Sideplate fit on S&W mdl 18-4

[TooTech]

Just curious about the sideplate fit on the S&W 18-4 .22 I recently purchased. Board member Slick6 told me the gun was made in 1980 - barrel is pinned and chambers recessed.

The gun itself is near mint. Slightest hint of a turn mark on the cylinder, case colors on the hammer and trigger nice and bright. I can't believe this gun been refinished or amateur gunsmithed.

I'm looking at the fit of the sideplate on it's uppermost edge where it's curving from near the hammer forward towards the recoil shield. There is a raised edge on that small section of the sideplate for about 1/4 of an inch, as if the fit of the sideplate to the frame in that spot was off a bit when the sideplate was installed. The edge is just high enough to catch at your fingernail; you have to look close to see it. The rest of the sideplate seam is practically invisible.

This is the first S&W revolver I've purchased, and I'm curious whether this is common, or unusual.

Either way, I'm not concerned about it, so all you wise guys out there needn't bother to offer to take it off my hands for $5!

 

[slick6]

M18-4 sideplate fit!

TOOTECH:

1)I have an M18-3, that has the exact same type of misfitting sideplate(In the same area and in the same 1/4" approximate size)!

2)I have several S&W revolvers(Both K & N frame)that have this same imperfection, in the sideplate! For many years, the seam of the older S&W revolvers was always a near perfect fit(No defective, misfitting areas!)but, later, S&W evidently, was doing a less than perfect job of fitting their sideplates! So we have started seeing this situation to occur(Off and on)in many of S&W revolvers! I have a nice M520(Made for the NYSP)in 1980, that also has this same misfitting sideplate! And, I have read postings from members on the various Gun Forums, also indicating this problem! So, don't worry about it! Some S&W revolvers have this and some don't! I have Both, in my S&W revolver inventory! And, in my quest to find older S&W revolvers, I have seen many more with this same misfitting sideplate! So, I've come to accept this as being somewhat normal!

 

[Standing Wolf]

Misfitting Smith & Wesson side plates aren't at all uncommon in guns made after about 1965.

 

[aguyindallas]

TooTech...

Will ya take 10.00 for it?

 

[jaybar]

Raised edge = improper side plate removal

That raised edge that you see is usually the result of someone removing the sideplate by the prying it off. The usual ill-advised and usually self-taught, technique for this is to insert a big enough screwdriver under the bottom of the side plate and torque the screwdriver against the grip frame. This results in tipping the side plate, camming the outermost edge of the top of the sideplate against the frame and raising that little edge. Not every kitchen table smith knows that the correct way to remove the side plate is to smack the grip frame smartly with a soft mallet, which in effect, drives the frame out from under the side plate allowing the side plate to come straight and parallel out of the frame.

 

[FrankD]

I just got through resolving the exact same problem with my 686. Just as described by "TooTech" and "slick6", mine was exactly the same when I bought it new couple weeks ago. When I took it home from the shop I noticed the plate misfit with the raised edge and sent it back to S&W the very next day. A week later I received it back completely fixed. Looks like they put on a new plate. No complaint with the service at all, but it should never have left the factory to begin with. I suspect S&W is starting to have quality control issues.

 

[TooTech]

Thanks to all who responded. I sincerely believe that this slight misfitting was done at the factory due to the otherwise EXCELLENT condition of the piece.

Regardless, really like the gun!

 

[Standing Wolf]

That raised edge that you see is usually the result of someone removing the sideplate by the prying it off.

Once upon a time, yes. Unfortunately, Smith & Wesson stopped fine-fitting side plates a long, long time ago.

 

[VictorLouis]

Take heed the post from jaybar.

I find it hard to believe that it has ever happened at the factory. They know the secret, LOL.

Even on the gent that posted about buying the gun NEW. That doesn't mean some enthusiast at the shop didn't have a go at it, and buggered it up. What I HAVE seen on new ones, is a wider gap in the otherwise hairline seam that we're used to seeing. IOW, near that same spot that's subject to so much abuse, the seam is wider. I'm not saying it's meant to be that way, but I have seen it on more than one new stainless Smith.