Is there a wider TH for J frame? I have a nice 3" ported 60-10 I enjoy shooting. Came with a nice wider smooth trigger, but hammer is only 1/8-3/16 wide. Would like something a bit larger.

Now that's an interesting question that has not come up here - if I recall correctly. The short answer (and to the best of my knowledge) is NO. If S&W ever made one it is not something I am aware of.

I do not know how "handy" you are, but you could buy another hammer (wouldn't try this with the original one) and actually fabricate one if you can weld. If you can't weld, then you could have someone do this for you. File and stoning skills would also be important but with enough patients and perseverance I see no reason this could not be done successfully. Kind of a neat project actually .......

I have a few of the old Target triggers for the J-frames. I think they are .400"

While I do not own any I would think that target hammers were made in that same Era.

Unfortunately that Era ended several decades ago. Finding one as a spare part is not going to be easy.

I've seen Target Triggers (have several) but never saw a Target Hammer. I would be interested if they in fact did make them. Maybe someone in the SWCA will chime in.

I'm not certain this would qualify as a J-frame target hammer or not. If it were on a K-frame Masterpiece, I would call it a semi-target . . . since only a .500" would be a true K target hammer.

Shown below is a model 60 fixed sight with a standard .240" wide hammer spur. Also shown is a Model 60-4 adjustable sighted with a .365" wide hammer spur.

Russ

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linde,

Nice going! Looks like what I'd consider a Target width Hammer for a J Frame (and I agree - for a K I'd only consider it a semi). Well at least we know they are out there - now good luck in finding one!

NOW I am gonna check my M63 (J Frame) and see if it does indeed have a "Target Hammer". Maybe I have been looking at is so long it's something I have neglected to notice anymore - got it so long ago ya know!

You inspired me to check mine as well. Yep, it's a "target" hammer for the .22 LR frame-mounted firing pin.

Russ

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If you check the mod. 34 22/32 kit guns, you come with two widths of hammers, one about 1/32" wider than the standard J frame, and the other about 1/6" wider. I don't know if all the Kit guns are wider, but mine are. and the Kit Guns are a J frame, so they should fit, and are readily available.
Chubbo

Good info. Thank you! Wish my 60-10 came with hammer like the 60-4 pictured. Just what I am looking for, except my 60-10 has "floating" firing pin. Don't think a the rimfire hammer would work in CF gun, but it does show size I would prefer and it also is is designed for the "floating" FP.

My 63 has the "semi" target. I've searched in vain for a target for my 3 inch 36.

OK...... NOW I feel like a real "DUMBO"! I checked my M63 and YES it does have a "Target Hammer". I guess it's been longer than I though since I've shot it and because it's not as wide as a K Frame Target Hammer guess I just took it for granted.

So now that I have seen the light, you SHOULD be able to find one. Might not be the easiest thing in the world to find, but at least we know they're out there!

'looking for drop-in replacement for the absurdly narrow standard hammer spurs ... I could use three of them. I have seen older model 63s with the wider hammer spur , but never with the IL . I would consider a non-IL replacement, if I could find a key-hole plug as well.

Be wary on the rimfire-vs-centerfire issue.

I tried swapping hammers between a 317 and a 637... the centerfire hammer worked fine in the rimfire gun, but the rimfire hammer surface was too tall to go in the recess on the centerfire frame.

Probably some careful grinding would make it fit. Might look like heck tho.

I /J frame target hammers:

These first appeared on the Model of 1953 Rimfire I frame Kit gun and Target models.

• 1953 The I/J rim fire .375" (actual .360 - .370”) target hammer was introduced as standard with the first Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Guns and .22/32 Target models. The center fire target hammer for the I & J frames became available as well although listed as .347”; actually the same. There is only one size and variations in width are strictly artifacts of hand finishing.

The first use of the CF target hammer and grooved target trigger as standard features in my observation, was on the J frame Mod 60-4 Target introduced 1990, 3" HB full lug and Rd Butt with Uncle Mike’s rubber grips, .360”-.375” target hammer, grooved .340” target trigger (both optional in CCH for blued models). This model became regular production 1992 to 1999. However in 1996 as the model 60-10 was changed to the J Magnum frame with MIM parts, standard smooth combat trigger and narrow hammer spur:




Photo credit: linde

Mod 36-1 Target, one of 213 made in 1975, .400” optional target trigger and target hammer:




I/J frame target and combat triggers:

• 1953 I and J .400” grooved target trigger available factory installed likely in 1953, at least by 1956 when 1st observed factory installed in #24363 Pre 35. Followed by .335” grooved and smooth; and in 1986 the .312” smooth combat became standard and all others discontinued.

1984-89 – .400” Grooved/.335” Gr & smooth J frame, and .500”/.400” K, L & N frame grooved and smooth target triggers deleted.

1986 - New smooth forged combat trigger became standard: .312” J, .312 - .320” K, L & N including MIM triggers, and in 2003 MIM .340” X frame.

First J frame use of.340 combat trigger as standard was on the Model 36--6 Target, 615 made in 1989.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819