Need Help on Reassembly

[MikeMillinocket]

I need help putting my old break top back together.

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. It is usually the reverse of how you took it apart. I take pictures of the interior of any revolver I plan on taking apart for the first time and as I remove a few parts, continue to snap away, BUT you did not do that. What model do you have and what are you having problems with, maybe we can help.

There are a couple of good books by David Chicoine. Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly and Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West worth buying.

[gmborkovic]

Mike, why did you take it apart? Just spray. Best

[rct269]

"Why did you take it apart?"

Let's count 'em up:

It's human nature----"inquiring minds want to know".

Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

You get a great sense of satisfaction by overcoming the fear of the unknown.

You come to learn more and better than what's in Chicoine's books----especially if/when Mike Priwer helps you out------and it's not too long before you find out what Chicoine calls "reverse" or "spreader type" pliers really are. That's especially gratifying after you went to the tool store, and got treated like an idiot. Of course, you were an idiot; but it was a temporary situation.

It's not too long before you figure out how to make good things better.

You end up with clean guns---rather than guns that look clean-----sort of.

That'll probably do it for now--------

Ralph Tremaine

Oh, and there are different types/sizes of "spreader type" pliers. You want those with rather small ("reverse") jaws. Of course, you can start out with big ones and grind them down; but now we're back to that business about "Anything worth doing is worth doing right".

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum.

To start, S&W referred to these revolvers as Top Breaks and not break tops. A minor point but best to start off correctly.

Photos of your disassembled revolver would help so we can see exactly how far you have taken it apart. From there we should be able to help you get it back together.

As glowe stated, photos of the process of disassembly are an excellent method for getting things put back together.

I have taken things apart with the idea of putting them back together soon and then set aside for months. It is amazing how quickly we can forget how something came apart months later.

[Wiregrassguy]

I have taken things apart with the idea of putting them back together soon and then set aside for months. It is amazing how quickly we can forget how something came apart months later.

And I thought I was alone in doing this...

Oh! Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

[gmborkovic]

Hello Ralph, could not agree more with you. There are some I will not tackle. The springs get brittle and parts just wear out and are not available.
Best

[mmaher94087]

Mike M, ignore these fellas; they're teasing you. We DO need to know which top break you need help with. There are single action and double action revolvers so a better description is needed. Pictures are very helpful too. BTW, welcome to the forum.

[tlay]

If all else fails and you are stuck. I will help you out. You will have to mail it to me but I can help if you want.