.38 Double Action 2nd Model Hammer

Boulder350 · #1 07-31-2017, 12:47 AM

I have an early .38 double action 2nd model that has the wrong hammer installed (hammer is removed and shown in the picture with the yellow background). The hammer is .206 wide and the full cock notch is not in the right location. I have another 2nd model with the serial number that is about 600 later and has the correct hammer. It's .198 wide and has a longer space to the full cock notch (shown in the picture with the hammer installed in the gun).

Does anyone have recommendations where to buy a correct hammer? The gun is well used and has about the same amount of bluing as the gun in the attached picture.

If I can't find a hammer I will buy a complete gun and rob the hammer from it. What model numbers have the same hammer as my second model?

Thanks
Mark

gmborkovic · #2 07-31-2017, 07:39 AM

Hello Mark, Im no help on the hammer, but post some pics of your red grips.

Wiregrassguy · #3 07-31-2017, 11:29 AM

Mark,
I don't know if this guy has what you need or not. But, you might contact him and ask.

Boulder350 · #4 07-31-2017, 10:50 PM

Guy,
Thanks for the lead. Searched the items listed on their website but came up empty handed. Sent an email so will see what they say.
Mark

Wiregrassguy · #5 08-01-2017, 12:20 PM

There are several members who have extensive knowledge of the DA guns and may have parts. Hondo44, glowe, TLay come immediately to mind. If they don't have the hammer you need, they probably know of a parts source. eBay has been a good source for me.

Boulder350 · #6 08-02-2017, 10:55 PM

Guy,
Didn't think about Ebay, will try that. If nothing on Ebay, will send PM's to the guys you suggested. Checked GB too but nothing. Its harder to find a hammer that I thought it would be. Probably just need to be a little more patient.
Thanks again,
Mark

Boulder350 · #7 08-17-2017, 01:05 AM

Still trying to find a replacement hammer for my very early second model DA 38. Attched is a picture of the hammer from a gun with a serial number in the 4300's. This is the style I need for my second model DA (curved side plate) with serial number in the 3700's. Does anyone know if this is a first model DA hammer that was carried over to the early second models?

Thanks
Mark

Boulder350 · #8 08-21-2017, 12:57 AM

Finally was able to remove the pin and side plate from my first model DA 38. The hammer appears to be the same as the one I'm looking for. Now I'm on a hunt for a first model DA 38 hammer. Will post a listing in the WTB section.

S&WsRsweet · #9 08-21-2017, 06:45 AM

No help on your problem but I must admit those pimped out grips on that old revolver are eye catching ,good luck .

nutsforsmiths · #10 08-22-2017, 12:17 AM

Did you call Jack First? They might have one.

I also sent you a personal message with a link to an early style hammer for sale on eBay.

JSR III · #11 08-22-2017, 08:32 AM

Have you tried Numrich? I have found several older parts through them.

glowe · #12 08-22-2017, 12:40 PM

There is no change noted anywhere that I can find between the 1st & 2nd Model hammers. I also think that any hammer from any Model of 38 DA may be interchangeable, but there are notes in published materials that say several changes were made to the sear, trigger, hammer, hand, stop, and trigger guard in the in 3rd Model. I have only one 38 DA hammer that came out of a 5th Model gun that I replaced with a good hammer. I took some pictures to show the details and notches which look very much like your picture, but this one has been ground on and ruined. I think that the later model hammers are quite inexpensive and worth a try.

Boulder350 · #13 08-22-2017, 09:46 PM

Thanks for your comments and help

Here is a picture with the guns barrel to barrel. The top gun with serial number 37xx has a wrong hammer in it while the bottom gun with serial 43xx has a correct hammer. Notice the position of the full cock hammer and full cock trigger on the two guns. This is because the half and full cock notches are in two different places on the first model hammer vs the second model hammer. With the top gun at full cock when you pull the trigger it does not fire single action. It pulls the hammer back farther and then fires, like a shorter double action pull. The local gun smith actually put in my first model hammer from serial number 13xx in the gun with serial 37xx and everything functioned correctly.

I also attached pictures with a crude measure of the distance from the trigger guard pin to the sear in 2 models. The one with the red molted grips is the serial 43xx and is just under 1/4". The other one is about 5/16" and has serial 1126xx. The hammers and sears are defiantly different between first model and second model DA 38s.

Boulder350 · #14 08-22-2017, 09:51 PM

The last paragraph in the above post is not correct. I mixed up the length of the sears. The first model/early second model has the longer sear and the second model with serial 1126xx has the shorter sear.

mmaher94087 · #15 08-23-2017, 11:49 AM

The full cock is not right in the picture (top revolver). The hammer with the 1/4" half cock notch is not correct and, I'm guessing, is from a later DA or the hammer has been reworked by someone. I suspect the latter.