"how to evaluate a revolver" guide?

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zombee

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Hello CGNers,

(I'm seriously thinking of getting a revolver, and I know I can get a guaranteed well-crafted one if I buy a Manurhin MR88, but I'm looking at 22lr now...)

Does anyone know of a good recent writeup explaining how one would (fully) evaluate a potential purchase to examine for various problems?

In my web browsing I see mention of looking for certain machining characteristics on the muzzle-side of the cylinder, to check for bends or some other aspects on the crane, to examine the ejection rod, lockup, timing, canted barrels, ??? Many posts that might help me (explanations with pictures) are older with photobucket-hosted images which are now not viewable (show a "pay to enable 3rd party hosting..."). A guide that would give me a photo-documented checklist of things to examine, some caveats to look out for, heads-ups, etc would really be ideal.

Thanks!
 
New Smith

-Inspect muzzle crown for bad tooling marks and if it's off centre
-Inspect for canted barrel
-Inspect cylinder notches for peening/dents
-Ensure sights are not canted
 
AndrewM, a guide like that is *exactly* what I'm looking for. THANK YOU!

(A quick search through the doc shows it doesn't mention anything about checking for canted barrels. A recent QC problem with S&Ws maybe?)
 
zombee said:
AndrewM, a guide like that is *exactly* what I'm looking for. THANK YOU!

(A quick search through the doc shows it doesn't mention anything about checking for canted barrels. A recent QC problem with S&Ws maybe?)
Click to expand...

last 20yrs I'd say lol, It's not really can't but more offset in the frame. If you try to un-cant it, you will end up with canted sights....

Now don't let this put you off new S&W revolvers, just be sure to inspect your gun before you buy it.
 
easyrider604 said:
Can that Jim March Revolver Checkout be stickied? Would be nice to not have to search for it or people asking the same question over and over again.
Click to expand...

+1!

It's covered everything I could think of and more with the specific nuances of each manufacturer.

Actually, it didn't cover the S&W canted barrels and I've encountered more than a few of those in my last 2 years of revolver collecting.
 
For S&W revolvers you'll want to confirm that the sideplate is perfectly flush with the frame. If it's not the sideplate may have been improperly pried off.
 
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