I recently purchased a 617-6 and later noticed that the hammer doesn't easily cock back. It doesn't cock fully without an extra little pull. What is the cause of this? and is it something that should be corrected by a pro or can a person with a little knowledge tackle it?

also, this 617 being my first used revolver, I'm pretty frustrated by the lack of information available on the age of the firearm. Is there a place to find it, or can someone tell me how old it is? I know it's not an antique, but do want to know a little more on it's history.

Thank you for your help.

You should post the serial number of your revolver and we can tell you the year it was made. The serial number is on the Butt of the revolver and it may also be on the yoke where the model number is. The first Model 617-6's were made in 2001.

sn is cthxxxx

The drag at the end of the SA may be from a long rachet, or rachets....or perhaps the mainspring strain screw has loosened. Do you feel the same drag right at the end of double action?

You can eliminate long rachets as the source of the interference by opening the cylinder, holding the thumb piece back and cocking the gun. If the gun cocks "normally, and you don't feel resistance at the end of the cycle, it's not the ratchets.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

If the strain screw is loose or has been shortened, the mainspring may be standing up tall enough that the hammer hits it when it's cocked all the way back. I think this may be one of the items armorer951 is referring to.

Does this happen loaded, empty, or both?

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

main spring screw is tight. no idea if its been shortened. i didn't notice the same thing on double action. i haven't check it it does it when loaded.

You might try cleaning the chambers really, really well. Since it occurs when loaded it sounds like one or more chambers is not allowing the cartridge to fully seat and that can bind up the action some. My 617, and other S&W .22s become difficult to chamber and extract once they get a bit dirty. I keep Q-Tips in my range bag and swab the chambers with a bit of solvent during long range sessions.

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SWCA #2922

Have you put a different grip on it? A possibility of interference with position of the screw if it goes through the grip frame can bind against the return spring housing internally? Just a thought...
Karl

i does have the wrong grip on it. the previous owner put an N frame grip on it. ill have to change it and check

It could be hand/ratchet interference. That's pretty common now days. It would be that the mainspring is hitting the cross pin that attaches the stocks to the frame(if you have that type of stocks). If the strain screw is loose, the mainspring can straighten enough to bind on the stirrup where it attaches to the hammer.

I would bet on the hand/ratchet interference, though.

If you are not familiar with the insides of a 617, call Smith and they will have you send the gun back on their nickel and the warranty repair time is pretty short.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

thanks for all the help on the hammer issue.

can anyone tell me the manufacture date?

This sounds like a relatively new or not shot very much gun. I'm thinking it just needs enough use to break it in. Get a brick of your favorite ammo and take it out for a couple sessions of target practice. By the time you get 500 + rounds through it it should have smoothed up reasonably well. Watch that the rounds are fully seated, which can cause drag. Are you having any difficulties ejecting the empties? S&W very often has minimum sized chambers and they can be tight causing loading and extraction problems. a bronze brush on your cordless drill with some oil should help this, and keep the chambers clean.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244