Just recently bought a S&W .32 double action top break revolver. So I want to take it apart to " as Mark Novak would say" conserve it. Clean all the the rust and gunk out of the inside. So I go to YouTube. They have H&Rs, Iver Johnsons, U.S. Revolvers, and some others, but not ONE Smith and Wesson. I would like to see someone with some expertise make a video on disassembling and reassembling some of our beloved antique revolvers. What do you think? Now I have to get my 2 pound hammer, and hacksaw and see if I can get this gun cleaned up.

On these unless they are truly a rust bucket. I take the grips off put them in a sealed glass jar of half Acetone and half automatic transmission fluid to soak for up to a week take out blow out with compressed air repeat as nessisary then oil with your favorite gun lube. If you need to use a hammer I recommend the 5 pounder and a power band saw....

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Randy

Yeah, it's not a rust bucket, but it feels gummy inside. Acetone and atf, I've used that on some nasty rusted bolts, it's amazing. My grandpa said I was great at taking things apart. He just wished I'd remember how to put them back together. I still have that problem. So a video would help.

Back "in the day" before YouTube we had books. I suggest this one:
Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns David R Chicoine

While this works, I would be extremely cautious about using a glass jar to hold a highly flammable mixture. Better to go down to the hardware store and get a clean metal can or bucket. Personally, I am not using Acetone much any more, partially due to its high flammability, but also because it is a very bad solvent to inhale. I have tried this method using low odor mineral spirits and transmission fluid and find it to work fine. If there is no rust and the mechanism is relatively clean, I use aerosol Choke & Carb Cleaner. Use it outside and spray down the mechanism. Let sit and reapply, then spray heavily to blow out any debris. It will dry quickly and then apply spray syntactic oil.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

AND----if you don't have access to Chicoine's book, I can send copies of the applicable pages.

As an aside, books beat the hell out of videos---all day long!!

Ralph Tremaine

Write a book and they all want a copy of your thousands of hours of research “for free”.
It doesn’t end there. Now it’s time to post a video and show how it took you years to figure out how to dis-assemble, repair, and re-assemble a Colt Lightning “for free” of course! Don’t forget it will be your fault when they break something!
I wonder what will be demanded next for free. Sharing knowledge is a wonderful thing but it’s this demand for more freebies that’s troubling.
They call it “ The entitlement generation” I’ve never heard a more accurate description.

“ It will be mine when you die so you might as well give it to me now”!

Murph

Info technology has been a mixed blessing IMO.
Why not get some good with the bad?
You tube has saved me a lot of heartaches when I don't know how to do something.
I am willing to share what I know however scant

I have the book mentioned above, but I also have The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly Part II- Revolvers by J.B. Wood.

It has a good section on S&W top breaks, but also has other revolvers in it too, which I like. I refer to this book a lot when working on revolvers.

As you disassemble the gun take Lots of good pictures for reference putting it back together.look at each picture before taking another part off.

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age is just a number

I was going to suggest that one and another written by Gunsmith J.B. Wood , Gun Digest Firearms Assembly , there are several volumes and one is devoted to revolvers (amazon has them ) ... Over the years I have I bought every volume . I found the one on top breaks invaluable for reassembly my 38 S&W DA 4th model ... I would have been lost without that one as they are tricky !
But I don't know if people know how to use books any longer .
If it's not on "the net" my kids believe it doesn't exists or isn't worth knowing ...
Sorry ...no U-tube but I got Book!
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

The book Antique Firearms assembly / disassembly by David R. Chicoine. Is for sale on Amazon as a paperback for $125.98. Now I believe in paying for a good education, but I spent the $14.99 for the Kindle version and read it on my tablet. A side story. My son's engine blew out, we decided to pull the engine and replace it. I am NOT a mechanic. But because of the people willing to share their knowledge on YouTube. We were able to rebuild the engine and it fired up with the first try. God Bless those people.