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02-21-2014, 09:21 AM
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Hammer Question
I recently saw a pre-WWII Outdoorsman for sale with what I thought was a strange hammer. I have never seen a hammer marked in this way. Was this a factory option or an after-market addition?
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Frosty
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02-21-2014, 09:25 AM
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That is what they call the Humpback Hammer they came out in the late 30's around the fall of 1937 there bouts..
Rick
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02-21-2014, 09:27 AM
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And yes it is a factory hammer it may been an option also but not sure someone will chime in on this one an sure.
Rick
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02-21-2014, 10:59 AM
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Yes that was a factory special order option and quite valuable. The hammer itself would bring $200-400 depending on the day and how much someone needs it. Humpbacks were first introduced as an option on N frame registered magnums. They were then made available on N frame .38-44 Outdoorsman, on K38 (and probably a couple K32s) target sighted guns and K22 Outdoorsman. I even have an non-target .38 M&P that has one I believe was a police dept special order. I find that odd though because you can't sight the gun in double action because the hammer is in the sight picture.
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Chris
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02-21-2014, 11:26 AM
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Like the others have posted, it's known as a hump back hammer or a HBH.
.... but the real question is - did you buy the gun? If not, where is it for sale?
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Rick
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02-21-2014, 02:21 PM
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I knew that it was a humpback hammer but the cross-hatching on the top was what my me curious. I have not seen that pattern or that much of the hammer done that way. I thought the normal pattern was at 45 degrees to the side of the hammer and only the last 3/8ths of an inch or so (roughly a square patch). Still a lot out there for me to learn.
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Frosty
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02-21-2014, 08:16 PM
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Added:
Had to check my terminology. What I was trying to say was that I thought the checkering was usually just on the hammer spur, not extending so far down the hammer body.
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Frosty
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02-22-2014, 12:16 PM
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No, it looks like a standard HBH. Did you buy it?
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John
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02-22-2014, 12:30 PM
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DSCF1099.jpg
DSCF1103.jpg
DSCF1106.jpg
DSCF1104.jpgLooks like the revolver is wearing service grips. My guess the hbh was added at a later date or the od is wearing the incorrect grips.
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02-23-2014, 07:43 AM
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The standard Registered Mag hammer is the only other one with the same square diamond checkering pattern:
Both Humpbacks and standard hammers came swirl machined and unswirled:
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Jim
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Last edited by Hondo44; 02-23-2014 at 07:51 AM.
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02-23-2014, 11:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cgt4570
Yes that was a factory special order option and quite valuable. The hammer itself would bring $200-400 depending on the day and how much someone needs it. Humpbacks were first introduced as an option on N frame registered magnums. They were then made available on N frame .38-44 Outdoorsman, on K38 (and probably a couple K32s) target sighted guns and K22 Outdoorsman. I even have an non-target .38 M&P that has one I believe was a police dept special order. I find that odd though because you can't sight the gun in double action because the hammer is in the sight picture.
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Years ago, police target shooting (PPC) used point shooting for double action work close in and single action for longer distances.
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John 3:16
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02-23-2014, 02:10 PM
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One of the big reasons I like to post pictures and questions like this one is the amount of information that follows about early S&W's and the resulting education that I and probably some others receive.
I appreciate everyone who chimed in and my thanks for sharing what you know.
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Frosty
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