OK S&W guys, what's this ??

OK, I think we need to set some standard defintions here, as we're getting a little on the confused side...

Virtually every revolver S&W ever made has had some form of "heat treating" done to the cylinder, the frame, or both.

That's the nature of making a gun out of steel.

However, not all heat treating processes are equal.

There's heat treating to relieve stress, aka annealing, and then there's heat treating process designed to impart strength.

There are many different processes by which these heat treatments can be applied, but it's pretty safe to say that the company has always heat treated its handguns to impart the strength that the gun needs to handle the ammunition of its day.

In black powder days, the heat treating methods were a LOT different than they are today, just as the steel mixes are a lot different.

So, yes, a .38 made in 1919 might well have had some type of heat treating done to the cylinder, but it's a pretty good bet that it's not nearly what is needed to allow it to be safely fired with modern, high pressure ammunition.


That said, that number is a lot earlier than what Rick told me a couple of years ago when I asked him. He and Jim must have uncovered some new information while updating to the Second Edition of the book.

Even with that being published, though, there's no way in hell that I'm going to attempt to run +P ammo through an S&W that old.
 
I saw a nickel M&P that a fellow had fired a +P round in. It held together, but blew the nickel off the side of the cylinder. The cylinder must have expanded to cause the nickel to fracture and come flying off. I don't think the gun could take to much of that.
 
Yeah, I probably wouldn't run +P .38's through one either. All I was told was that in September 1919, beginning with a serial # 81000(don't have exact # in front of me), the .32-20 variation used heat treated cylinders for additional strength. Probably a lot of people were using the higher pressure rifle only ammo that was available in this caliber, which is still a no-no even with heat treated cylinders, that would about equal a modern .357 in a revolver when used in a lever action rifle.
 
I was out on the web trying to ID my S&W revolver, when I came upon this discussion. I have a revolver that fits these descriptions/pictures almost exactly, except that the grips do not have the rounded portion at the top. They extend up further covering the rearmost screw on the right side (or at least I assume the screw is under there, I haven't taken off the grips to look). It doesn't have the diamond marking mentioned and the serial number is 368XXX. It is also nickel plated, but I am suspicious that it is an aftermarket job because the lettering underneath is not always crisp. I read one response saying that a factory job should have a case hardened trigger and hammer. Mine is nickel plated, perhaps confirming my suspicions. Can anybody tell me for sure what this gun is?
 
PHP: 
I was out on the web trying to ID my S&W revolver, when I came upon this discussion. I have a revolver that fits these descriptions/pictures almost exactly, except that the grips do not have the rounded portion at the top. They extend up further covering the rearmost screw on the right side (or at least I assume the screw is under there, I haven't taken off the grips to look). It doesn't have the diamond marking mentioned and the serial number is 368XXX. It is also nickel plated, but I am suspicious that it is an aftermarket job because the lettering underneath is not always crisp. I read one response saying that a factory job should have a case hardened trigger and hammer. Mine is nickel plated, perhaps confirming my suspicions. Can anybody tell me for sure what this gun is?

Texan, Welcome. According to "the book", it would be a somewhat early 4th modee ( assuming you've confirmend its's a M&P like the ones above.). I think
your exactly correct with the aftermarket plating. The lettering wear is often caused by pre finish polishing and /or to thick of plate in that area. The grips sound like they have been replaced with newer production Magna style.
Keep ammo selection tame-moderate and the plating should be fine. Enjoy the gun and threat it with the reverence that the old girl deserves.


p.s. For the record, I personally have NO intention of running ANY +P through mine. That's what the new S&W's are for.
 
Looks like an Military & Police S&W to me. They have the long action and are nice shooters. I rebuilt one and installed a three inch barrel on it. It made a sweet carry gun. I would not fire it with +P ammo.
 
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