I have this 629-1 that I think is a Lew Horton (3", unfluted, combats) with a possible problem. When I pull the hammer back real slow (I mean REAL slow) the hammer locks before the bolt stop locks in. The amount of touch on the cylinder is very slight to get the bolt to lock in. Under normal cocking and double action dry firing it locks up fine. I have not shot the gun yet so I don't know if it will shave. I'm thinking a new hand is in order. Should I worry about this or not?

BTW, the gun looks like it's been shot a lot and it was dirty, and bone dry. A thorough cleaning and lube did nothing to change things.

If it does not lock up on both single and double action on all six charge holes, then it should be adjusted. In double action, it needs to lock up before the hammer falls. On single action, it needs to lock up before full cock.

Send it to S&W with a note that reads "Revolver does not carry up." They will fix it right up for you.

Thanks. The only current problem is S&W customer service is closed until after the new year. I will talk with them when they are talking. Hopefully they will take care of it. Again, thanks.

If it can only be done in manipulated cocking of the gun I personally would not worry about it too much. It's certainly not an ideal situation but also one that is not as rare as you would think. It'd be ideal to get it resolved. If S&W has a long back log I would consider using Frank Glenn in Phoenix; he has been extremely quick on a couple of repairs he's done for me (and very reasonably priced).

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Mark

I work in State Corrections and many of the S&W 65's that are carried every day have this same issue.....and they continue to be carried.

I did a function check on one and it actually took about a "medium speed" thumb cock to get all 6 to lock in before the hammer locked back. It's not like these guns see a lot of rounds either.

I personally own several S&W's that do this including a 10-14. Two chambers do not lock up on very slow thumb cocking. And new gen Smiths tend to carry up earlier.

I have a 64-3 and 10-6 that also do this on some chambers and a 67-1 that just about fails on one chamber.....it "just" drops the bolt in right as the hammer cocks in slow SA. In about 10,000 more cycles it will probably fail.

I don't overly stress about it but IMO if the bolt fails to drop in before either the hammer falls in DA or cocks in SA the gun is out of time. Many people will tell you it's nit picking but I am OCD about revolver carry up. In normal operation they work fine. The only one I plan to have fixed is the 10-14, the other older models are purely shooter grade and the cost to buy a new old stock ratchet and have it fitted wouldn't be worth it for a $2-300 gun that will probably still work fine as long as I'm alive, it would take more rounds than ill ever put through it for the timing to get slow enough to worry about.

I guarantee there are thousands of security guards, corrections officers and a few police officers on duty right now carrying S&W revolvers that would fail a "slow cocking test" but if needed they would fire just fine with a normal speed DA pull or SA thumb cocking.

Make sure you always test timing with spent shells or snap caps in the chambers, many S&W's especially the pin-less extractor newer models carry up earlier when loaded. New S&W's rely on the cases to hold the extractor firmly in place during the firing cycle.

FWIW none of my Ruger DA's do this, even the ones with 10's of thousands of rounds through them, they just carry up earlier from the factory.