Model 37 barrel alignment problems

[Sarchiapone]

Good morning.
I just bought an old 37 airweight: if I understand correctly it should be from the late 70s (if someone can better identify the production date or explain to me how to do it, they are welcome!).
The gun is in excellent condition and seems to have fired very little, I have not tried it yet.
However, there is something that does not convince me. As you can see from the photos, the barrel is rotated counterclockwise by about 1 degree but I do not understand how it can be since there is a pin!
This should not affect the proper functioning of the gun but it is also true that the locking bolt is not perfectly aligned with the extractor rod (even if it closes anyway).
How is this possible? Do I have to have it fixed?
Thanks and bye everyone.

 

[ispcapt]

You don't have to have it fixed. Obviously the previous owner didn't. I would fix it tho.
If it were mine I'd call S&W, explain the situation, and send them the pictures if they want. That's a simple fix but not on someone's kitchen table. Don't want to crack an alloy frame.

 

[Tom S.]

Sending to S&W might be a problem as I don't believe the OP is in the US.

 

[Alk8944]

If the gun shoots to the sights then leave it alone! The barrel pin is to keep the barrel from turning a great amount in the event the threads loosen, not to lock the barrel from turning at all

If you can turn the barrel either way by hand then there is a problem. If it is tight then, again, leave it alone!

 

[oink]

I'm not bothered by scratches, small dings or wear or even speckles but I couldn't tolerate that. I'd have to get it fixed or get rid of it. Being a Bubba I'd probably make a jig and pad the heck out of it and try and turn it. I'd sure do some research on it first though.

 

[ispcapt]

Sending to S&W might be a problem as I don't believe the OP is in the US.

Well that certainly changes things. Didn't know that.

 

[Alk8944]

Sending to S&W might be a problem as I don't believe the OP is in the US.

You're probably correct, his information shows he is in Illinois. ROFLMAO.

 

[Tom S.]

You're probably correct, his information shows he is in Illinois. ROFLMAO.

Possible, but I believe username is Italian. We have a few members from Italy.

 

[Tripper$$]

Sometimes a gunsmith will rotate a barrel of a fixed sight revolver in the frame to adjust the point of impact of the bullet to left or right. It’s possible this has been done. Also possible the barrel has been switched.

 

[ken158]

This is an older aluminum frame gun (no warranty) and doubtful a gunsmith will touch it without OK from the owner that the frame could crack turning it into a wall hanger.

 

[2500]

Judging from the vice marks on the barrel, it looks like someone tried to unscrew the barrel without removing the pin. I wouldn't trust it. I hope you didn't pay a whole lot for it.

 

[steelslaver]

Good morning.
I just bought an old 37 airweight: if I understand correctly it should be from the late 70s (if someone can better identify the production date or explain to me how to do it, they are welcome!).
The gun is in excellent condition and seems to have fired very little, I have not tried it yet.
However, there is something that does not convince me. As you can see from the photos, the barrel is rotated counterclockwise by about 1 degree but I do not understand how it can be since there is a pin!
This should not affect the proper functioning of the gun but it is also true that the locking bolt is not perfectly aligned with the extractor rod (even if it closes anyway).
How is this possible? Do I have to have it fixed?
Thanks and bye everyone.

The pin actual does very little. The notch in the barrel for the pin is generous enough to allow the barrel to be rotated at least 5 degrees in either direction before it does anything. Some one with a frame wrench could fix it. I WOULD NOT just tighten it a bit more. The alloy frames are prone to cracking in the thin area under the barrel if over tightened. Removing the barrel, then trimming the rear shoulder of the barrel very slightly would be the correct fix

 

[steelslaver]

I will also say that one place that Loctite may be a good idea on revolvers is fastening a barrel to an alloy frame. Make the fit real snug, then remove the barrel clean it and the frame thread well, Loctite together. If you ever want to get the barrel off some heat will cause the Loctite to release. I would rather this than an over torqued barrel in an alloy frame.

 

[ameridaddy]

I believe that's a Bangor Punta era gun, and the current S&W ownership won't do warranty work on them even if it's a factory screwup.
A good gunsmith will measure barrel/cylinder gap, drive out the barrel pin, unscrew the barrel, ever so carefully calculate the amount of barrel setback needed to have the barrel retorque with the sight upright, then make the appropriate barrel thread cut to set the barrel back and put the sight upright, then shave the forcing cone to reestablish barrel/cylinder gap. This will also make the extractor pin line up with its detent.

As Tripper$$ said, the smith will probably undertake this only if you waive his liability against the possibility the frame will crack when retorquing the barrel.
Good luck; I wouldn't keep a gun like that without fixing it.

 

[Nomadmax]

It's an Airweight snub. That off center sight isnt going to make ANY difference when and IF it comes time to use it. It's not a range gun so there's no reason to cross the street looking for trouble.

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

It's an Airweight snub. That off center sight isnt going to make ANY difference when and IF it comes time to use it. It's not a range gun so there's no reason to cross the street looking for trouble.

My thoughts as well. This is a defensive, close range pistol and a POI shift with that slight of misalignment would probably be measured in millimeters.
Just my opinion.

 

[ameridaddy]

It's an Airweight snub. That off center sight isnt going to make ANY difference when and IF it comes time to use it. It's not a range gun so there's no reason to cross the street looking for trouble.

I agree somewhat - for the sight itself I wouldn't repair an EDC belly gun either, but I'm wondering how reliable the cylinder latch up is with its offset detent pin. There can be no doubts with an EDC.

 

[steelslaver]

I believe that's a Bangor Punta era gun, and the current S&W ownership won't do warranty work on them even if it's a factory screwup.
A good gunsmith will measure barrel/cylinder gap, drive out the barrel pin, unscrew the barrel, ever so carefully calculate the amount of barrel setback needed to have the barrel retorque with the sight upright, then make the appropriate barrel thread cut to set the barrel back and put the sight upright, then shave the forcing cone to reestablish barrel/cylinder gap. This will also make the extractor pin line up with its detent.

As Tripper$$ said, the smith will probably undertake this only if you waive his liability against the possibility the frame will crack when retorquing the barrel.
Good luck; I wouldn't keep a gun like that without fixing it.

At 36 to the inch a full turn is .02777. 5 degrees is 1/72 of a turn .02777 divided by 72 is .00037. As most gaps are in the .006 range, you probably wouldn't need to adjust the gap.

 

[Alk8944]

Possible, but I believe username is Italian. We have a few members from Italy.

True, but there are approximately 700,000 (5.4%) residents of Illinois that identify as being of Italian descent, so that means very little! There are probably more Italian members on the forum from Illinois than there are from the country of Italy. We will never know, will we?

 

[ms]

Is the frame cracked?