Model 19-4 hammer question

[Shane74]

Brand new to forum and brand new model 19 owner. Just purchased a 19-4 4” Nickel from gunbroker. Just picked it up today and ffl noticed something weird with hammer.

When you cock the hammer back slow it clicks and stops but you can then pull it back further where it touches the frame of the gun and if you let it go it goes back into the normal cocked position. If you pull it back not so slow it goes right back to frame and makes two clicking noises then clicks back up to normal cocked position.

Sorry if this is hard to understand as it’s difficult to explain. It just doesnt feel smooth and doesnt feel like it should happen. Have not fired it yet but cylinder functions properly in sa and da. Any advice would be great.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Brand new to forum and brand new model 19 owner. Just purchased a 19-4 4” Nickel from gunbroker. Just picked it up today and ffl noticed something weird with hammer.

When you cock the hammer back slow it clicks and stops but you can then pull it back further where it touches the frame of the gun and if you let it go it goes back into the normal cocked position. If you pull it back not so slow it goes right back to frame and makes two clicking noises then clicks back up to normal cocked position.

Sorry if this is hard to understand as it’s difficult to explain. It just doesnt feel smooth and doesnt feel like it should happen. Have not fired it yet but cylinder functions properly in sa and da. Any advice would be great.

Sounds normal to me; I don't have my Dash-3 handy to try it out, but I understand what you're describing, called overtravel. As long as the hammer returns freely to the full cock position after you've pulled it as far back as it will go, it is normal. Have you tested for "push-off" since you haven't fired it yet? Simply cock it in SA, then with moderate thumb pressure only, push forward on the back of the hammer spur. If the hammer falls, the sear is worn and the gun isn't safe to fire. If it doesn't fall with moderate pressure you're good to go. Don't try to force it though.

Show us some pictures. the M19 is a sexy beast.

 

[Shane74]

Idk if these will come out large enough, again first time on here. If not whats the easiest way to get good pictures from phone to here.

 

[Shane74]

Sounds normal to me; I don't have my Dash-3 handy to try it out, but I understand what you're describing, called overtravel. As long as the hammer returns freely to the full cock position after you've pulled it as far back as it will go, it is normal. Have you tested for "push-off" since you haven't fired it yet? Simply cock it in SA, then with moderate thumb pressure only, push forward on the back of the hammer spur. If the hammer falls, the sear is worn and the gun isn't safe to fire. If it doesn't fall with moderate pressure you're good to go. Don't try to force it though.

Show us some pictures. the M19 is a sexy beast.

I did test push off and hammer stays cocked with pressure. Im hoping its normal because i was happy I snagged it for $760

 

[Retired W4]

I believe, and I'm no expert, that if the hammer spur touches the frame the hammer over travel is excessive. I just checked my 19-3, with target hammer (~.375), and it does not contact the frame with full rearward travel.

If yours is making contact the expert gunsmiths here should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! You picked up a very nice nickel Model 19-4 for a fair price, and it should be a great shooter. I'm not a Forum gunsmith so I won't comment on the hammer travel, but it does sound a little excessive to me. Hopefully it's not a problem, or least a problem with an easy fix. Enjoy!

 

[ken158]

Be sure the mainspring is tight

 

[Shane74]

Be sure the mainspring is tight

Main spring is tight, I just checked it. I havent taken the side plate off to see the internals yet. Dont want to do too much if its something i cant take care of on my own.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I took out several of my S&W's to see what they did. My M19-3 and M66-1, when you pull the hammer back as far as it will go, the underside of the hammer spur is close enough to the corner of the frame where it breaks over to the grip that you can just barely get a business card slipped into the gap. When I release the hammer, it moves maybe a 1/10th inch or less forward into the full cock position. I also tried it on a M28-2, M58 and M25-5. The hammer is just a tinier bit further away, maybe two business cards-worth, and when the hammer is released, moves forward the same amount as the two K-frames do.

None of them actually contact the frame, though, nor do any of them make any other sound than the one it makes when the sear catches the hammer to cock it.

I wonder if OP's hammer spur may be bent a little, maybe from a drop? It wouldn't take much of a bend to allow the spur to contact the frame. If so, maybe the extra noises he hears could be from the excessive play. I don't think it will affect function, if it SA cocks without binding, or pulls through DA without any issues.

When buying a firearm off the net, regardless of who you get it from, there's always the chance of having some little thing that while not fully normal, is enough to make you wonder about it. I've never purchased a gun, nor will I ever, without the opportunity to handle it and inspect it before I hand over the cash. It's truly the only way to avoid an issue that might make you pass over buying it. I've probably missed out on some nice guns, but I'm positive about the ones I do get.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It's most likely just a matter of tolerances. It only takes a tiny bit of less material on the frame or hammer to let it go back that little bit more. There is probably nothing wrong with the gun, but no way to tell for sure without seeing it in person.

 

[Shane74]

Yea i normally like to handle any firearm I purchase beforehand if used but kinda hard doing that from gunbroker. First time buying a used firearm without being able to check it out.

I just went and shot it , shot 6 DA and 6 SA and functioned just fine and shoots great. Guess as long as i slowly bring hammer back if firing in SA i wont even notice the hitch . Or just fire it as its meant to be DA only. Thanks for the advice so far and thanks for welcoming me on here. Still would be interested in knowing whats the cause if someone knows.

I asked the previous owner about it and he said maybe its a half cock feature lol. Knew it would be pointless asking him but was curious of what kinda crazy response i would get. (And yes I know they dont have a half cock feature)