Model 15-2 w/ 2 piece bolt

[Arquebus357]

This is the only S&W I have worked on that has the 2 piece bolt. Maybe because it's the oldest, I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to operate as smoothly as models with the one piece bolt. Can the 2 piece bolt be directly replaced with a K frame 1 piece bolt ?

Thanks

[mmande]

I have a 14-2 that shipped Nov. 1966 with a two piece bolt. I had never seen that before. It must have been a short lived way of doing it.
I would think a one piece bolt would work just fine.
Mike

Edit to add;
These are definitely meant to be a two piece construction. They are not broken, one piece bolts. I am too lazy to tear mine apart to show a picture, sorry.

[linde]

Originally Posted by Arquebus357

This is the only S&W I have worked on that has the 2 piece bolt. Maybe because it's the oldest, I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to operate as smoothly as models with the one piece bolt. Can the 2 piece bolt be directly replaced with a K frame 1 piece bolt ?

Thanks

I would suspect a broken cylinder bolt . . . see post #12 in this previous thread for an example:

Broken "Bolt", how can that be?

Russ

[armorer951]

You can replace it with the one piece (newer) style bolt, but some fitting may be required. I've only run in to one or two of the ones with the detached pin over the years.....if that's what you are referring to.

I have a bin of extra K series bolts. If you are here in the US, I can send you a couple to try as a replacement if you are capable of doing the minor fitting that may be required.

[linde]

Originally Posted by armorer951

You can replace it with the one piece (newer) style bolt, but some fitting may be required. I've only run in to one or two of the ones with the detached pin over the years.....if that's what you are referring to . . .

The only 2-piece bolt (i.e. manufactured with a detached pin) that I've encountered was a December 1966 shipped Model 36-1 Chief Special J-frame . . . see pictures below.

The only other 2-piece bolts I'm aware of were both K-frames and were clearly fractured. Please elaborate on your armorer experience.

The key for the OP is a careful examination of the surface where the two pieces separated . . . and please share pictures.

Russ

[linde]

Originally Posted by mmande

I have a 14-2 that shipped Nov. 1966 with a two piece bolt. I had never seen that before. It must have been a short lived way of doing it.
I would think a one piece bolt would work just fine.
Mike

Edit to add;
These are definitely meant to be a two piece construction. They are not broken, one piece bolts. I am too lazy to tear mine apart to show a picture, sorry.

Mike,

Since your 14-2 and my 36-1 shipped within a month of each other (Nov/Dec 1966), I tend to agree with you that it must have been a short-lived idea. I disassembled my 15-2 that shipped in May 1966 and it was the more typical one piece bolt.

Russ

[armorer951]

The two I have seen over the past 40+ years were both in department Model 10's as I remember....probably 50's or 60's era guns. The pin and body showed no signs they were ever joined at the front of the front leg. They both had the pin with a small boss at the end like the one in the photo. Seemed to function fine.

I replaced one of them with the "normal" locking bolt that has the pin going completely through the front leg, and left the other one as is....it was an officer owned gun, and had been retired from service.

[Hondo44]

Seems simple enough to confirm if a gun has the two piece bolt.

Open the cyl, hold the thumb latch to the rear, and see if the bolt shakes back and forth. Or point muzzle down, push the bolt in, and see if it reacts to gravity.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

I learned something today!

[Arquebus357]

Just to add information.. I took my 15-2 apart to photograph the 2 piece bolt.