637-2 with a 642-1 hammer experiment UPDATE PICS ADDED

[Crookedcreek]

How timely, these last two posts (#19 and #20)!
The other day I was at my LGS/Pawn and saw in a case (in a hurry so didn't ask about it) a J- frame (likely a 637) that had an open front trigger guard. I called yesterday and asked. The story goes...The previous owner, they sold it to, dropped it and bent the trigger guard. When trying to straighten it, it broke. They said they could try to weld it, but found the alloy used (Scandium or Alum.?) could not be welded. So, they 'salvaged' the gun by cutting the guard. The owner traded it in. I got to thinking that if I could get it at the right price (I already have a 637-2 Airweight), it could be a fun project gun to convert to a 'mini Fitz Special', similar to post #19 above. I could either bob the hammer or replace it with one of the options being discussed here, Several of the Altamont grips could fit the bill on the conversion...wood or 'aged ivory' would look 'neat'. Any opinions?
BTW, I have many other options for 'safe carry' if that is a 'thought negative' for the conversion, I just thought it as a fun project to see how I could make it look....if 'The Price Is Right'!

 

[Crookedcreek]

Its an ugly duckling Fitz, pitted and parked but it has a really great trigger and double action.

Are you using the term 'Fitz' generically, or is it a 'true Fitz'? If the real thing, ugly or not, that is a very valuable piece of history. Also, the S&W versions are much fewer (rare) than the Colts.
I'm sure you already know the history, but others may not. Safety was not the same consideration for it's purposes back then as it is in todays world. See This and This

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

It's most definitely a faux Fitz. Sorry for any confusion,

 

[Law-dog]

To me, snagging while carrying isn't the issue. With the right holster, any gun will never catch on your clothing. The real problem is snagging during the draw. That can stop the draw dead in it's tracks right when you need your gun the most. Once the gun comes out of the holster, there is no end of things it can catch on.

There are those who say "Just put your thumb over the hammer spur when you draw. That's something I don't want to have to remember and execute under high stress. It's the KISS principle. Everyone else is free to have their opinion, and do as they please. This is just one person's thoughts on the subject.

I carried concealed and in pockets as an investigator and officer for decades, J frames and K frames. Long term undercover and personal carry about 50 years now and I have no problem with snagging. It is 100% mental. Many people cannot walk and chew gun at the same time, maybe they need and internal hammer.

I swapped to bobbed hammer on the model 36 and I bought a model 640 that I carried for years, the 640 was a bad choice. Every real deal requires only one hand on the gun at least part of the time, if you come under fire and need to respond to a 50 yard shot, that 640 in your hand is worthless, you cannot fire a DA only 357 with one hand very fast. With a SA action, you can make long shots with the one hand, manually recocking as needed.

I had the same problem with the bobbed hammer model36, took that thing off and have it in a parts box. If you knew you would bener need to shoot more that say 10 feet, the bobbed and internal hammer works fine, but if you need your fine motor stills to shoot at distance, you need that single action capability. Try one hand fire both DA and SA, the SA is more accurate, if your life depends on it....go with having both on the gun.

As to the hammer slowing the draw, show me one documented case of a citizen who lost a gunfight type attack because the hammer on his gun got caught on clothing. Does not happen because people are too unaware anyway, or they are aware they are in a risk zone and already have the gun out.

 

[Jim Watson]

That is what Chic Gaylord said about 65 years ago about bobbed hammers and sawn barrels, "They are preparing for an affair of honor in a telephone booth." His recommendation for CCW was a Police Positive Special .38 with 3" barrel and rounded butt; a 3" Chiefs Special if you just must Smith.

 

[Crookedcreek]

My perspective could be all wrong, but it seems two totally different 'requirements' are being discussed that puts the 'apple and oranges' in play. One is for LEO the other for the armed citizen.
Not arguing any of the points made, but while a LEO may 'need' to make accurate 50 yards shots occasionally, an armed citizen doing so with the claim of 'self defense' had better have a pretty darn good lawyer on retainer or 'speed dial'....and remember 50% of the 'Dream Team' lawyers are dead and the other 50% are too old to make it to the court house!

 

[rockquarry]

My perspective could be all wrong, but it seems two totally different 'requirements' are being discussed that puts the 'apple and oranges' in play. One is for LEO the other for the armed citizen.
Not arguing any of the points made, but while a LEO may 'need' to make accurate 50 yards shots occasionally, an armed citezen doing so with the claim of 'self defense' had better have a pretty darn good lawyer on retainer or 'speed dial'....and remember 50% of the 'Dream Team' lawyers are dead and the other 50% are too old to make it to the court house!

Yes. law enforcement and civilian concealed carry are very different with different requirements. While there are a few similarities, there are far more dissimilarities. The civilian concealed carry hobbyist, fueled by Internet/You Dupe gunfighters and wholly consumed with make-believe "what if" situations, has a propensity for meandering into matters that are almost exclusively law enforcement.

As for fifty yard shooting, there is no critical distance measurement and limitation for self-defense, contrary to the the beliefs of many. Law enforcement and civilians have something in common on this one.

 

[Crookedcreek]

Yes. law enforcement and civilian concealed carry are very different with different requirements. While there are a few similarities, there are far more dissimilarities. The civilian concealed carry hobbyist, fueled by Internet/You Dupe gunfighters and wholly consumed with make-believe "what if" situations, has a propensity for meandering into matters that are almost exclusively law enforcement.

As for fifty yard shooting, there is no critical distance measurement and limitation for self-defense, contrary to the the beliefs of many. Law enforcement and civilians have something in common on this one.

Well, I try to 'weigh' things I see online with care, and tend to ask for a liittle salt before consuming. That said, I'm not so sure most prosecutors and the 12 sitting in the chairs on the side of the room would readily buy into 150 feet presenting an immediate threat(?), but I could be wrong...don't 'plan' to put myself in such a position of 'explaining. See This