When did S&W start installing hammer block safety?

bbqbob51 · Jan 20, 2014

My buddy has a nice collection of Smith and Wesson revolvers. included in his collection are one each in 22lr, .357mag and 44mag with the 8-3/8" barrels as well as a 617 and one in 22mag. I don't know the age of these but they aren't ancient, probably 1970s.
I noticed when he loads his revolvers he always leaves the chamber under the hammer empty. I told him that is unnecessary as modern revolvers have a safety block that keeps them from discharging if the hammer is struck. You need to pull the trigger to fire it. He told me it is an old habit of his and he then asked me what is classified as a "modern" revolver?
I have to admit I had no answer for him so my question is when did they start manufacturing revolvers with the hammer block?
Thanks!

murphydog · Jan 20, 2014

The current S & W hammer block style started late in WW II. Perfectly safe to load all chambers.

bbqbob51 · Jan 20, 2014

murphydog said:
The current S & W hammer block style started late in WW II. Perfectly safe to load all chambers.

Alan, That time frame is kind of what I thought. I was pretty sure they have been safe to fully load for many decades. Of course, I would hate to tell my friend to load 'em up and find out he shot himself in the foot if I was mistaken!
Thanks for the info.

Lobster Picnic · Jan 20, 2014

1943, a Victory Model was dropped on the deck of a ship and went off, killing a sailor. After that, the hammer block was added.

no5shooter · Jan 21, 2014

Gents, I'm new on this forum but not new to S&W revolvers. I've owned my share over the years and I've been into the guts of most of them. My 1937 Brazilian has a hammer block, and I believe Smith started putting hammer blocks in N-frames in the early 1930's. Don't know about the smaller frames, and I wish I could be more specific about dates, but I don't have those details.

Johnnu2 · Jan 21, 2014

hammer block safety

Would this be a safe-assumption procedure for checking: pull trigger on an empty gun and hold it back while looking at the firing pin protruding between the cylinder and the breech; then release the trigger and watch to see if the firing pin retracts back into firing pin hole in the breech block (?) If the firing pin does, indeed, retract upon releasing the trigger, my assumption is that it DOES have a hammer block safety.

Jim Watson · Jan 21, 2014

No, that describes a rebounding hammer.
I don't know the full history, but S&W Hand Ejectors had hammer blocks before WW II and the improved hammer block after the unfortunate occurrence in the Navy led to a redesign.
I do not know if there were HEs that depended entirely on the rebounding hammer. I bet somebody here does.

Skeetr57 · Jan 21, 2014

All S&W hand ejector revolvers have rebounding hammers. The rebound slide was added about 1906 which has a hammer block function. The first type of true hammer block was patented in 1914, but was added to different guns at various dates after that. Some target guns didn't get it until the mid 1920s. The early style hammer block depended on spring action to move into the blocking position, and rust or congealed grease could prevent it from functioning correctly. The current style hammer block was added in 1944 and is positive in action in both directions.

bbqbob51 · Jan 21, 2014

Thanks to all for the information.

When did S&W start installing hammer block safety?

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