How much to install a hammer

robotoid · #1 11-02-2012, 10:11 PM

Well, I picked up a nice NOS K frame semi target hammer for my model 65. I had hoped...but it turned out it is NOT a drop in fit part, and wouldn't work even after I switched out sears from the original hammer. How much can I expect to pay a gunsmith to fit this hammer? I only paid $35 for it, but don't want to spend a fortune on the install. But on the up side, while I had the sideplate off I polished and lubed and swapped out some springs and it has a sweet action now. Ideally, I'd like to have both hammers (original/bobbed and new semi target) fitted to the gun to be swapped out as needed. It also seemed like the hammer nose was sticking the frame hole, which doesn't seem right.

bgrafsr · #2 11-02-2012, 10:26 PM

The hammer should work, so it may be that the sear just needs to be filed a bit to make up for tolerances.

Bugs Bunny · #3 11-02-2012, 10:27 PM

I would lay them side by side be certain you had the proper hammer for a K frame.. I am no ace S&W smith and manage to get the hammers fitted quite nicely, I would think avg Joe like me could do it most could, swapped out at least 2 dozen N & L frame hammers with no hitches.

Good Luck with that.

robotoid · #4 11-02-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugs Bunny

I would lay them side by side be certain you had the proper hammer for a K frame.. I am no ace S&W smith and manage to get the hammers fitted quite nicely, I would think avg Joe like me could do it most could, swapped out at least 2 dozen N & L frame hammers with no hitches.

Good Luck with that.

I must be doing something wrong. I had them side by side, and they are the same other than the sear in the new one is smidge longer than the original, that's why I thought swapping the sears would make it run. The few times I was able to get a full double action pull and hammer fall, the hammer nose stuck in its hole and I had to tap the hammer spur with a rubber handle to get it to pop out. I had it apart and together probably six times tonight with no success (other than putting it back as original, sans swapped springs).

hotrod150 · #5 11-03-2012, 12:42 PM

I recently bought a wide "combat" trigger & replacement hammer for my vintage model 60. I wanted a bobbed hammer & smooth trigger (to match my vintage model 36), but since the gun was pretty pristine I didn't want to grind on the original parts. Even though they supposedly came from the same gun, I found that I needed a 15# rebound spring for the combat trigger to fully return when installed with this new hammer, as opposed to a 13 or 14# spring being OK with the old trigger. Comparing the parts, everything looks the same- same lengths, same angles, same smooth surface. Couldn't figure out why- I guss that's why the good gunsmiths get the big money.

judge · #6 11-03-2012, 08:04 PM

Bottom line to swap out a hammer, $20 to 25 dollars. This assumes all parts are in normal condition. Not too difficult at all.

SG-688 · #7 11-03-2012, 08:28 PM

Only a tinkerer but my experience has been that sometimes everything drops in and sometimes nothing I try, with several different hammers - and triggers - will work for one reason or another.

That's the reason S&W fitters were the cream of the employees -- and why closer tolerance MIM lockwork is used now.

robotoid · #8 11-03-2012, 10:59 PM

Being the cheapo I am and not wanting to have to pay to have this done, I revisted it again tonight with SUCCESS!!!! I could not get the new hammers double action sear to fit/function, so I just took the one from the original hammer and used it. I also had to sand and polish the hammer nose to get it to stop sticking in the hole.