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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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  #1  
Old 11-30-2011, 03:38 PM
ammodave ammodave is offline
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Default Pinned grip safety?

I have a New Departure 5th Model in 38 S&W (sn2489XX) that I find is difficult for me to shoot because of the grip safety. I shoot lots of other revolvers in various calibers but if I don't have my grip quite right on this one it won't fire. I'm considering pinning the safety if the factory hole exists but I don't see a vacant hole when I remove the grips. Is the hole under the grip or under the left side plate?

Last edited by ammodave; 11-30-2011 at 06:43 PM.
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Old 11-30-2011, 08:26 PM
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H Richard H Richard is offline
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I don't believe the New Departures had a hole to pin the safety down. I believe that was first put on the Mod 40 & 42. I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done, just drill a hole under the stocks about midway up, and a corresponding hole with the grip depressed then insert a pin to keep the safety bar down.
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Old 12-02-2011, 01:01 AM
ammodave ammodave is offline
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Where is the hole located on those old breaktops that do have a hole drilled at the factory? Is it under the grips or under the left side plate?
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Old 12-02-2011, 01:44 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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No break tops had the pin, it's the 1952 Centennial Model 38 specials that became Model 40 & 42 in c. 1957.

Here's a pic from another thread:


And the thread is here:
A brief history of the Centennial revolvers

The safety was pinned at the top under the grip panel and the pin, when not in use was stored in a hole in the grip frame near the bottom end of the mainspring, also under the grip..
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Old 12-02-2011, 03:03 PM
ammodave ammodave is offline
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Thanks for the reply. I thought I had read somewhere on this forum that some of the topbreaks had a pre-drilled hole but apparently not. I may still drill mine under the grip to solve the problem.
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Old 12-05-2011, 04:57 PM
10/22 10/22 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ammodave View Post
Thanks for the reply. I thought I had read somewhere on this forum that some of the topbreaks had a pre-drilled hole but apparently not. I may still drill mine under the grip to solve the problem.

Check the action function with the grips removed to make sure the hammer spring tension screw is not backed out too far. I found that if you loosen the tension on the screw too far, the spring binds up the hammer and will not let it set. This is true on two of my S&W .32's. A DA 4th Model, which doesn't have the safety bar and my safety 4th Model. The spring has to have just enough curve in it to allow hammer full range.
10/22.

Last edited by 10/22; 12-06-2011 at 10:42 AM.
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Old 12-06-2011, 02:42 PM
ammodave ammodave is offline
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Nope, not a problem with mainspring tension. I removed the grips and side plate and everything is working as designed. I drilled a very small hole (.04") thru the grip frame and pinned the grip safety. The oem walnut grips cover the pin head and make the mod invisible. Obviously, there is something wrong with the way I'm holding the gun when I shoot but it was aggravating to me; now the problem's solved (for me).
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Old 12-06-2011, 04:35 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Bravo, now you have the only custom pinned lemon squeezer. I started wondering if there was a spring you could remove, but then the safety bar would flop around.
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