Raw Steel to Smith & Wesson (Pic HEAVY)

[missiondude]

I was able to tour the factory on my honeymoon in the late eighties. I found it absolutely fascinating, but my wife wasn't so enthused. As a matter of fact I still hear about it from time to time!

Nicely played Sir... Bet you could use some hearing protection.

 

[shooter7]

Always nice to see how it was done in the old days. Lots of tedious work, but look at the end result; revolvers to last a lifetime or several lifetimes.

 

[badguybuster]

Thats some nostalgia. thanks

 

[TSQUARED]

It's great to see photos of truly handcrafted guns. Can you imagine what it would cost today to produce a revolver this way? These phots should be made a permanent part of the S&W Forum.

 

[feralmerril]

Picture #54. Did you notice the breaktop schofield that was being restored in 1954 and other breaktops in the rack? Okay, how do they do things different at the factory today?

 

[LOBO]

Thanks for posting these for all to see!

 

[2hawk]

Outstanding, thanks for posting. Really makes one appreciate the "old" ways, and the quality of the products made when the machines were only as good as the operator's skill. (Not that CAD-CAM-CNC doesn't require skill, no slight intended!)

I guess eye-pro wasn't in vogue back in the day.

 

[opoefc]

I was given a tour of the "new" factory in early 1952 by Carl Hellstrom, as a part of group of Army Ordnance personnel from Aberdeen. The site was swamp land and had to be drained to be usable for the plant construction. A fascinating experience and, yes, many of the employees were dressed just like the ones in the photos ( they were probably the same people) as I think the Gun Digest article was probably photoed on late 1952 or early 1953, as the this 1954 edition of the Digest magazine was out in late 1953. There were several workers that had been there over 50 years. I've been through the factory several times since, with the S&WCA members, and it's always interesting to see the latest changes and new machinery now making S&Ws untouched by human hands through most if the manufacturing steps. Ed.

 

[Moe W]

Thanks to the OP

for the post. I really like things like this. I happen to have a large collection of GDs so will go to my 1954 issue and peruse this some more. Thanks again. I gave you a "like" for it.

 

[mkk41]

Thanks Lee!

As an 'old-school' tool & die maker myself , who learned on machines like that , from skilled craftsmen like that , I highly enjoyed it!

Those specialized machines were often designed and built to make a single part. Sometimes more than one machine was used as one machine merely performed a single operation on a single part.

 

[chief38]

Very cool!

hard to believe that the fellas operating machinery are wearing ties! Ahhhh.... the good ol' days are gone.

Chief38

 

[dant]

Been there, done that....wow, great post Lee, what a reminder, brings back memories, and hopefully gives these folks an "idea", glimpse into the entire process,,,yes boys and girls , thats how they dressed back then........THANK YOU

 

[handejector]

I just realized tonight that this album had a glitch that I somehow caused which made the pics invisible.
They are now back up.