1971 15-3 with bent frame pin

[ret1resoon]

I have a used 1971 15-3 that is a great shooter bought used. Noticed the trigger rebound was getting a little sticky so off comes side plate. Should have known something was amiss because all the screws and thumb piece nut were damaged on the outside.

What I found was a bent frame pin holding the trigger slide and return spring such that the return spring rides up the pin and gets stuck.

Thoughts on very gently tapping the pin back into a 90 degree upright position? Don't want to snap off the pin so I have to get something brazed or welded back on.

 

[robertrwalsh]

If I was to GUESS I would say get a rod, drill it out for the exact diameter of the pin, and push on that to straighten it. That is, however, just a guess. I never actually tried it because I never needed to. I have no idea how much it would cost to have the old one removed and a new one installed.

 

[Pine_Worker]

You might want to get a copy of Jerry Kuhnhausen’s S&W Revolver Shop Manual. A lot of good info there. If you do want to try bending, I would use a brass rod and hammer with light taps. Frame mounted in a heavy vice. Tap then try, tap then try. Go slow. Check for pin looseness often. Good luck. Just my opinion. No guarantee. Also, be sure to check for side plate fitment.

 

[GerSan69]

A good gunsmith is your best friend right now.
Keep in mind, if you break it off, you can't just weld in another. Those pins are threaded into the frame. Fixable, yes, but the skill level to replace is up there between excellent and awesome.
Please, don't turn a routine job into a major overhaul. Get a pro to do it.

 

[ret1resoon]

Thanks for the input. One of those tasks you know you should let be done by a pro.

Is the pin threaded into the frame or a machined feature? If machined it's probably work hardened and brittle (perhaps). If simply threaded I should be able to find a replacement somewhere? Nothing at Numrich that I could find though.

 

[ret1resoon]

Thanks. Just re-read your post about pin being threaded into frame. I can look for a replacement pin somewhere as I have the correct tool on the way from Brownells (wish the original owner would have had one and the thing would not have been bent).

Checked Numrich - nothing. Looks like factory only?

 

[StrawHat]

Numrich only has parts you don’t need. Check with Jack First. He is knowledgeable AND has parts.

Kevin

 

[GerSan69]

That's a VERY uncommon part. It goes all the way thru the frame. As you probably noticed, it's nearly impossible to see the other side of it on the outside of the frame. You must have more experience with this sort of job than you're saying, so I recommend at least getting a copy of Mr. Kuhnhausen's book or any gunsmithing guide that goes into depth about this task. Best of luck, and if you do end up replacing it yourself, would you mind posting photos of what you needed to do? It would draw a lot of interest!
Good luck!

 

[captaint]

I'm with GerSan69 on this one.. We don't pay craftsmen necessarily for the actual labor. We pay them for knowing WHAT and HOW to do it..

 

[Grayfox]

I had this happen to me about 20 years ago. Bought a used Model 19-5. Trigger was awesome, but soon began experiencing light strikes.
I took the side plate off and found the previous owner had installed an aftermarket spring kit and when putting it back together, bent the rebound stud badly. BTW: I blame the aftermarket springs for the light strikes.
I tried to straighten it, but it snapped off almost as soon as I touched it.
Called S&W, they said they could fix it one of two ways. First was to simply replace the pin, but it would stick out of the frame slightly. Second was to properly replace the pin, polish it even with the frame, but that would require re-blueing the gun.
The gun had some finish wear anyway, so I went with option two.
It took about three months. But what I got back was like a brand new gun. S&W went through the entire gun and even set the barrel back and recut the forcing cone due to erosion at no extra cost.
IIRC the price was about $250. But bear in mind that this was many years ago. I'm not even sure if S&W will do this work any more.

 

[kbm6893]

A good gunsmith is your best friend right now.
Keep in mind, if you break it off, you can't just weld in another. Those pins are threaded into the frame. Fixable, yes, but the skill level to replace is up there between excellent and awesome.
Please, don't turn a routine job into a major overhaul. Get a pro to do it.

I bent that pin once using an improper tool to get the rebound slide out. Gunsmith used a punch and a tiny hammer and tapped it back straight. Took him 6 seconds.

 

[GerSan69]

I bent that pin once using an improper tool to get the rebound slide out. Gunsmith used a punch and a tiny hammer and tapped it back straight. Took him 6 seconds.

Great! But you went to a gunsmith...it's on him if he broke the pin.

 

[kbm6893]

Great! But you went to a gunsmith...it's on him if he broke the pin.

Which is what I’m telling him to do. Go to a gunsmith who can easily fix it rather than the owner trying and screwing it up.

 

[ret1resoon]

Never going to believe this but Jack First had a part in stock. Ordered a few in case of problems. Grip covers outward edge of slide stud so even if it does not fit perfectly flush it will not be seen. I'll see whether stud is a press fit or threaded and deal with the removal of the old stud accordingly. This just might work...

 

[ret1resoon]

Never going to believe this but Jack First had a part in stock. Ordered a few in case of problems. Grip covers outward edge of slide stud so even if it does not fit perfectly flush it will not be seen. I'll see whether stud is a press fit or threaded and deal with the removal of the old stud accordingly. This just might work..

 

[H Richard]

Having received parts fro Jack First before, you may need to polish and blue the external part before attempting to fit it in, it will probably need it.