Model 28 broken firing pin

L

LE-28

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
27
Reaction score
8
Location
North Caro.
I was just at the range shooting my 1957 model 28 that I've had forever.

The end broke of the firing pin after all these years. I stopped at a local gun shop to have them put a new firing pin in it and they told me they couldn't help me. Their gun smith told me he didn't have the tools to do this without marking up the hammer.

He said about knocking the roll pin out without taking it out of the gun. That didn't sound right to me. Why would you not take the hammer out of the gun. I never used this guy before but heard he was supposed to know what he is doing.

Isn't there just a roll pin holding the firing pin in and how hard could it be?

Is there something I don't know about these firing pins.
 
Register to hide this ad
After looking at it more closely I see what the guns smith is saying.
Could I send just the hammer into S&W and have the pin replaced?
 
LE-28 said:
After looking at it more closely I see what the guns smith is saying.
Could I send just the hammer into S&W and have the pin replaced?
Click to expand...

Yes, you could, but buying a replacement hammer on eBay would probably be faster and less expensive.
 
What part of N C are you in LE-28 ? They have that Gunsmith school at Piedmont academy in, or near Yanceyville. Sounds like that project might be something they might like to have for "show & tell". Well supervised I would think, and I hear S&W sends a tech. down each year to present a class or two. Regards
 
I don't know why this "gunsmith" could not install a firing pin. It is not that difficult. Find one that works on revolvers in your area or order a hammer from eBay.
I have installed my own. I took the hammer out and drove the old roll pin on a padded block with a hole in it. Install the new firing pin and use a center punch to peen the roll pin. Be careful to not get it too tight because the pin needs to move up and down.
 
Actually, the "pin" holding the hammer nose in place is a hollow rivet, not roll pin. It is upset into a counterbore on both sides of the hammer. There is also a small spring under the hammer nose that positions it so it will strike through the aperture in the frame. You can buy the entire hammer assembly from Numrich (gunpartscorp.com) (part number 160870, Hammer Assembly, Color Case Hardened (.500)) for $63.45, which is probably not more than the repair - IF you can find the parts - would cost.
 
I replaced the hammer nose on my model 65. I broke mine also, too much dryfiring I suspect. It is held in by a rivet not a roll pin. I drilled one flared end of the rivet and knocked out the rivet. I obtained a new hammer nose and rivet from numrich gun parts. I flared out the rivet with a center punch of correct size backing up the other side on the anvil. I did remove the hammer from the frame to do this. It looks as good as new without much skill. Good Luck
 
That model 28 is old enough it will not have a spring loaded hammer nose. My model 65 did not have a spring loaded nose.
 
I just saw hammer mount firing pins and rivets on Ebay recently. USGI surplus it said. Thought about grabbing one of each just to have.
 
Thanks guys ,
this 28 and I have been together since I was old enough to shoot.
I defiantly am getting it fixed. After all these years I can't imagine being without it.
 
Just to be clear, the hammer noses for N frames are larger than those on K & L frames. Rivets are the same size. The hammer should be removed from the gun before installing the new nose.
 
I'm also in NC. If you're anywhere near the Charlotte area I can recommend Hyatt's. They've got a good team of gunsmiths. Just this summer I had an issue with a trigger that was chipped on the internal part of a mod. 67. They took care of it in about 2 1/2 weeks.
Hyatt Gun Shop ? Since 1959
 
Even if it doesn't have the firing pin spring, you can put a spring in the replacement. My gunsmith does that for all hammer mounted pins whether they originally had them or not.

That "gunsmith" at the gun store sounds like the "guitar tech" they have working at a lot of guitar stores.


Sgt Lumpy
 
I broke the firing pin on my m 624 , but it was over 20 years ago (gosh how time flies!) I took off my hammer and took it to Universal Gun Shop in San Diego CA. They did the work for $5.00 while I waited....less than 15 minutes.

Those where the days
 
AIN'T NO GUNSMITH! I would not let him touch any guns of mine, that's for sure!
Click to expand...

That was my first experience with him and I have another one that has done excellent work for me in the past and will call him on Monday.

I don't like to judge people so maybe he had something going on I didn't know about. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but I won't be going back to that gun store any time soon.

If you're anywhere near the Charlotte area I can recommend Hyatt's.
Click to expand...

I'm about 2 hr from there, that would be an option. I have family there and maybe I need to go visit.

Thanks for the help.
 
LE-28

Not trying to insult anyone here, but the tools needed to remove, repair and reinstall a new firing pin in a revolver hammer are BASIC tools. A hammer, a few punches, a block, and a screwdriver to disassemble the gun and remove the hammer. It is beyond my comprehension how a "Gunsmith" could NOT have these tools.

If there was something else going on he should simply state "I can not do any Smithing at this time due to personal reasons" and should have left it at that. Just my opinion of course, YMMV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
New Departure 2nd Model firing pin question
Replies
6
Views
516
mojave30cal
mojave30cal
8shot
Colt King Cobra Target 22LR Owners - Offset firing pin?
Replies
9
Views
671
madmikeb
madmikeb
F
Brand-new 327 R8 firing pin craziness
Replies
10
Views
519
MajorD
M
A
Model 53 firing pins
Replies
0
Views
313
AudieMurphy
A
L
610 light primer strikes, have installed springs and new pin, still not firing
Replies
13
Views
640
KerryS
K

Latest posts

Back
Top