Model 12

[Soren]

Alk, the pistol looks fine and I fired it with no issues. Thanks for info.

Rubone, that M12 looks really nice, mine isn't that clean, but I'm not complaining.

19leben, ich habe zwei M19. Meine deutsch ist ganz schlecht......I thought about buying the 3rd edition, but I think I will wait until the summer for the new one. I was able to find info on my 19-3 snubby that it was made in '72. What part of OK. are you in?

 

[19leben]

Alk, the pistol looks fine and I fired it with no issues. Thanks for info.

Rubone, that M12 looks really nice, mine isn't that clean, but I'm not complaining.

19leben, ich habe zwei M19. Meine deutsch ist ganz schlecht......I thought about buying the 3rd edition, but I think I will wait until the summer for the new one. I was able to find info on my 19-3 snubby that it was made in '72. What part of OK. are you in?

Das is lustig. You determined Deutsche from my name?

I am in OKC area. I only have one 19-4 2.5", but several other Smiths.
I used to lust for a 19 snubby when I was a teenager (many years ago), at the local TG&Y, but finally got it last year in a friend of my brother deal.

 

[bananaman]

Good snag on the 12! I like the light snub concept in a K frame. The crack business scares me. My luck, I would get 1, and it would crack after I purchased it. 12 grips/stocks are not the same as other K frames. Keep this in mind if you are looking for replacements.

WELCOME to the FORUM! Bob

 

[pigbike]

Believe me Air weights do crack even with standard ammo. However S&W made it right and replaced the gun.

 

[hoosier4guns]

Hey folks. I picked up this Model 12-2 in 1979 in Cincinnati Ohio from a discount store by the name of Swallen's. Been out of business quite a while now. Serial number D4171xx..pretty close to yours. It's not a snub but has a 4" barrel and has a stamp under the barrel which says Valley Gun La Ca. I paid $179 IIRC..there were some of the Hong Kong Police Model 10's with the lanyard loop for sale also. Here's a pic of mine...the grips number to the gun. Be safe my friends.

 

[Soren]

19leben, I'm out near Tulsa. I just picked up a 19-3 snubby 3 weeks ago. The finish wasn't perfect, but mechanically it's great, with a very smooth trigger. My 12 year old could tell the difference right away compared to his 10-8.

pigbike, glad to hear S&W took care of you....not where I would have expected the crack.

hoosier, that looks very clean.

 

[gmborkovic]

$325 plus ammo, you did well. They will get a pocket shine on the high spots. Who cares. Stick to medium ammo. You aint shooting at 50yds.

 

[TAROMAN]

The Model 12 is one of my favorite carry guns.
Just wish that S&W would reintroduce them with the stronger Scandium frame.
Could even be a 357 is anyone was actually foolish enough to shoot that in an airweight revolver.

 

[Alk8944]

pigbike, glad to hear S&W took care of you....not where I would have expected the crack.

Soren,

That is exactly where they crack, if they do.

A bit of information for you, and everyone else who thinks a cracked frame lunette is fatal to the revolver. It is not!

What most do not know about the S&W Airweights, at least for some of the production, is that S&W did not rely on torque and the barrel pin! The barrels were glued in, so this eliminates the "feared over-torquing" causing cracking. t least the ones I have remover the barrels from! What was used appears to be "Loc-Tite Sleeve Mount". This green and needs to be catalyzed to cure properly. It is used in some automotive engine assembly applications for mounting cylinder sleeves and valve guides in Aluminum blocks and heads. Sound familiar? In engines these are high temperature and dynamic applications, far more demanding than simply retaining a revolver barrel!

If you do experience a frame lunette crack simply go to the nearest auto parts store, buy a tube of "Sleeve Mount", a can of "Clean n' Prime", and following the instructions simply glue the barrel back in like S&W did originally! As long as the barrel remains tight in the frame there is nothing to worry about!

Above all else, a frame crack like this is not dangerous! There is no safety hazard whatever, even if the barrel is loose.