S&W black powder carry-over:

[Donald Paul]

I got to thinking about the black powder usage of S&W revolvers. This lead me to wonder just how far into the twentieth century did S&W continue to put the black powder anti-fouul cup on the under side of the top strap. Enclosed is a picture of that cup on my 38-44 serno 438XX that Roy says shipped in 1934. I have a couple other old Smiths with bp cups {not pictured}. Interesting Question? Any comments?

 

[wheelgun610]

I don't know exactly when that was eliminated, by my HD in the 49000 (ca. 1937) serial range doesn't have it. I also have a 1934-ish .38 M&P Target that doesn't have it.

Mark

 

[rct269]

I took this as a challenge---a "Can you top THIS?!!" sort of thing. And I KNEW I could---no doubt about it!!

So I started at the top end of the pre-war guns (I have some 1940 and 1941 examples---some more late 30's, and so on back.) It didn't take long to check for "bp cups" later than 1934---and I knew I was in trouble. I can't top "THIS".

Then I decided to see when they stopped. It quickly became very apparent that task was going to be a lot like work, so I stopped. Besides that, the desire for some breakfast outweighed the desire for knowledge.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[handejector]

I think it stayed later in the 38/44 than in other N frames. I think it is gone by the early 30s in the 44-2nd.

 

[Pisgah]

I don't know how long they had that feature, but I do know I've heard plenty of "experts" tell people that it's severe flame-cutting...

 

[Plain Old Dave]

The 32-20 that'll shoot right through a man has it.

 

[JP@AK]

The 32-20 . . . has it.

Well sure. But those went out of production c. 1929.

 

[DWalt]

I have no idea when the fouling cup stopped. But BP .38 Special was being factory-loaded well into the 1930s. I doubt that many bought them.

 

[Kinman]

Once again I have learned something I did not know. I was ignorant of the purpose of that cut-out and thought that it might have been produced in the interest of eliminating flame cutting. My second model H.E. dated 4-26 has it.
Now I am armed with information to confound and stupefy my black powder muzzle loading buddies.