S&W Model 581 - "floating hand" & "Radius stud" advantages?

[john-ranger]

I'm considering a Model 581 (no dash). From what I've been reading in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition, the dash -1 models had the addition of Radius stud package & floating hand. Are these features highly desirable? I'll be honest I have no idea what a radius stud package is. I'm pretty sure I know what the hand does. But "floating"?? Just not sure what that buys me.

John Murphy
Retired United States Army Officer
MP Corps (CID)
Henderson, NV

[Forester]

I do not really know what the differences are, but I am no expert in a revolver's inner anatomy. Some here are, though and they will be along to answer your question. My feeling is thaat you or I would likely not notice any difference.

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service.

[RdrBill]

One of my S&W's started working funny a while back. The cure was to replace the floating hand with a standard hand. Beware.
Bill@Yuma

[Sebago Son]

The Floating Hand is a "wobble fit" that supposedly makes fitting less sensitive. I suspect that the intent was to make hand-fitting more idiot proof and less time consuming. This would no doubt be a cost savings if you were making alot of revolvers in a short period of time. In reality it probably makes the fit less precise and increases the possibility of problems arising such as experienced by my pal Bill.

I believe that the "Radiused Stud" replaced the Hand Pins and allowed a broader range of lateral movement of the hand. Formerly the hand's range of operation was parallel with that of the trigger function.