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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 01-20-2010, 05:20 PM
moosedog moosedog is offline
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Default Humpback hammer versus Fish Hook hammer

Dacoontz's post on the Humpback hammer has me wondering what is the difference between a Humpback and a Fish Hook?
I have this pre war HD that was shipped in 1940 and it has what I always refered to as a Fish hook hammer, but maybe I was mistaken.
Maybe a factory letter may be in order?
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Old 01-20-2010, 05:25 PM
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I don't know what that is on your gun. Looks like a custom job.

The "fish-hook" style (S&W called it a Speed Hammer, I think) came on K frames for about the first 10 years after the war.


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Old 01-20-2010, 05:28 PM
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md - that is a HBH

SP - he has an add on sight that uses the 5th side plate screw. That is what you see above the hammer
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Old 01-20-2010, 05:28 PM
SmithNut SmithNut is offline
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moosedog,
Your hammer is a Humpback hammer.

Here's a couple photos comparing the "fish hook" hammer, which is an early post war hammer style, to a Humpback hammer (in this case on a K frame). While these aren't close up pics, hopefully they will give you an idea of the differences.

Humpback hammer


Fish hook hammer (more properly called a High Speed hammer)


I'll see if I can find better pics comparing the two and post.
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Old 01-20-2010, 05:32 PM
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The adjustable sight on the HD is an F.D.L "Wondersight".

Fishhooks (as below) are a Post War feature, Humpbacks are a Prewar.



They will sometimes appear in later guns the lower example is from the mid-60's.

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Old 01-20-2010, 05:35 PM
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moosedog - here's a better pic of your HBH.
Who is the add-on rear sight made by?

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Old 01-20-2010, 05:36 PM
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Thanks Drew for the "wonder sight" info - that's pretty cool.
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Old 01-20-2010, 05:40 PM
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Default F.D.L. Wondersight....

Sorry to roam off topic... But the "Wondersights" are intermittanly still available... they were originally made in Oroville, CA and apparently there are alot of parts and tooling around. Every now and again somebody buys them and builds a few. I bought my first one in 1975 or so out a back page ad in the American Rifleman.
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Old 01-20-2010, 05:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sebago Son View Post
Sorry to roam off topic... But the "Wondersights" are intermittanly still available... they were originally made in Oroville, CA and apparently there are alot of parts and tooling around. Every now and again somebody buys them and builds a few. I bought my first one in 1975 or so out a back page ad in the American Rifleman.
Can I assume they made different sizes for S&W and Colt fixed sight revolvers or was it a "one size fits all" deal?
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Old 01-20-2010, 06:01 PM
moosedog moosedog is offline
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Thanks for the comparison photos and information guys. I was refering to it improperly all this time.
And yes, that is a Wonder Sight which really works very well on the fixed sight 5 screws.
The last address that I have for the Wonder Sight is
Evan's Mfg. PO Box 357 Durham Ca. 95938
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colt, k frame, prewar, rifleman, wondersight

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