03Fatboy
Member
Can someone tell when MIM was used on the 4506-1? Is the black trigger and hammer an indicator? I'm looking at one with serial number VYZXXXX (i think)
Thanks
Thanks
4506-1 MIM ?
- Thread starter 03Fatboy
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Dot_mdb
Member
I have a 4506 with a VDF serial number manufactured about 1995 I think. It has the blue hammer and trigger and they are not MIM.
Bill
Not true. I have two 4506-1 pistols that came with blued forged hammers and triggers before I swapped them for chromed ones.
Also, you can tell the part is MIM if it has the indentations on the sides of the hammer, and a round circular mark on the right side of the trigger.
Do you by chance have one of the early MIM hammers that are scalloped out from behind the hammer (instead of the sides)?
I believe the early MIM hammers scalloped from behind started shipping around 1992, then latter transitioning to the side scalloped hammers in the mid-1990's.
I actually think that MIM hammers may be superior to the forged stainless hammers, I have replaced a hammer with chipped hammer hooks before, and replaced another for an MIM part that provided a better trigger break than the stainless part.
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S&W has done the occasional interesting bit of parts application & substitution now and again. "Never Say Never" when it comes to something they might have done for a special production run, or just to try out at one time or another. 
In the following picture the 2 hammers on the left are different variations of carbon steel (machined) hammers, and the 2 on the right are MIM.
Personally, I've come to prefer MIM hammers in my own 3rd gen guns. They tend to lend themselves to smoother trigger pulls in the initial DA stroke. There's also a small area in the back of the hammer (behind the throw notch) where the tail of the drawbar rubs up against the hammer in the SA trigger stroke, and which also tends to be smoother in the MIM hammers than in the machined hammers.
I like the more consistent shape & finish of the MIM trigger prongs (ears), too.
In the following picture the 2 hammers on the left are different variations of carbon steel (machined) hammers, and the 2 on the right are MIM.
Personally, I've come to prefer MIM hammers in my own 3rd gen guns. They tend to lend themselves to smoother trigger pulls in the initial DA stroke. There's also a small area in the back of the hammer (behind the throw notch) where the tail of the drawbar rubs up against the hammer in the SA trigger stroke, and which also tends to be smoother in the MIM hammers than in the machined hammers.
I like the more consistent shape & finish of the MIM trigger prongs (ears), too.
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Thanks for the post & pics Fastbolt. I too was interested in the difference btwn MIM and forged parts. I learn something everytime you post.
Regards
Regards
Yes sir, on my 1992 production model 4006 I have that exact hammer you're speaking of. The spur is also a bit shorter than the forged hammers. Oddly, it was chromed when I bought the gun and I've never been able to find another like it. My dad's 4006 had a blued hammer of the same type, which I had refinished with electroless nickel.
Fastbolt would also attribute a crisper and smoother trigger pull/break to the MIM parts, and I might actually order some to give it a try. My only concern is rusting of these parts. I've seen many of the blued hammers develop some rusting on the serrations of their spurs, both MIM and forged.
OP
03Fatboy
Member
Thanks all, I have a much better understanding in the differences now and thanks Fastbolt, the photos were very helpful.
The smoothness or roughness of the older machined hammers varied according to the sharpness of the cutters, and probably the machine operator back then.
I've seen more of them that exhibited roughness in key spots than I have those with smooth surfaces.
I've seen some that were so rough that they reminded me of shale outcroppings.
I've seen some nasty older drawbars, too. The machining and stress relieved spots of current production drawbars are pretty nicely done.
I've seen more of them that exhibited roughness in key spots than I have those with smooth surfaces.
I've seen some that were so rough that they reminded me of shale outcroppings.
I've seen some nasty older drawbars, too. The machining and stress relieved spots of current production drawbars are pretty nicely done.
