question about 80's 649's
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Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
In the past, many of the stainless guns had flash-chromed hammers and triggers. This was a common practice from the late '70's to the early '90's. Even then, during that era, some stainless guns were made with case-colored hammers and triggers. I don't know if the internals were ever all flash-chromed. I always thought FC was more of a cosmetic thing, though I'm sure it did add some corrosion resistance also.
S&W went away from flash-chrome and to near universal case-colored hammers and triggers from the late '90's to present. At least for standard production. Only in the last few years have I seen a small number of new guns with flash-chrome once again, so it's something that's coming back on certain stainless models.
Whether they went away from flash-chromed as a cost savings measure, I don't know for certain. But S&W hasn't stayed in business all these years, while other revolver manufacturers went bankrupt and disappeared, by making their guns MORE costly to produce.
S&W went away from flash-chrome and to near universal case-colored hammers and triggers from the late '90's to present. At least for standard production. Only in the last few years have I seen a small number of new guns with flash-chrome once again, so it's something that's coming back on certain stainless models.
Whether they went away from flash-chromed as a cost savings measure, I don't know for certain. But S&W hasn't stayed in business all these years, while other revolver manufacturers went bankrupt and disappeared, by making their guns MORE costly to produce.
Engine49guy
Member
The 649 was introduced in 1985 IIRC,
A little S&W history their first standard production SS model was the Model 60 in 1965 , these early guns had true SS internals, the company learned that SS moving against SS causes "Gauling" and by 1966-67 the Model 60 began to use the same carbon steel internals with case colored hammer trigger as their blue/nickel counterpart the Model 36 .
By around 1970 the "flash chromed" hammer triggers appear on the Model 60 and new Models 66 and 64 then the new Model 67 in 1972.
AS Kernal C stated that changed back to case colored internals sometime in the 90's and my guess is it probably had something to do with reducing their inventory of spare parts as well.
A little S&W history their first standard production SS model was the Model 60 in 1965 , these early guns had true SS internals, the company learned that SS moving against SS causes "Gauling" and by 1966-67 the Model 60 began to use the same carbon steel internals with case colored hammer trigger as their blue/nickel counterpart the Model 36 .
By around 1970 the "flash chromed" hammer triggers appear on the Model 60 and new Models 66 and 64 then the new Model 67 in 1972.
AS Kernal C stated that changed back to case colored internals sometime in the 90's and my guess is it probably had something to do with reducing their inventory of spare parts as well.
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