44 Double Action 1884

[shown50]

Sounds like they could well be factory since they match the thickness of hard rubber stocks. I assume that there is no indication of a pencil number on the inside of the right stock?

No serial number sadly. I posted some pictures in the second post of the backs. There’s a 4 names etched into the backs, Leon Potts, C. Edwards, then Leon Potts again.Oa the right panel is the name A James and initials ALJ.

One reason I think they might be distributor added is that the locating pin holes have what looks like pencil marks where they were marked to be drilled. I wouldn’t think the factory would leave what’s left of the pencil on there but this is the first pre-1898 large set of MOP I’ve handled.

 

[shown50]

shown50, since you are now a member of the S&WCA, you can log into the SWCA forum. In the RESOURCES pages there, you will find a thread chart that gives the screws, studs and parameters for all S&W handguns from 1909 and before.


WRT the main spring, once you get the broken one and assuming you have all the pieces, you might want to call Jack First as they sometimes will make replica parts if they have an original part to work from.

I’ll have to look into that! I haven’t used that forum yet but that would be invaluable. I’ve been researching how to make a mainspring and I think that’s the route I’m going to go. There’s basically no way I’ll be able to find a replacement and I’ve got plenty of time to file and try to make one from scratch.

 

[raljr1]

Chris Hirsch in Texas might be able to make one for you

 

[shown50]

Chris Hirsch in Texas might be able to make one for you

He was one of my first emails and he said that he just has #3 American mainsprings. I didn’t ask him about making one. I have some files and I figured for a couple hundred dollars I could get the equipment to temper the mainsprin. That way I could make a couple for myself and for whoever else needs one. I’ve never made one before but it seems pretty straightforward.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Strain Screw:
Diameter: .170"
Pitch: 36 TPI

I measured the strain screw on my NM#3 and it is very close to
the screw used on the #3 DA (just a little longer). The thread
diameter is .165" on mine ( Chicoine's book GUNSMITHING
Gun Of The OLD WEST lists the thread diameter as .166" and
the un-threaded shank as .170" (but I've found some specs are
not correct in this book so take it with a grain of salt). This
screw should not give a competent Gunsmith any trouble in
making. A #8 - 36 thread is .164" in diameter and an adjustable
"split" die would be able to cut this thread (an #8 - 36 die is a
standard size and not expensive).

This screw is a slotted fillister head (sometimes called a
"cheese head") with a diameter of .236 and the height of
the head is .090". The slot is .030" wide and .060" deep.
the over-all length is 1.065" (including the head).


Cheers!
Webb