Concave ring design around barrel tip?

[leadcounsel]

Some handguns such as the SW generation 3 pistols from the 1990s have a concave ring around the end of the barrel.

This is fairly unusual around any weapon barrel.

From a structural design standpoint, I realize concave design is sometimes done to add strength. But given that few other guns of any design offer this, why was this done?

An experiment? Given this was rarely copied if ever, can we assume it is not a superior design?

 

[burrhead]

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Do you mean the convex bulge at the end to ensure repeatable barrel positioning with the slide? Or do you mean a concave crown? That would help protect the rifling.

 

[Nathan]

Oops!

 

[4V50 Gary]

What Burrhead suggested. That convex built up ring near the muzzle is for lockup.

 

[Dixie Gunsmithing]

If you're speaking of the convex bulge toward the front of the barrel, that is the barrels bearing surface which mates with the slide, that fits close together during lockup, for accuracy. The bulge is needed for barrel movement when unlocking, as the rear of the barrel moves down as the slide travels back. The bulge acts like a pivoting bearing surface. It works similar to a ball joint.

 

[James K]

The "bulge" is to fit the muzzle and tighten the barrel-slide fit in lockup for accuracy. The concave part behind that is to allow the barrel to move down and unlock as the slide moves to the rear. A good example is the Ruger LCP; without that concave area, the barrel could not unlock.

Jim