Specifically, will a target hammer from a K-frame work in an L-frame? I thought they did, but want to make sure. Thanks!

The hammers are different size and will not interchange

They will interchange in some cases. If you look in S&W's revolver parts list PDF you'll see that hammer #293660000 is listed for the M10, M65, M66, M67, M386, M586, M686, M696, M617, and many others.

I suspect that this particular hammer is common to all of the models that feature a frame mounted firing pin. Unfortunately, the parts listing does not list revision compatability, so that's only an assumption. BTW, under revision all the different models that list this hammer has the revision marked as 0. Another assumption here, that revision 0 is the level for the hammer, NOT the gun it's used on.

One of these days I plan on pulling the hammer from my 617 and trying it in my 620 just to confirm it works. However, since Brownell's doesn't seem to carry this particular part number I not in any great hurry to do that.

BTW, anyone with a 6 inch, frame mounted firing pin, 686 equipped with the .500 target hammer, please post the dash number of your gun. I've got an itch to set my 620 up with the wide hammer and .400 smooth trigger so it matches my 610 and the way that Brownell's is set up knowing that dash numer is the only way to be sure I get the correct hammer and trigger.

Steve - I should have asked what Era K and L frame you are talking about. The older K&L frame hammers are different.

I wouldn't have had an answer. I've operated under the assumption (for years) that they were the same hammer across the board. Thanks for edumucating me, everyone!

Gee I guessed I goofed up when I put a case hardened hammer from a K frame into my 686-1. It was the hammer mounted firing pin.
I don't know if these are different size than frame mounted firing pins.

By the way it worked fine.

John

MIM K- and L-frame hammers are the same part. Forged (hammer-mounted firing pin) K-frame hammers are different from L-frame hammers.

K/L-frame hammers will not interchange with N-frame hammers (MIM or forged).

There is also a difference between forged K-frame rimfire hammers (frame-mounted firing pin) and forged K-frame centerfire hammers (hammer-mounted firing pin).

Wow - tough crowd here. In my second post, I corrected my silly generalized statement I made in my first post.
Now in my third (which should have been my first and only post), I'll back up my statement with pictures.

Shown are three hammers from Models 10, 586, and 27 - from left to right K, L, N respectively.
As you can see in the pictures, these hammers are different sizes and not interchangeable.
*Note* - I'm sure as times progressed at S&W, they made parts that would interchange but these earlier examples will not.

Funny how my K frame hammer worked on my 686!?

John - could I ask a favor? Can you please post a picture of the internals of your 686-1 with the sideplate off?
Thanks in advance!

this is a rookie question, but you folks seem to know what is going on. Just bought a used 10-7, (k frame- from your description?) the firing pin has 1-2mm of play (north to south/ up and down). Is that about right? I've fired 24 rounds- no problems, just want to make sure the gun is right. thanks for any help anyone can offer.

hammer nose is suppose to move up and down.........you are good!

I sure would, except I sold it a couple of months ago. A guy couldn't live without it with those color case colored hammer and trigger. And I couldn't live without my, new to me, 627 model of 1989. Now that is a sweet gun!

If I could find another one to borrow and drop the parts in I could do it. The triggers on a N frame are the same as K & L too.

Now that you have sparked my interest here a little. I have another mystery her that has me puzzled.
A friend of mine has two model 64's. I don't know the dash numbers. Anyway one frame is longer than the other. Have you ever heard of anything like that? When they are layed back to back, the front of the frame being even the length of the frame is longer at the hammer end! He swears that are both 64's.

John

Found pic of the guns! Have any of you ever seen this?

Attached Images

IMG_5338.jpg (105.2 KB, 129 views)

VM- thanks a million!- happy hunting!

I contacted the guy I sold the gun to and possibly can get a pic of the insides this week.

John

I took this awhile back 686 no dash.


Bruce

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Lee M
I took this awhile back 686 no dash.
Bruce


Thanks Bruce - your picture shows that it is indeed a L frame hammer. A {K} frame hammer just doesn't have the height needed to work in a L frame gun.

Here's a picture of a K frame hammer resting on top of the L frame hammer in my 686.

jspick, I believe the difference in the frames is due to one having the frame mounted firing pin and the other using a hammer nose. In your picture the lower gun has the frame mounted pin, which needs a little more frame to house it.
I have a question about your statement that you placed a K frame hammer, w/hammer nose, in an L frame and it worked. Did you take the hammer out of a K frame and place it in the L frame, or did you get what you thought was a K frame hammer from some other source?

Thanks,
KAC

Having you guys post your comments here has got me to thinking.

My hammer was bought from a very good source on this forum. I ordered a "K" frame hammer and then placed it in the L frame. So did I take a KNOWN K frame hammer and put it directly into an L frame? The answer is No. I Assumed that I got what I ordered. I also asked this question on this forum and got my info from whomever that told me that the K & L hammers are the same.

So what I got was a hammer for a 586 then? Please reply as I am wanting to know. Did 586's have color case hardened hammers? I never had a 586. I am mostly a stainless guy when it comes to handguns.

This is one of the reasons I am here as I can learn soooooo much that I didn't know was even possible.

So if S&W lengthened the frames for the frame mounted firing pins does that not changed the frame size and changed the demensions and therefore shouldn't S&W redesinate the frame name??

John

Bingo!

Yes (although 581's had case hardened hammers too!)

Yes

John - my picture with the three hammers;
middle one is a 586, L frame, case hardened

It is easy to mix them up when you pick only one up at a time, the way I tell a L from a K is the nose is shorter on the L frame.

OK, you guys are very nice to a guy who thought he knew what he was doing!!!! But I got the the info from this forum so I thought it was Also correct. But the proof is in the pudding, (pictures).

Now I HAVE to get that old 686 of mine back and open it up and compare it to a K Frame.

John

OK let's solve mystery ,to me, #2.

I posted a picture of the two model 64's with different frame sizes. The answer was the the frame mounted firing pin caused a need for extra frame length. I just compared my 66-2 and my 617. Exactly the same frame demensions.

Explain that to me. Why are mine the same and my friends different.
I'm on a learning roll here. Don't stop now! ha ha

John

You remember the different in the hammer lenght????? They made up the lenght in the frame so the same hammer could be used.

Here's another easy way

This has been a fantastic thread. Thank you to all who have contributed!

OK, I went and checked and I have 1 L frame hammer and 2 K frame hammers now in spare parts.
At this point I am going to forget about looking at my 686 that I sold. There is no need to! The proof is in the pudding.

This has been a real eye opener for me. I was REAL lucky when I bought that hammer for my 686 as I didn't KNOW what I was buying. AS I really believe that the seller was on the up & up with me I would assume he didn't know either.

This has been a great thread with great pictures that actually show the differences.
Thanks to all you great contributors who have educated me further. And you did it so well over the internet. Thanks, John