I carry a 36 in an older Bianchi IWB holster that protects clothing from catching on the spur when drawn. The 36's a bit too heavy for pants pocket carry, although I do have a pocket holster for it. I've never had a snag drawing it. I've tried the 442 & 642 but the recoil is a bit more than I want to mess with, so I stick with the 36. Even then, depending on the load, it can be a handful. I've though about having the spur cut. May end up getting a 640, but, for now, I'm happy with it as is.
Anyone carry a J Frame with a bobbed hammer?
- Thread starter aterry33
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aterry33
Member
I just bought a forged, case colored S&W factory bobbed hammer for $40. I'll stick this in my 36 so I don't have to cut down the old forged hammer... Worth it!
Years ago I had the hammer bobbed on my Model 36. The lighter hammer fall gave chancey primer ignition. So I went to a heavier hammer spring. After you bob the hammer, try your gun with some stiff primers like CCIs before you use it for serious social purposes.
+1 the extra weight makes it easier to shoot, and it still works fine in a pocket holster.
I'd leave the 36 alone and buy a 38/638 or get a 442 to assist your 642, and I question why alter a nice gun to lose its value when you could just buy a gun for your intended purpose(s)? If you pay for the bobbing + new springs + the lost value to your gun = the price of a new gun, but it's your gun and your choice good luck.
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flop-shank
US Veteran
Sometimes it makes sense buying a different gun than one wants and bobbing the hammer. I wanted a 340 and lucked into a used 360. I wasn't interested in it holding it's value. I bought it as a weapon that will see years of use, not an investment.
Normally a bobbed hammer leads to greater ignition reliability. That's still good advice though, anytime a weapon is modified it should be thoroughly test fired.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I never could figure why they put a hammer spur on a J frame snub! Mine was always carried in my pocket. If I carry in a belt holster it wont be a snub to start with. I carried this model 60 from 1969 to 2003 untill it got stolen along with my truck. Then I replaced it with a old model 40.
If you are going to carry it in a pocket, then i would have the hammer bobbed.
However most holsters with a strap or thumb break secure the gun using the hammer.
One thing you could do is have a second hammer fitted.
I used a Mod 58 for a while. When I carried it in the Safariland upside down holster [made for a 4" K frame, but the 58 fit good] I used it with the bobbed hammer.
When I carried it in a thumb break I changed to the regular hammer.
However most holsters with a strap or thumb break secure the gun using the hammer.
One thing you could do is have a second hammer fitted.
I used a Mod 58 for a while. When I carried it in the Safariland upside down holster [made for a 4" K frame, but the 58 fit good] I used it with the bobbed hammer.
When I carried it in a thumb break I changed to the regular hammer.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
NE450, your right. The 1st thing I did was buy a 36 hammer to alter saveing the original in case I later wanted to sell the gun. However mine was stolen so that idea didnt work out.
My theory is if you are going to carry a snub in a holster, you can just as easy carry a 3" or 4" that way, so a snubs home is in your pocket to begin with, at least for me. It follows that when in your pocket the spur could hang the gun up and get you killed! And if not that, it tears up your pocket. Some manufactor is missing a big bet. The old merlins and halberts had a dandy folding hammer spur on some models a 130 years ago! If somebody would make them today they would make a mint!
My theory is if you are going to carry a snub in a holster, you can just as easy carry a 3" or 4" that way, so a snubs home is in your pocket to begin with, at least for me. It follows that when in your pocket the spur could hang the gun up and get you killed! And if not that, it tears up your pocket. Some manufactor is missing a big bet. The old merlins and halberts had a dandy folding hammer spur on some models a 130 years ago! If somebody would make them today they would make a mint!
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