Picked one up like I had 35 years ago. Didn't realize how different it was by it being single action only.
Anyway, don't know much about it. Inform me please.

The complete, proper name back when----was Short Action Single Action.

The action, the distance the hammer falls, is approximately 24% less---less than an everyday K-38. Ergo it occurs in 24% less time-------and that's what it's all about.

At such time as you can shoot as well as your guns can, you will find this to be a significant benefit. In the meantime, practice, Practice, PRACTICE!!

Ralph Tremaine

This hammer doesn't move 90%. It just falls forward, no backwards movement at all. The pawl cycles the cylinder. Only fires in single action mode.

And you're talking about what happens when you pull the trigger through what would be its complete DA arc------if it was DA, right?

As an aside, any DA S&W can be made into a SA only simply by removing the DA sear--------------BUT that doesn't make it a REAL Short Action Single Action----just a S&W with some missing parts. So if/when someone offers you a really super spiffy deal on a SAO S&W, make damn sure you know what you're getting.

Specif., The SASA SAO hammer is like no other hammer you've ever seen, in that it has NO provision for the attachment of a DA sear.

Ralph Tremaine

As another aside, I'm pretty certain you can tell the difference without removing the sideplate, just by cocking the hammer, and looking down on the leading edge. (And I'm only "pretty certain" because my SOA K-38 is long gone, so I don't have anything here to look at and describe for you.)

I pull the trigger and the hammer falls with no rearward movement. It has no double action what so ever. Only will cock when hammer is pulled rearward and will release when trigger is pulled!

Blue Book gives a $100. premium for single action. How many were made?
I saw where a kit could be purchased to convert single/double to single only.