S&W changes

[tcc]

I have the 3rd edition catalog but haven't been able to find answers to some questions about certain production changes. Maybe I need to read more but I knew that some members on here are very well versed in S&W lore, so here goes..

My 1951 K 38 has the serial no. in the usual places but also under the barrel and above the ejector rod. I have two '57 K frames with no ser. no. in that place, so, when did that change take place?

Also on the '51, the leading edges of the cylinders are chamfered to a degree that looks definitely machined but my two '57 K's show a minimal amount of chamfering and my later Smiths '64-'97 have only a flat leading cylinder face. When and why was that changed? Was that a change as S&W went away from hand fitting?

Finally, on the right side of .22 caliber barrels including 17's 18's 34's and 41's that I know of there is a "production mark/emblem?" on either side of the "22 Long Rifle CTG" that appeared on early models and seemed to go away at different times on different models. My M 41 from 1979 has it but I've seen .22 revolvers of earlier production that didn't have it. Anybody have any info on this?

I tried taking close up shots of these examples but my camera or my ability as a photographer seemed to come up short so I'm hoping you guys will know what I'm talking about. If there are questions I will try to clarify.

Thanks to all.

T

 

[Hondo44]

I have the 3rd edition catalog but haven't been able to find answers to some questions about certain production changes. Maybe I need to read more but I knew that some members on here are very well versed in S&W lore, so here goes..

My 1951 K 38 has the serial no. in the usual places but also under the barrel and above the ejector rod. I have two '57 K frames with no ser. no. in that place, so, when did that change take place?

Also on the '51, the leading edges of the cylinders are chamfered to a degree that looks definitely machined but my two '57 K's show a minimal amount of chamfering and my later Smiths '64-'97 have only a flat leading cylinder face. When and why was that changed?

Was that a change as S&W went away from hand fitting?

Finally, on the right side of .22 caliber barrels including 17's 18's 34's and 41's that I know of there is a "production mark/emblem?" on either side of the "22 Long Rifle CTG" that appeared on early models and seemed to go away at different times on different models. My M 41 from 1979 has it but I've seen .22 revolvers of earlier production that didn't have it. Anybody have any info on this?

I tried taking close up shots of these examples but my camera or my ability as a photographer seemed to come up short so I'm hoping you guys will know what I'm talking about. If there are questions I will try to clarify.
Thanks to all.
T

Well I can't remember seeing the answers to your questions in the book, so it's not your fault!

1). The transition away from 6 serial # locations to three began c.1956, and Model # stamped guns, c. 57-58 no longer have 6 locations. But there are exceptions to every S&W rule! The 3 remaining locations were, the butt, underside of ejector star and backside of right grip, the later two ending in the late '70s.

2). The cylinder chamfer was an old world panache that took time but served no longer had real purpose after smokeless powder. It gradually diminished during the 50's and finally eliminated completely. Some refer to them as "black powder chamfer" especially with reference to Colt single actions. Their purpose was to facilitate turning the cylinder in a gun with heavy deposits of powder residue. Other relief cuts can also be seen under the topstraps, over the barrel/cylinder gap on very early Colts and S&Ws and porbably most guns of the BP era.

3).The "production mark/emblems" you refer to are known as typographical decorations and have no meaning. Again they were indicative of old world panache and very commonly used in newspapers, posters, Smith and Wessons, etc. Many 'detail elimination' transitions in the period after the war to get products to the market ASAP to meet the huge demand of a gun starved public. Production efficiency improvement/cost containment was a key S&W ethos after the war as well.

Hope this helped,

 

[tcc]

Thanks, Hondo, that was very informative!