber, serial number,etc.) in relation to when fitting, polishing, blueing and final assenbly takes place.
azmick
Member
ooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhh, good question
bk43
Member
dpsix...S&W manufacturing has evolved dramatically over the years so when and how something was done during the process is a moving target. For example, for years the soft fitting department put assembly numbers on the frame, yoke and sideplate before hardening to keep parts together during manufacturing. However, the department was eliminated in 1958 so that goes to the final fitting department which is after hardening but before blueing or plating. Later with the advent of CAD/CAM and its tight tolerances the assembly number goes away as does the final fitting department.
To answer your questions, in general the serial number is put on the frame before anything else is put on it, the stampings after the part is formed and the gun is "in the white" and blueing or plating is the last step before final assembly.
Bob
To answer your questions, in general the serial number is put on the frame before anything else is put on it, the stampings after the part is formed and the gun is "in the white" and blueing or plating is the last step before final assembly.
Bob
opoefc
US Veteran
Bob is correct in that the S&W manufacturing process is constantly evolving as new technology becomes available, such as CNCs, lasers, etc. But I disagree with the statement that, in genersl, the serial number is the first number applied. That's only been true for the last 50 years. The 100 years before that, the assembly/work number was the first number, or symbol, applied. So your "lunch box" gun's markings, or absence of same, would relate to the model and time it may have been assembled. Not all such guns left the factory in a lunch box. There was a period of time when workers could assemble their own gun from scrap parts and serial numbers, S&W markings & patent stampings, were usually absent therefrom. I have one of those guns currently. It's a Model 1880 .44DA with no serial number, no assembly number and stamped .44 Special on the barrel. The gun is .44 Russian , however. Made up from parts, circa 1920s probably, by a workman. Ed.
Thank you all for the input. We are so use to seeing the finished product sitting on the shelf, be it a loaf of bread or a S&W, that it is easy to forget what a complex process it must be to mass produce products. It would be something to be a fly on the wall of time and watch the manufacturing process at the Smith factory as it was before the age of computer aided everthing.
bk43
Member
Forgot something...if you are interested in S&W history and manufacturing, there is a new book out you might enjoy. It's mostly pics but is very interesting. Linky here. Nice little "frosting on the cake" to the standard S&W references.
Bob
Bob
cmj8591
Member
I have had several opportunities to visit the S&W plant over the years and I have to tell you that it is an incredible place. I don't think people realize how many things that are manufactured there besides guns. The last time I was there, they had a whole section of the plant where they were making bicycles for LE use. There were also crates and crates of transmission parts for motorcycles. The forging section was very busy banging out golf clubs.
Anyone who has an opportunity to visit the plant should take advantage of it. You will not be disappointed.
Just down the street from S&W is the Springfield Armory Nat'l Historical site. That is also a "must see" for anyone in the area. A visit to these places will leave you weak in the knees!!
Anyone who has an opportunity to visit the plant should take advantage of it. You will not be disappointed.
Just down the street from S&W is the Springfield Armory Nat'l Historical site. That is also a "must see" for anyone in the area. A visit to these places will leave you weak in the knees!!
gig-a-hertz
Member
This bring me to ask this:
Has anyone ever gotten a "letter" that would describe a "lunch-box" gun?
Has anyone ever gotten a "letter" that would describe a "lunch-box" gun?
Would that be called - a menu? Regards, Jerry
Unless the gun has a serial number, Roy Jinks won't be able to research it. And sometimes, even guns that do have serial numbers come back as "open on the books", meaning there is no disposition as to where they were sold or when they left the factory. Could have been stolen or missed being recorded.
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