[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I have recently purchased a beautiful blued S&W Model 19-4 with a 6" barrel. It has had a trigger job, and is a beauty to shoot. However, having only gone through ~200 light loads of 148 grain wad cutters over 2.7 grains of Bullseye, I have a distinct drag line around the cylinder. Is there anything that I can do to eliminate this or touch this up other than with a bluing pen from time to time? Thanks so much in advance, and please reply at your earliest convenience, Matt Dillon:confused:

[RWK]

Matt,

Enjoy your S&W 19. It is not only a classic, but it is the essential K frame and may well be the finest modern revolver. As to the drag line, I would simply leave it alone. It is entirely natural, the result designed of steel-to-steel interference. Shoot the M19, enjoy it, treasure it, maintain it well, but do not be overly concerned.

Regards.

[dfariswheel]

As above, the drag line is a problem with all revolvers. In the case of S&W, they were designed to work in such a manner that the locking bolt HAS to drag the cylinder and this will mar the cylinder with the worn line.

There is nothing that can be done to prevent this other than NEVER using the gun at all.

In short, it's just the "nature of the beast" with revolvers in general, and S&W in particular.

[Old Fuff]

The previous posts are correct. S&W revolvers are designed to release the cylinder stop early to insure the notch in the cylinder isn't skipped during rapid double-action shooting.

[Ala Dan]

I'm in agreement with all the above post's. If you
are going to use this classic revolver, then the drag line
is something you must be willing to put up with!:uhoh:
Otherwise, make a "safe queen" out of it.

FootNote: NEVER, EVER try touch up a deep rich blued
weapon with "cold blue" product's. There is a distinct
differece in the way gun blue is applied; and you NEVER
can match the factory standard, using this method.:rolleyes:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[J Miller]

Matt Dillon,

This is one subject I cannot keep my mouth shut about. I've gone round and round about it. Check out this thread from handloads.com. This exact subject was discussed.
About the only thing that you can do for an existing drag line is to have the gun or cylinder reblued. I've tried to touch up the lines on mine, no luck.

http://www.handloads.com/forum/showthread.asp?topic=2&thread=1474&page=1 (http://)

[Old Fuff]

Short of reblueing the cylinder I've never seen a good way to touch-up the drag line/marks. The only other option is a stainless revolver, where one can "skuff" the marks with a fine abrasive - but they'll come right back.

Any revolver that's a "shooter" and well used will show these marks. One should learn to simply live with them or get a different kind of handgun.

[stans]

Learn to live with the drag line, it is a S&W and all S&W revolvers have this line.

[4v50 Gary]

I suppose you could mickey mouse it with tape and replace that tape frequently. Aesthetics go to pot though.

[C.R.Sam]

RWK was first, and right.
Don't sweat it.

Ala Dan n Fuff right re don't mess with the mark.

Sam

[sm]

Dragline = Character in my book.
No Dragline means I ain't been shooting enough ;)

[Brian Williams]

Gold wire inlay
or call it a character flaw nooooo Character mark, yes, that is what it is.


If a S&W did not have one it would be a bad S&W, cause the only good S&W is a shot S&W and a shot S&W will have a line.


May be there are a few good unshot S&W's but they should be shot any way......