Short & Long hammer throw

[guitar1580]

I know about the change from long to short action during the late forties, and I have guns of both styles. I noticed somewhere in a thread, that someone seemed to be able to tell whether it was long or short just from a picture.

I was gonna post a thread to ask how, but I decided to lay out a couple of my pre and post change guns to see if I could spot the difference.

Referring to the pic below of an older long throw model, hammer seems to have more of a V at the area near my top red arrow, as opposed to a flat spot there on the short versions, and also seems to have a longer arc on the lower area of the hammer shown between my two arrows.

Would it be safe to say that this is generally a good indicator to distinguish between long and short throw at first glance when year is not known?

Josh P

[lebomm]

Short action hammer also has a lower, differently shaped spur.

[Hondo44]

I can't tell what you mean with only one picture but here's a sure way. These are both post war K frame guns:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/p...ifference.html

You'll notice on the K frame shown, the change to the "fish hook" shaped hammer spur is a dead giveaway.

[DCWilson]

Hammer spur profile is one way to tell. Another general indicator is visible hammer stud directly below the thumb release; with one uncommon exception, all short action guns have no visible hammer studs because they are polished to the surface of the frame. The exception is the little-produced K-22/40 (K-22 Second Model), which had a somewhat different short action design from the one adopted after the war. Possibly a few postwar transitional long action guns have flat-polished hammer studs, but they will be in the minority.

Also, I have it in mind only N and K frame guns come in long and short action versions. There is no such distinction in the I-frame guns. Somebody correct me if I am either mischaracterizing this or flat-out wrong about it.

The hammer spur profile and position probably constitute the best indicator for short v. long action on a late-1940s revolver.

[Hondo44]

I concur with David especially on the I frame guns. I have not seen any documentation indicating there were long and short hammer throw versions. And in fact my own observations and measurements indicate there are no discernible differences between pre and post war I frame actions except of course the new style safety rebound hammer block.

[STCM(SW)]

When shooting NRA Bullseye slow fire, you can sure tell the difference from the long & short hammer fall.....