Need Advice on Fixing Bent Hammer

[george_lehr]

I have a Model 30-1 that was apparently dropped by the seller before it was shipped to my FFL. The hammer spur is bent enough that it contacts the frame before it can get into full cocked position. I'm looking for a replacement hammer, but think it would be easier to bend the spur back into shape.
Anyone done something like that? Is using a torch to heat it advisable, or would cold bending be recommended?
Does anyone have a replacement hammer they would sell to me?
Any and all advice is requested and would be appreciated.
George

[tennexplorer]

The hammer is case hardened. And therefore has a hard surface and a softer core. Bending it back would probably cause the spur to break off. Heating it would have to be done very carefully so that you didn't lose hardness on the sear surfaces. I would recommend finding a new hammer. It is a standard j-frame hammer. It may take some looking but these show up on both eBay and gunbroker.

[dfariswheel]

Usually S&W hammers don't bend, they just break.
Cold bending is almost certain to break it, and heating it will destroy the case hardened surface, allowing the hammer to wear out very fast.

If you use a large vise as a heat sink you "might" be able to heat just the spur and bend it slightly without ruining it.
You need to protect the firing pin area and everything else but the actual spur. You can also help protect things by using a heat-stop protection paste, available from Brownell's.

If you do, use a big torch with a needle point flame. The idea is to heat the part FAST, and allow it to cool before the heat spreads and ruins the case hardening.
Heating slow with propane is a NON-starter.

[george_lehr]

Thank you both. Your advice is as I expected. My replacement hammer search is underway. The ones I've seen on Gunbroker seem pretty pricey, but probably because they are whole assemblies.
I think that I can keep the heat in the spur area. The bend is in a very thin part of the hammer spur that should heat very quickly.
I think that I have nothing to lose trying to bend the hammer back into shape. If it results in breaking off the spur, the gun will still function properly in double action, and single action could be done carefully.
Attached are the pics of the bent hammer spur (on left) next to my model 36 on the right.