Who knows something about the grooved side target hammer described below and shown on the ArmchairGunShow.com site at: http://www.armchairgunshow.com/otsHA1_Smith_Wesson_HE.htm ?

King or Micro made?

Jim

S&W - Registered Magnum - .357 Magnum - Fine condition. - 6" barrel. About 93-95% original blue;excellent markings including "REG 4888" registration number. Cylinder & barrel s/n’s match frame. Unnumbered silver medallion diamond center magna grips probably replaced. Replaced red ramp front sight blade. Faded case colors on trigger & grooved side patent marked hammer. - s/n 58910 - FFL - # HAN-4888 - $4,350

Hello Hondo44,

I would guess it is a King-modified factory hammer, but I believe King hammers were usually maker-marked. There were other gunsmiths making similar modifications during the time period (1930s-1940s), so it could be one of those. The fact that it has the grooves in the side, and is patent-marked, suggests that it started as a factory hammer.

Take care,

Here are a couple of pictures of a modified pre war magnum hammer. I do not know who did the work on it. It is on a pre war, Non- Registered Magnum

quote:

Here are a couple of pictures of a modified pre war magnum hammer. I do not know who did the work on it. It is on a pre war, Non- Registered Magnum

Gary

Gary,
I think that one is by the famous Beaver Gunworks. It is a slight modification of their well-known "Beaver Tail" Hammer. That particular variant is called the "Sore Thumb"- as in "sticks out like a sore thumb".....

To get serious-
Jim,
Unless a modified hammer is marked, it is just pure speculation as to WHO. Everybody says King marked their hammers, which is correct. Does that mean that they marked them EVERY time? I have my doubts. A close friend owns more than 20 guns with King modifications, like adjustable sights or King Super Target ribs, wide triggers, and cockeyed hammers. He has a Target hammer for a Colt SA that is marked "Micro". Some of his King guns have marked hammers, some do not, yet some of the UNmarked hammers, compared side-by-side with MARKED hammers, look like the same welding, coloring, and checkering......
King hammers were hand built on FACTORY hammers. They vary a bit from gun to gun.
That's about the best answer I think you will get- that many different companies did that type work in different time periods. If it looks about identical in ALL ways to a marked hammer, that is probably who did it.

not sure i got two 19s 6 inchs an one has the beaver tail hanner an triger the outher one dont both are the same in nickle not marked as who made the hammer or trigers , not quite like in the pors u see above but allmost like it one thing i found out is holsters dont fit it well strap is short but easy to get a hold of with the thumb also a model 15 the same way that was a leo gun that i feel was a after market job

quote:

Originally posted by handejector:
[QUOTE]Here are a couple of pictures of a modified pre war magnum hammer. I do not know who did the work on it. It is on a pre war, Non- Registered Magnum

Gary

Gary,
I think that one is by the famous Beaver Gunworks. It is a slight modification of their well-known "Beaver Tail" Hammer. That particular variant is called the "Sore Thumb"- as in "sticks out like a sore thumb".....

Hey Lee

If I could find a correct hammer, I'd be happy to get rid of the "sore thmb" That is a good name for it

I have a similar hammer that came on my 5.25" RM. It is similar to Gary's however the back edge is straight instead of curved (think screwdriver blade). The spur is professionally welded on the original RM hammer and is well checkered. The spur extends straight out (without any downward curve)at about a 45 degree angle when the hammer is uncocked, consequently, it has a strange appearance. However, the angle is such that when the thumb is placed up on it, the thumb has the maximum leverage so it is a very efficient cocking angle.





At one time in its life my gun was used extensively in target shooting and in addition to the hammer modification, it had a trigger shoe and a modified front sight and also wore a set of coke bottle target grips. I suspect that someone had the hammer modified to aid in single action cocking.

I replaced the modified hammer with a correct one and returned the proper sight and grips but I've kept the original hammer with the gun because it is part of its history.

Bob

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bettis1,

quote:

To get serious-
Jim,
Unless a modified hammer is marked, it is just pure speculation as to WHO. Everybody says King marked their hammers, which is correct. Does that mean that they marked them EVERY time? I have my doubts. A close friend owns more than 20 guns with King modifications, like adjustable sights or King Super Target ribs, wide triggers, and cockeyed hammers. He has a Target hammer for a Colt SA that is marked "Micro". Some of his King guns have marked hammers, some do not, yet some of the UNmarked hammers, compared side-by-side with MARKED hammers, look like the same welding, coloring, and checkering......
King hammers were hand built on FACTORY hammers. They vary a bit from gun to gun.
That's about the best answer I think you will get- that many different companies did that type work in different time periods. If it looks about identical in ALL ways to a marked hammer, that is probably who did it.

Very, very interesting. So I gather from this thread and some old threads with pictures that The Reg Mag above has a factory grooved side hammer definitely modified into a target spur by one of many who did them years ago.
Thank you all for your contributions!

Jim
S&WCA #1994