High Speed Hammer

DWalt · Dec 9, 2014

In replying to a previous posting, I mentioned the post-1947 adoption of the short action and high speed hammer on the M&P revolver. I've never thought too deeply on the subject, but I assume that the principal purpose of the change was to shorten the lock time. I wonder if there is actual lock time measurement data available to quantify how much reduction resulted vs. the long action? And also, did any significant improvement in grouping performance materialize? I have to assume that S&W calculated that the change was beneficial, else they would not have made it, but that's not always a good assumption.

Hondo44 · Dec 9, 2014

I have photos that used to be at this link but it no longer works or has been deleted:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/pace40/10-what-s-difference.html
I can e-mail to you though.

They show a dial indicator reading of 1.033" for the long throw and .812" for the short throw. Measurements taken from tip of hammer face and the point in the hammer channel where the tip of the hammer face comes to rest.

05CarbonDRZ · Dec 9, 2014

I have a pre model 25 that has been converted to SAO with a short action conversion.It is by far my most accurate Gun for what its worth.

dangt · Dec 9, 2014

Isn't it "Speed" hammer, not "High Speed" hammer?

How could a long action have a shorter (duration) lock time than a short action unless the hammer weighed significantly less?

JP@AK · Dec 9, 2014

dangt said:
Isn't it "Speed" hammer, not "High Speed" hammer?

On the top of the postwar gold boxes, it says "S&W HIGH-SPEED HAMMER." So, I guess that is what they called it. Note the hyphenation.

DWalt · Dec 9, 2014

It was advertised by S&W as the High-Speed Hammer, and printed that way on the boxes, but over the years the "High" has fallen into disuse.

k22fan · Dec 10, 2014

Applying my own little pea brain to the question I don’t see any reason for group improvement other than making it slightly easier to reduce human error. In theory that would help the most offhand and do the least good out of a ransom rest. It’s some what like the theory that’s in vogue among bullseye shooters: shorter barrels = shorter barrel time = the barrel doesn’t drift as far off target before the bullet leaves. So many of them use optics that a longer barrel’s longer sight radius isn’t mentioned much anymore. FWIW I prefer the longer action. What was cut out was the little bit of hammer rotation after cylinder lock up. Most all long actions luck up before the hammer falls DA. Six shot short actions are border line. Some do, some don’t. I’m not convinced the short action’s quicker lock time does me any good. Some one who thinks they are going to yank the trigger the instant their aim is perfect rather than let the pistol float over the target while the shot is squeezed off may see it differently.

Again this is just my thoughts, but I doubt S&W intended to name the hammer spur shape “high-speed.” It looks to be just another way they advertised the faster lock time.

Hondo44 · Dec 10, 2014

k22fan said:
Again this is just my thoughts, but I doubt S&W intended to name the hammer spur shape “high-speed.” It looks to be just another way they advertised the faster lock time.

I think your right, the new shape was just coincidental with the short action. Both K & N frame hammers changed shape coincidental with the short action but the N frame hammers didn't look like K frame hammers.

The short throw K frame hammer, official name used in catalogs, "high speed hammer” in narrow width (.265”) on fixed sight guns and wide spur (.375”)on target guns until the mid 50s. Nicknamed the "fish hook" by collectors:

Non-target N frame hammer:

High Speed Hammer

DWalt

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