629-6 frame wear due to hammer impact

[kennethdlarson]

I picked up a new 4" 629-6 a few months ago as I got bit by the bigbore bug and am really enjoying shooting some of my home-brewed 44 S&W Specials thru it. In the course of handling and firing the revolver, I've noticed that the hammer impacts the frame just below and left of the firing pin. I am just curious if others on this forum have the same experience.

My revolver:


I've done some looking around the interweb and have found others that have similar wear patterns:

this from Brian Enos forums of a 929 (with a nasty hunk taken out of the top right frame too):


this from gunsumerreports.com of a PC 629-7 "sooper dooper" hunting rig:


and this pic from 1911addicts.com of a 686 getting a trigger job:


I'm not so worried this is some sort of fatal flaw as it seems in my anecdotal interweb searching to be not uncommon. Apparently this is a "feature" of frame mounted firing pin Smiths. I am just curious to see what others on this forum have experienced. If you have any insights as to why this wear patter is to the left of center (or just plain off center either way) I'd appreciate it. Your pics are welcome too!

I look forward to the responses. This forum rocks and thanks!

 

[armorer951]

The mark on the frame in the Brian Enos image of the 929 is from someone cycling the action with the sideplate removed. The hammer has struck the edge of the exposed frame opening.

As for the other artifacts, I have seen similar, and even deeper peening marks from hammer impacts on other similar revolvers with frame mounted firing pins, and hammer noses...... particularly those that have very high round counts. That particular area of the frame is designed to withstand sustained, repeated impacts by the hammer. Deformation and some peening on the surface is both expected and inconsequential.

 

[Bosquebass]

I just took a look at my 629-6 and it has the same impact marks on the frame as yours does. Nothing to worry about IMO.
Just for grins I looked at my 64-6 with the frame mounted firing pin and the hammer has marked that frame too although the marks aren't as heavy.

 

[jaymoore]

The only way not to get such marks is to not use the revolver. And that's not good!

 

[kennethdlarson]

Thanks for all the replies. I have noticed some hammer wobble when hammer retracts as the trigger is pulled and I didn't know if that was causing the off center impacts on the frame. Maybe there is some "give" (can't think of a better term) between the hammer and the hammer stud allowing the hammer to wobble. The hammer also drags along side the left side of the frame which has caused some of the case hardened coloring to be scratched. Thanks for all the feedback.