How's Your S&W?

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:08 pm

A number of us on this Forum have S&W sixguns.

A not-so-common problem can arise, especially on the K-frame guns.

The "window" that the cylinder hand works in sometimes develops a crack. The crack usually starts on what is the lower right corner of the window as you look at the recoil plate. See the little arrow in the photo?

Eventually it will work its way down to the "step" where the frame is milled. Often it will then turn and continue back up around the curve.

If it develops too far a "half-moon" shaped piece will break out of the frame and the gun becomes totally unserviceable.

The frame at the point is ruined and it's basically a parts gun.

Have you boys ever checked your Smiths?

The class I was in where we were taught about "smithing" the Smiths, there were 20 or 21 of us. In that class 5 guns turned out to be cracked, at least one seriously.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:11 pm

I only have one K frame but guess what I'm about to go do...

Thanks for the head's up!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:13 pm

Thanks for the tip Jim. I'm going to go check mine.

Haycock · Post by **Haycock** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:25 pm

Great post. My only K-frame is a 17-6... and - no surprise for a .22 - its fine (just checked despite the chambering). I'm gonna check the rest of my S&W brood over as well, though, for thoroughness sake... they're all J's (.38s) and N's (.357s)... 7 in all...

Thanks, JimT!

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:25 pm

What caliber tends to do this?

Not in two I have but one is a 22 and the other hasn't been shot much. A Model 24 with about 6,000 through it is OK.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:36 pm

Old Savage wrote:What caliber tends to do this?

I am not sure. The J frame guns are not milled out like the K frames. I have only seen it on K frames but that don't mean much, since I have not looked at a lot of S&W's to see if they have a problem.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:43 pm

Wow!
Good info ,thanks

Haycock · Post by **Haycock** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:51 pm

JimT wrote:
Old Savage wrote:What caliber tends to do this?
I am not sure. The J frame guns are not milled out like the K frames. I have only seen it on K frames but that don't mean much, since I have not looked at a lot of S&W's to see if they have a problem.

My thought was it's likely to be the heavier calibers...

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:56 pm

Haycock wrote: My thought was it's likely to be the heavier calibers...

The ones I have seen were mostly 38's and .357's.

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:56 pm

I could not find a magnifying glass, but looking with my eyes I am a little worried that there is a crack in the same location. My gun is a Smith 19-3. I am currently rebuilding an old M&P, it is currently stripped of its finish. There is no crack on the M&P. The M&P has over 50,000 rds through it, the 19-3 has maybe 3,000.

What class did you take?
Did you learn a trick for reducing this possible problem?

gon2shoot · Post by **gon2shoot** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:01 pm

Mine is an L frame 40S&W but I checked it anyway.

Thanks for the heads up Jim.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:02 pm

dr walker wrote:
What class did you take?
Did you learn a trick for reducing this possible problem?

At the Shootists Holiday one year a Smith & Wesson armorer gave those who were interested a "short course" on diagnosing problems with Smith & Wesson revolvers. It was just a half day but was very enlightening.

As far as I know there is nothing one can do to reduce the chance of this happening. It is rare, thankfully. But it's a good idea to keep in mind when looking at buying a used S&W.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:05 pm

Thanks Jimbo! As that is a very small crack to see, I might have not noticed. My shooters are all N-frames, several with close to 10K. I'll give 'em a better look----------------Sixgun

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:21 pm

Jim,thanks you for the info. I checked my 65-3 and my 15-3 no sign, but it is something I'll watch.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:34 pm

I'll keep an eye on my two S&W's. So far they seem to be hanging in there .... one's 135 years old and the other is only 128 years old. They made them well back then.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:33 pm

Thanks, Jim. I was just in the safe earlier today and had my Mdl 65 out and checked the loads and function. Saw this and checked mine out. I didn't find any such indication. Not surprising as this gun has only been in my stable since about 1986, but it was my main duty gun. This is actually the first time it was out of the safe in 4 or 5 years, funny how readily it came to hand and... wow, I realized I've missed shooting this fine little revolver.

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:57 am

K Fame???? All I shoot are N frames!! We don't need no stinking K
frames!!! (just kidding-- thanks for the tip)

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:38 am

Jim is that a crack on the top stap too in your pic??

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:58 am

Thanks for the tip and info Jim. You say it is a rare problem and that is good but it begs the question:

It is obviously a design flaw; therefore, if someone has a revolver that develops this problem, will S&W replace the revolver regardless of age?

You know a lot of guys in the gun industry Jim. Maybe you could give S&W a call about this. Wonder what Roy Jenks has to say about it?

Thanks again for the tip. I'll check out my Model 10 Heavy Barrel later when I go out to my shop. I'd go now but it is snowing like crazy and it's 5Âº out.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:14 pm

Modoc ED wrote:It is obviously a design flaw;

I doubt it is a "design flaw". Mechanical things break from time to time. I think that is so we won't get the idea that this world is perfect.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:20 pm

I see your point Jim.

If I were to discover a crack on my Model 10 HB, I would drill as tiny a hole as possible just in front of the crack in the direction it is travelling. That would stop it's progress.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:21 pm

Modoc ED wrote:...5Âº out.

JimT, my apologies

for interrupting your post; but.... Ed, how'd you get that degree symbol up there?

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:51 pm

An old aircraft mechanics trick, it is called " stop drilling " works really well
must be an old Aircraft guy

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:05 pm

Griff wrote:
Modoc ED wrote:...5Âº out.
JimT, my apologies for interrupting your post; but.... Ed, how'd you get that degree symbol up there?

Griff -

Place the cursor where you want the degree symbol to be -- then while holding the "Alt" key down, type 167 using the number keys in the small keypad to the right of the main keyboard.Âº

167 Âº degree
246 Ã· divided by
0188 Â¼ quarter
0189 Â½ half
0190 Â¾ three quarter
0177 Â± plus or minus
0178 Â² squared
0179 Â³ cubed
0162 Â¢ cents
0157 Â

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:25 pm

Ed,
Thanks, I've saved that.

cecil · Post by **cecil** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:28 am

JimT-THANKS Checked out my most used used M15, and it appears to have the half cirle crack, but had to use a magnifying class to see it.

Will be more careful about using max loads in the k-frames. There was quite a discussion on the S&W board about using Speer # 8 38 special loads with IMR 4756 (?) and IMR 7625 in k-frames.

Will check my other 38 and 357 k frames, have several of em.

Again, thanks

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:18 am

Thanks JimT,
I have 9 k-frames so when I read this post I became rather concerned. 2 of them are .22 so I didnt check them but the others didn't appear to have a crack. One is a early 19 that came from the forest service that fired at least 100k rounds. I checked them all with an pencil eraser and a loupe and did not see it. I am going to examine them quite a bit closer.

It is topics like this that I love gun forums.

miestro_jerry · Post by **miestro_jerry** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:25 am

With my S & W pistols, Smith has repaired them for free when I had a problem. Currently I have a 586 .357mag and a 340 PD in 357 mag.

I did have a Model 39, orginial series and it was well loved and lived a long life with, I develop a crack in some part. Had it sent off to Smith and it came back a while later, repiared, reblued and in great condition. That was a while ago. Because I traded the pistol off back in the 80s.

Jerry