Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I was unaware that the S&W Model 65 came out that early. I checked just now and
the 686 first came out in 81, but I doubt I saw one before 82 or 83.
Certainly cutter wear is an issue, fiver, but assuming they weren't using HS cutters in production
of the steel guns, shouldn't be huge. More than that in the very early days, the gun industry in general
were fairly clueless on alloy selection. They had galling issues, I hear in some
gun manufacturers. You need different alloys if hard rubbing will occur. The 400 series
are heat treatable, but the 300 series are NOT, so are soft unless you do some special
rolling or forging of the final surface, hard to do in many cases.
Smith did OK, but had some issues. The early 686 cylinder pivot tubes were nicely made but
too soft, and would pound out the headspace in maybe 5K full power .357 rounds. Fortunately
with a special tool, you can roll a groove in that tube with a perfect-fit hard steel pin inside to
stretch it back out, restore the cyl end shake (headspace). After somewhere around 686-4 or -5
they used a harder alloy, that problem went away. Buying an early 686 always look for end
shake. If it has it, get a discount and bring it to KC, and my friend will fix you up.
Or just don't buy an early 686 of you like shooting full power loads a lot.
Bill
the 686 first came out in 81, but I doubt I saw one before 82 or 83.
Certainly cutter wear is an issue, fiver, but assuming they weren't using HS cutters in production
of the steel guns, shouldn't be huge. More than that in the very early days, the gun industry in general
were fairly clueless on alloy selection. They had galling issues, I hear in some
gun manufacturers. You need different alloys if hard rubbing will occur. The 400 series
are heat treatable, but the 300 series are NOT, so are soft unless you do some special
rolling or forging of the final surface, hard to do in many cases.
Smith did OK, but had some issues. The early 686 cylinder pivot tubes were nicely made but
too soft, and would pound out the headspace in maybe 5K full power .357 rounds. Fortunately
with a special tool, you can roll a groove in that tube with a perfect-fit hard steel pin inside to
stretch it back out, restore the cyl end shake (headspace). After somewhere around 686-4 or -5
they used a harder alloy, that problem went away. Buying an early 686 always look for end
shake. If it has it, get a discount and bring it to KC, and my friend will fix you up.
Or just don't buy an early 686 of you like shooting full power loads a lot.
Bill
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