38 Single Action / Double Action Parts

[nonmilagno]

Can anyone tell me which parts interchange between Top Break 38 Single Action and 38 Double Action? Sights, barrel latch, grips, barrels etc.?
Thanks.

 

[opoefc]

Smith & Wesson was very good about using the same parts as often as possible in their revolvers, especially sights, screws, barrels, cylinders and springs. You can compare the parts catalogs issued during the period these guns were being manufactured and you will notice that the same diagram or parts drawing is used for different model's parts. Having said that, the easiest way to tell is to disassemble one of each model and compare and swap the parts. You will soon learn which will work and which ones will not. Good luck, Ed.

 

[glowe]

The butt frames from 38 SA to the Model 1903 were all designed and forged using the same dimensions. That means the 38 SA, Model of 1891, 38 Double Action, 38 Perfected, and Model 1903 32L revolvers used the same shaped stocks. The problem almost always encountered is that one set of stocks will hardly ever fit any other gun, because each frame was hand finished and every set of stocks were then hand fitted to the frame. It was not until the mid-1970s that the factory decided that stocks no longer had to be hand fitted to the butt frames.