What is a gas ring?

[MrTrolleyguy]

I have seen gas rings mentioned in the descriptions of changes made from one dash iteration to the next one. However I could never could figure out what it looked like, what it did or why they moved it around.

Any information would be appreciated.

Joe

 

[sheepdawg]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...0-late-66-no-dash-19-4-gas-ring-question.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/266416-gas-ring-yoke-cylinder.html

 

[SC_Mike]

All I can come up with is that scene from Blazing Saddles...

 

[gregintenn]

What is a gas ring?

What you find in your shorts the next day after dining at a Mexican restaurant.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

If you are going to shoot a hundred rounds or so I've found the yoke mounted gas ring allows enough residue into the cylinder to stiffen up cylinder rotation. Not a big deal as it's easily cleaned up when you get home or give it a bit of a spritz of light oil to soften up the crud whilst shooting.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Oh, that is a gas ring! Now that splayns everything. I think?

Gas Ring
SMITH & WESSON K, L, N FRAMES $7.00

 

[307-Niner]

I have been confused about this back & forth gas ring thing as well. Seeing your thread here got me to follow all the other threads linked, and now I have a better understanding. Thanks.

Here's the post that helped me the most.

Here's a picture of the cylinder and the yoke with the gas ring a part of the yoke.

Compare the face of the cylinder and the widest part of the yoke barrel.

Gas ring located on the cylinder

 

[mstem]

Now I understand also.

 

[lagavulin62]

Ahhhhh. Me thinks me learning.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Rodger, Thanks for the photos!

 

[chief38]

Eat a bowl of 500 HP Chili and check your shorts..........

 

[Retired W4]

MrTrolleyGuy, There's no telling how many thousands of people wanted to know the answer to that but were ashamed to ask. You have done S&W people a big service.

 

[paplinker]

I have two 19-3s, one with the gas ring on the cylinder and one on the yoke.

 

[Retired W4]

It seems that a change of gas ring location would call for an engineering change, but apparently not always.

 

[k22fan]

I have two 19-3s, one with the gas ring on the cylinder and one on the yoke.

S&W started selling revolvers in 1853 with gas rings in their cylinders. K frames had them until 1975 -1976. For a year and a half or so that coincided with blued target sighted K frame dash 3 production K frames got a so called gas ring on the yoke. In reality that means no gas ring at all. Discontinuing a separate part and its installation was a cost saving measure. The gas ring in the cylinder is one of the features you pay more for when you chose a S&W over a Ruger. For most K frames dash 4 indicates a restoration of S&W's traditional gas ring. All N frames have gas rings in or machined as part of their cylinders. That was a 1990s change, machining a gas ring integral to cylinders. J frames are their own can of worms. Early ones had a gas ring in their cylinders. Many later Js have a "gas ring on the yoke."

 

[paplinker]

With only one exception all S&W revolvers sold starting with their first in 1853 have gas rings in their cylinders. The exception was K frames made during the last year and a half or so of target sighted K frame dash 3 production. The so called gas ring on the yoke which in reality is no gas ring at all was a cost saving measure. The gas ring in the cylinder is one of the features you pay more for when you chose a S&W over a Ruger. For most K frames dash 4 indicates a restoration of S&W's traditional gas ring.

Very nice information. Seems like it fits as of my two examples.

19-3 May 1973 gas ring on cylinder (Texas Ranger)

19-3 July 1977 gas ring on yoke. (Nickle)

So would you consider the ring on the yoke as being a extra wide spacer as opposed to a gas ring?

I enjoy getting both these guns out at the same time.Although the same model there are many options that make both guns very different from each other.

 

[k22fan]

Very nice information. [...]
So would you consider the ring on the yoke as being a extra wide spacer as opposed to a gas ring? [...]

Unfortunately my information wasn't entirely "nice." Too bad I got quoted before I could edit. I seldom handle J frames so I never though about their gas rings. After following the links in this thread I learned most later ones don't have a gas ring in their cylinder. Now I'll have to get my Js out and look.

As far as terms and naming goes, IMO S&W named it a gas ring on the yoke and did not give it an engineering dash change to obfuscate what they'd done.

 

[Retired W4]

And why do I enjoy this website? Yep.

 

[gunny4053]

What you find in your shorts the next day after dining at a Mexican restaurant.

 

[CH4]

What you find in your shorts the next day after dining at a Mexican restaurant.

You pray that it's just gas Here I sit broken hearted...