Something not quite right on this old K frame Smith.

[tark]

I'm not much of a revolver guy, but I'll admit I'm a sucker for K-frame Smith's. Especially with the longer barrels. I snagged this one at Simpson's a few months back. It is a .38 Spl. All numbers matching.

There is just something beautiful about good honest wear on a gun. This revolver was made in 1953. It came with a holster which it obviously spent a lot of time entering and exiting. The bore and chambers were clean, the lockup good, the timing impeccable and the crane had no play. The flash gap was .005". This old gun was in superb physical shape. It soon became obvious that someone had performed an action job on the gun. The double action pull was butter smooth and the single action pull was like breaking a delicate glass rod.

But something was off, something was not quite right. It was a minor issue, certainly not enough to cancel the sale, but it was something that I had never seen before....

Can you spot it?

 

[Dave T]

In 1953 S&W employed genuine craftsman for their revolver assembly line. It may well not have had any action work as smoothness in a revolver was the norm. I have a 38-44 Heavy Duty from the same year. When I had the side plate off it showed no signs of any work being done, yet the DA trigger pull is smooth as glass. Not light but very smooth. You are experiencing why so many of us say "they don't make them like they used to" and mean it.

Dave

 

[chicharrones]

But something was off, something was not quite right. It was a minor issue, certainly not enough to cancel the sale, but it was something that I had never seen before....

Can you spot it?

I don't know old S&Ws for nothin'. My uneducated eye first went to the trigger. Looks like a replacement?

 

[unclenunzie]

The right grip panel to my eye looks oddly fitted?

 

[tark]

I don't know old S&Ws for nothin'. My uneducated eye first went to the trigger. Looks like a replacement?

GIVE THE MAN A CIGAR!!

But I have never seen a S&W trigger that wasn't case hardened like the hammer. And how did they get away with bluing a case hardened part and not have it turn purple?

 

[tark]

The right grip panel to my eye looks oddly fitted?

That's a small chip on the wood.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Even with the blued trigger, thats a very handsome M&P. Nice score!

 

[UncleEd]

Reblued gun?"

Light after market springs?

S&W maintained a DA trigger standard of around
10 to 12 or MORE pounds, then and now.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I'm not much of a revolver guy, but I'll admit I'm a sucker for K-frame Smith's. Especially with the longer barrels. I snagged this one at Simpson's a few months back. It is a .38 Spl. All numbers matching.

There is just something beautiful about good honest wear on a gun. This revolver was made in 1953. It came with a holster which it obviously spent a lot of time entering and exiting. The bore and chambers were clean, the lockup good, the timing impeccable and the crane had no play. The flash gap was .005". This old gun was in superb physical shape. It soon became obvious that someone had performed an action job on the gun. The double action pull was butter smooth and the single action pull was like breaking a delicate glass rod.

But something was off, something was not quite right. It was a minor issue, certainly not enough to cancel the sale, but it was something that I had never seen before....

Can you spot it?

if that K frame is Wrong, I don’t want to be Right!

Sweet looking!

 

[Pat Riot]

Good looking shooter. Congratulations!

 

[Tall]

Looks like the trigger at least has been blued. If it shoots OK leave it alone.

 

[adcoch1]

That trigger was the first thing that grabbed my eye... Glad I'm not the only one. Looks like a lot of fun to me!

 

[tark]

If anyone knows how to blue a case hardened part and get to not turn purple... please weigh in.

I haven't fired the gun very much, I am recovering from back surgery for Stenosis. I did run a box of 158 Gr. RNL Remington's through it. It shot exactly where I pointed it.

 

[tark]

Looks like the trigger at least has been blued. If it shoots OK leave it alone.

It will be left alone. I bought the gun as a shooter, it is not high enough conditioned to be considered a collector grade gun. The grips are off of a different gun anyway. The right grip has a different serial # than the gun.

 

[Jonesy814]

The trigger edges are rounded and the whole thing looks like it's been recontoured. Would the metal accept blueing if you polished through the case hardening first?

 

[Mark_Mark]

If anyone knows how to blue a case hardened part and get to not turn purple... please weigh in.

I haven't fired the gun very much, I am recovering from back surgery for Stenosis. I did run a box of 158 Gr. RNL Remington's through it. It shot exactly where I pointed it.

just spray paint it Gold!!!

 

[Tallball]

just spray paint it Gold!!!

You are a hoot! I'm glad you post here.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

There is only 1 thing wrong with that picture Tark, and that's the fact you say you're not a revolver guy.

Great target revolver there. Although it's fixed sights, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[whatnickname]

GIVE THE MAN A CIGAR!!

But I have never seen a S&W trigger that wasn't case hardened like the hammer. And how did they get away with bluing a case hardened part and not have it turn purple?

l’ve seen quite a few S&W triggers blued. Smith & Wesson never blued them. For what ever reason, your trigger was replaced. As long as it works, just enjoy your purchase.

 

[tark]

l’ve seen quite a few S&W triggers blued. Smith & Wesson never blued them. For what ever reason, your trigger was replaced. As long as it works, just enjoy your purchase.

And that is exactly what I'm doing. Got a couple of hundred rounds through it so far.