Question about the model 1899 and 1902

[Thuer]

I have a question about the 1899 and 1902 models.
Right under the topstrap before the barrel forcingcone there is a oval shape space.
Is this to capture the blacpowder residu?

Do have all older Smith and Wesson revolver this space? Does this stop when Smith and Wesson used nitro loads only?

I shall try to make a photo off it.

 

[Thuer]

I have a question about the 1899 and 1902 models.
Right under the topstrap before the barrel forcingcone there is a oval shape space.
Is this to capture the blacpowder residu?

Do have all older Smith and Wesson revolver this space? Does this stop when Smith and Wesson used nitro loads only?

I shall try to make a photo off it.

 

[cgt4570]

Yes and Yes.

I'm out of town and can't look up when the fouling cut went away, but it's present on all the Smiths until sometime between the wars.
Chris

 

[Thuer]

Alright Thanks for the fast responce.
So we cant state that when this cut is vissible that it is a blackpowderrevolver.

It is used by nitro revolvers to.

 

[azmick]

the factory started heat treating the cylinders of revolvers in about 1920. {someone will be along to correct me if i am wrong} the oval cut out was gone before that. ther was a thread a few months ago on this subject and i had no luck finding it. there was, i believe, a comment about S&W not wanting smokeless powder used in their firearms up to about 1910? again, someone please correct me, remind me,

 

[Thuer]

This is the revolver we discus about.
[IMG:top]

[/IMG]

This is the cut.
[IMG:top]

[/IMG]

 

[Thuer]

Hmmm 1910. I think that is to late.
I do think that 1905 is closer.

 

[mikepriwer]

Henk

The fouling cup survived beyond the black powder era.

Recalling our previous discussion, the factory was reluctant, for one reason
or another, to make the switch to smokeless powder. It have have been that
they were not certain about the metallurgy being able to tolerate the
different pressure curve, it may have been concerns about safety, it may
have been concerns about reloaders using smokeless powders, etc. The guns
were always guaranteed, but early on they voided the warranty for handloaded
smokeless catridges.

Eventually the soften their position, and by 1910 or so, there was no more
mention of black powder vs smokeless powder.

This is a note I sent you earlier this year. In the earlier catalogs, the use of smokeless powder
voids the guarantee. That seems to me to be an important consideration, as the factory
is effectively saying that smokeless powder
is not allowed ; it voids the guarantee. The 1909 catalog, the one I sent you, represents
the first year in which smokeless powder
is allowed ; its use does not void the guarantee. In 1908, it is still not allowed.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Thuer]

Yes Mike, Thanks for your responce. I was only looking if I could find a manner to see the difference between a blackpowder revolver and a nitro one. The fouling cup helps to determinate but i understand now that you cant be sure if it is blacpowder only.

At the moment we have a governement wich isnt intrestet to give these revolvers free. So for now it doesnt matther if the revolver is nitro or blackpowder. It has to be on permit anyhow.

But after this governement there comes always an other and hopefully a better one.

Regards

Henk