S&W Model 19/66 Extractor Change

[Banderlog]

Hello, long time reader, first time poster on this fine forum. I have a question regarding the extractor design change on the Model 19 or 66 in particular. What was the reason for abandoning the classic one and going with the new? I am not talking recessed cylinder vs a non, but the extractor itself. Also, when did this change occurred dash-wise for both models and was there any "improvement" over the old design. Thank you

 

[steelslaver]

Are you speaking of the change from 2 pins for initial alignment to the odd arm ends? If so in my opinion the new style is a huge improvement over the old. First it is more robust than 2 pins and has a decent flat on the shaft portion compared to the small groove and tongue arrangement on the old. Plus, no small pins to fall out and get lost or worse possibly tie the gun up. In addition the that the new ones are easy to change out from one to the other of the same cylinder size, where the old 2 pin ones almost never exchange as the 2 pins where match drilled to each set and when trying to fit a new extractor you either have to drill out the existing hole slightly to get them to match and install larger pins or relocate the pin holes to another location.

 

[Banderlog]

Yes, thank you, that's exactly what I meant. I had many S&W revolvers before, just never one with the redesigned extractor star. I did have a couple of instances when empties got under the star rendering the revolver useless until cleared.

 

[steelslaver]

The reason empties gets stuck under star is because of ejecting muzzle down instead of the proper muzzle up method. Ejecting muzzle down is also more apt to cause unburned powder debris to collect on cylinder surface under ejector