I am currently in the process of restoring a 38 hand ejector (M & P ) 1905 fourth change. Now before anyone has a stroke over me tinkering with a classic let me explain.The gun was an absolute wreck!! It had less than 15% original blue and frame was HEAVILY pitted . It was however all in one piece with the original gold medallion wooden grips. My background is in vintage sxs shotguns, and I have done my share of restorations. When I came across this fellow I already had a spark in me for vintage handguns, and I thought to myself here is one I can put right and make a nice shooter for my first Smith.I realize resorations are not as popular on handguns as with long guns but the process has begun. I have stipped the gun down and cleaned each and every piece. I am in the process of hand polishing the frame. Using a wood block or file as a backing I have started with course paper and will work down to a final polish of around 600 to 800 grit. Then it's off to Doug Turnbull for some Bone charcoal bluing.

Now my question (yeah I know FINALLY ) is this. There are multiple pins inside the frame of the gun the major ones are the pins that the Hammer and Trigger pivot on . Of all these pins only two go through the frame and out the other side . In order for me to polish that side of the frame level I must remove these pins or else my sandpaper block will go across the top of them and cut them down . The pins Look to be threaded into the frame and have some sort of screw slots at the base of the pins where they enter the frame. Almost like a spanner wrench slots.

How do I go about removing these things ? Is there a tool I can buy ? Or will one have to be made fron tube steel to slide over the pins. I have seen several Guys post here that seem to be very sharp pistolsmiths . I hope you guys can help me. I also hope I have explained things where you can understand em'. thanks in advance for any replys.

I will try to keep my future posts shorter !!!!!

Those are not spanner slots they are staking slots where pins are staked into the frame. DO NOT remove them! You will probably destroy the holes in the frame if you do.

Thanks for the heads up ,I guess I will have to leave em be. Gonna be tough to polish around them though !

Coosa,

Don't know where the other poster got his information, but it is wrong. Those are wrench slots and the studs are screwed into the frame. I have not noted that the stud wrenches are available, but rather would have to be made.

Later studs were riveted into the frame, and in between there were some that used a rosette style staking around the stud flange to retain them. Either of the latter styles are already flat on the outside of the frame as it was finish polished after fitting the studs. All of the studs go clear through the frame, it is just that the rebound slide and cylinder stop studs are usually polished flat, even when the hammer and trigger studs still had the nicely rounded ends.

Thanks very much for the correction Alk8944 .

Any tips on where I might find some tube steel to make a wrench myself . Or would you use something other than tube steel to make the tool. Really would rather remove them or do you think it would be better to just polish around them . Thanks for your help.

quote:

Originally posted by Coosa1:
do you think it would be better to just polish around them.

I think this is your safest option.

Coosa1 - nice meetin ya today neighbor!

Hey - WE like pictures around here!

Mike