Stainless K Frame Top Strap Design Changes & 648 History

[gunsbam45]

Been considering a Smith 648 for some time for varmints, and went ahead and bought one a few days ago from another dealer as have had no luck getting one in from distributors myself so far. Hope to have it in hand before the new year. I've been a Ruger guy when it comes to revolvers a long time, but the first revolver I ever drew blood with was an early 6" 617 when I was a kid and it was a natural fit but don't remember grips been too long. I don't know much on Smiths other than they generally have better triggers on them and seem to be better shooters out of the box more often than not. I found an article with some history on the 48 and 648 production, but some dates are missing. I'd like to know the production history specifically of the 648. I'd also like to know when S&W changed the top strap design from flat open end with square tang sight to the current rounded enclosed style with round tang. I assume the first 8 shot offering was when it was reintroduced in 2019, so I wonder are there some out there with 6 shot cylinders and the round tang top strap? And, even more so, were there any late model early 6 shots PRE LOCK with the rounded tang top strap?

 

[AveragEd]

On page 318, the 4th Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson gives the brief history of the Model 648 which was released initially in 1989 but not cataloged until 1992. It was discontinued in 1996 but re-released in 2003 as a -2 with the Internal Lock and accompanying frame redesign until its second discontinuance in 2005. There is a mention of the rear sight leaf being changed with the -1 engineering change in 1994.

Stocks on the no-dash and -1 guns were Checkered Goncalo Alves Combats while the -2 guns came with a Hogue Monogrip.

Ed

 

[gunsbam45]

OK. I don't have any Smith books but I found some 617s advertised as 1996 models with the new style top strap, but I have no idea how to verify Smith serial numbers. I'm used to just being able to look Rugers up online, at least to a point. Ruger got rid of their list and went to a set up where you type the serial in a few years ago and it only goes so far back. I don't see any options on the Smith site.

 

[AveragEd]

Smith & Wesson experienced a huge computer crash in 1994 that effectively wiped out all their records prior to that time which is why no such data is available on their site. For that reason, they defer to the SCoSW referenced in my post. You can obtain the book from Amazon and other sources.

Ed

Edited to add that S&W applies serial numbers to frames as they are made but does not necessarily use them numerically in production so dating a gun by serial number is not an exact science. Even the book doesn't list every possible serial number alpha prefix but you can come close to a production date. Exact shipping dates are available however.

 

[gunsbam45]

Thanks. I was hoping there was a way to do a serial check easily but apparently not. Also, I have looked at hundreds of pictures of early 648s, and none of them have checkered grips. They are Goncalo Alves, but they're all smooth finger groove factory grips. I wonder if there's a mix up in the book there?

 

[AveragEd]

Thanks. I was hoping there was a way to do a serial check easily but apparently not. Also, I have looked at hundreds of pictures of early 648s, and none of them have checkered grips. They are Goncalo Alves, but they're all smooth finger groove factory grips. I wonder if there's a mix up in the book there?

No mix-up - I started typing "checkered Target stocks and then realized they were Combats. Factory Combats were not checkered.

Ed