Are these holes part of the production process, and

Carmady · May 31, 2020, 12:23 AM

what is their purpose?

I've noticed this on many S&W K frames. In the front lower corner of the cylinder window it looks like a drilled hole was just started, and then stopped. Maybe it's the end of a long hole whiich serves as a reference point of when to stop removing metal...don't know.

Does anyone know what the deal is?

One is of a 66-2, and the other is a 66 no dash.

pete2 · May 31, 2020, 10:25 AM

Now i gotta go look at my K frames, never noticed this.

Carmady · May 31, 2020, 11:29 AM

Here's one on my 10-5 from about 1970.

Dufus · May 31, 2020, 11:44 AM

It looks like a point of hardness test to me.

Swampduck · May 31, 2020, 04:47 PM

Not a great place to do a hardness test. Hard to get the indenter in there and hard to read. And steel hardness indentors usually make much smaller dents.

Could be a hardness check, but seems like an odd place. The top of the strap would be easier to do and less visible to the user.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dave T · May 31, 2020, 05:04 PM

Quote:

It looks like a point of hardness test to me.

That's the first thing I thought of, however; if you don't like that answer go find another one. (smile)

Dave

rodfac · May 31, 2020, 08:23 PM

I've got a 66-2, serial number AET xxxx, built in 1984, and it does have the lower hole, or punch mark, but the upper one, may or may not be there as it's obscured by a piece of powder or lead shaving.

The model 60-15, (.357) that I'm wearing as I type has neither hole. A quick check on my model 18-3, serial number: 1K9xxxx, built in 1971 (a .22LR), shows what appears to be a punch mark in the lower location, but again the upper one is obscured if present. HTH's, Rod

Bob Wright · June 1, 2020, 07:08 PM

My guess would be a vent hole. This to break the vacuum as the crane is pulled out?

Bob Wright

ViperR · June 2, 2020, 06:16 PM

Nope, not a vent hole, since it's not all the way through. No such thing.
Bubba at work?
Nah, it's a machining thing that is common for testing if the hole for the crane is too large or offset by thousands and a through hole will occur with a slight drilling.
Part of the tolerances for passing depending on the model and frame size.
Shoot away!

Hal · June 3, 2020, 05:21 AM

You made me look ----

@ my (bought new last December) S&W M69 - L frame.

No holes.

Now I'll have to dig through the safe & check out my K-Frames (M19 & M17) (and N frame M29) to see if they have holes.

LOL!

With all that going on in today's world & I'm going on a hole hunt

Gotta love life eh?

kymasabe · June 3, 2020, 06:42 AM

....perhaps a "put your needle oiler tip here" lube point?

Carmady · June 3, 2020, 07:08 AM

It isn't really a hole. It doesn't go anywhere. Maybe 0.050" deep.

It's like someone started to drill a hole, and stopped.

The hole part would have been in the part that was cut out, the cylinder window.

Many have it, but not all.

Here's a couple more, a 1983 686 and a 686 no dash.

May 31, 2020, 08:23 PM	#7
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,657	I've got a 66-2, serial number AET xxxx, built in 1984, and it does have the lower hole, or punch mark, but the upper one, may or may not be there as it's obscured by a piece of powder or lead shaving. The model 60-15, (.357) that I'm wearing as I type has neither hole. A quick check on my model 18-3, serial number: 1K9xxxx, built in 1971 (a .22LR), shows what appears to be a punch mark in the lower location, but again the upper one is obscured if present. HTH's, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73. Last edited by rodfac; May 31, 2020 at 08:34 PM.

June 1, 2020, 07:08 PM	#8
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 3,005	My guess would be a vent hole. This to break the vacuum as the crane is pulled out? Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

June 2, 2020, 06:16 PM	#9
ViperR Member Join Date: October 2, 2017 Posts: 82	Nope, not a vent hole, since it's not all the way through. No such thing. Bubba at work? Nah, it's a machining thing that is common for testing if the hole for the crane is too large or offset by thousands and a through hole will occur with a slight drilling. Part of the tolerances for passing depending on the model and frame size. Shoot away! Last edited by ViperR; June 2, 2020 at 06:26 PM.

June 3, 2020, 06:42 AM	#11
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,748	....perhaps a "put your needle oiler tip here" lube point? __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

May 31, 2020, 10:25 AM	#2
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,610	Now i gotta go look at my K frames, never noticed this.

May 31, 2020, 11:44 AM	#4
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,967	It looks like a point of hardness test to me.

May 31, 2020, 04:47 PM	#5
Swampduck Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2017 Posts: 11	Not a great place to do a hardness test. Hard to get the indenter in there and hard to read. And steel hardness indentors usually make much smaller dents. Could be a hardness check, but seems like an odd place. The top of the strap would be easier to do and less visible to the user. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

June 3, 2020, 05:21 AM	#10
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,564	You made me look ---- @ my (bought new last December) S&W M69 - L frame. No holes. Now I'll have to dig through the safe & check out my K-Frames (M19 & M17) (and N frame M29) to see if they have holes. LOL! With all that going on in today's world & I'm going on a hole hunt Gotta love life eh?