I need a latch spring for a Marlin 1887 DA .38S&W, they are basically the same as the S&W DA top breaks.

Does anyone know of a source for such an item, or is it something I will have to make myself?

Thanks.

You might try this. He has provided me with several parts over the years.
www.oldwestgunsmith.com/gunparts/swhome.htm

I would doubt that anyone would have that spring available, so if you can't find a junker gun to rob the spring, you will have to make one. It's a "banjo" spring, so called because of it's shape. I have made them from a piece of an old alarm clock main spring. Clip off a piece of the spring larger than the Marlin spring, grind it down with a Dremel tool, or similar, to the correct shape needed. Drill the screw hole in the end. Use trial & error fitting as you shape the spring, until it works OK. If you can start with a clock spring that has the curvature similar to the Marlin spring, you won't have to heat the spring or anneal it.
Some Marlin/S&W trivia : The frames for the Marlin Model 1887 revolvers were made in the Smith & Wesson factory, as S&W had the only drop forge at the time. The Marlin & S&W DAs are very similar in their actions, etc., and some parts can be interchanged, including the stocks. Ed.

Thanks for the link.

I sent him an email, and he said he couldn't help.

I will try to make one.

I think I could make a spring easy enough, but right now I am stuck on trying to remove the piece that the ejector rod goes into so I can get to the spring screw.

Is it a right hand or left hand thread?

Left hand, as best I can recall. Ed.

Thanks, Ed.

Can you salvage the latch spring from this?

S&W Smith & Wesson nickel plated 38 new departure top break 4" barrel #128115 | eBay

Buck

It's not quite the same latch, but thanks.

The Marlin latch spring is unique to Marlins and different than anything used in the S&W revolvers. It's a leaf spring style, about 5/8th in. long, with a large rounded end that has a screw hole in the end. It looks like a miniature banjo. Ed.