K22 Thunb piece

Alex JG · Jun 27, 2023

The thumb piece on my Model 17, K22 (1968) will not slide forward to release the cylinder. I have contacted S&W customer service, 1968 right at their cutoff date and they won't accept the revolver to attempt repair. Can anyone explain what may be required for repair and who is best qualified to handle repair? I have owned the gun for a few years and have recently been shooting it every month or so (50 rounds per shoot) without incident. I live in western PA about 20 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. S&W suggested Nelson Ford in Arizona. Does anyone have first-hand experience with Mr. Ford?

Narragansett · Jun 27, 2023

Alex JG said:
The thumb piece on my K22 (1968) will not slide forward to release the cylinder. I have contacted S&W customer service, 1968 right at their cutoff date and they won't accept the revolver to attempt repair. Can anyone explain what may be required for repair and who is best qualified to handle repair?

Welcome to the forum!

By K22, do you mean a Model 17-3? I am sure that you will get lots of helpful suggestions. When looking for a gunsmith, where do you live? Has the gun been fired a lot? This just start happening? Some history please, and pics always helpful.

Retired W4 · Jun 27, 2023

I wanted to say send it to me and I'll fix it. Kidding of course. You didn't say where you live. There is at least one competent gun smith in the Atlanta area. I recommend posting in the Smithing section of this forum. Lots of great advice there.

Like Pete said 2 minutes ago.

Alex JG · Jun 27, 2023

Model 17, I don't remember the suffix and can't open to check. I have owned the gun for a few years and recently been shooting it every month or so (50 rounds per shoot) without incident. I live in Western PA, a few miles south of Pittsburgh.

austintexas · Jun 27, 2023

unlock

Check the latch under the barrel, If the pin and spring get crudded up it might not move allowing the the thumb latch to move. Make sure the hammer is all the way forward when you try to open the cylinder. The latch blocks the hammer when the cylinder is open and the pin under the barrel supports the ejector rod when the cylinder is closed
SWCA 892

toad67 · Jun 27, 2023

Sounds like it could be a loose ejector rod. Try putting something on the knurled end, and then pull the hammer partially back and try tightening the cylinder up a bit.

Narragansett · Jun 27, 2023

toad67 said:
Sounds like it could be a loose ejector rod. Try putting something on the knurled end, and then pull the hammer back and try tightening the cylinder up a bit.

I believe the thread on the ejector rod is a left hand thread

Speedo2 · Jun 27, 2023

I'd try Aces' in Washington PA. One of the best LGS's around; if they can't fix it, they'll know who can. -S2

Walter Rego · Jun 27, 2023

On two occasions I have had the thumbpiece on an S&W revolver seem to be locked up and unable to be pushed forward. Both times were not long after they had been cleaned by me. Both were old(er) guns that I had bought used.

In both cases the problem was solved by standing the gun upright and putting a few drops of penetrating oil in the pin that protrudes out of the barrel lug and also where the end of the extractor rod contacts the locking bolt. After an overnight soak the thumbpiece was freed up and worked as normal.

My theory was that cleaning the guns had dissolved some old varnished oil in the ejector rod assembly which then got sticky again and froze everything up. A complete disassembly of the cylinder assembly and extractor rod assembly and cleaning followed by some modern lube solved the problem.

Try that before you pay anyone.

VictorLouis · Jun 27, 2023

I have plenty of personal experience with Nelson Ford. Smith, Ruger, and Colt revolvers, Marlin levers, and Rem shotguns. He's quite talented.

If a Smith employee recommended him, that's got to tell you something. On my last visit, just for questions, he showed me the K-frame in the first pic. The subsequent series is his rebarrel, saving the gun.

VictorLouis · Jun 27, 2023

....and the remainder, though I may have dorked-up the order a little.

paplinker · Jun 27, 2023

Speedo2 said:
I'd try Aces' in Washington PA. One of the best LGS's around; if they can't fix it, they'll know who can. -S2

I have a relative who works there. Met the head revolver guy also. If you go there they will certainly help you.

K22 Thunb piece

Alex JG

Narragansett

Retired W4

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Alex JG

austintexas

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toad67

Narragansett

Speedo2

Walter Rego

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VictorLouis

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