Cylinder Hand and Stop

Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Messages
5
Reaction score
4
Location
Appalachia
Someone, please, correct me where and if I am wrong about the following. I am viewing Model 19s and 27s.
From what I can determine, the hand part itself has no role in preventing the cylinder from rotating further at lock-up. Whether CW or CCW, it is the cylinder stop that prevents further rotation.

When wiggling the cylinder at lock-up (trigger back and hammer down), the halt is solely a function of either side of the stop. It is the stop one feels when attempting to move the cylinder at this point in the cycle; and never the hand.
I also see the hand has a bevel on it that corresponds with a like cut on the inner-bottom of each lug where the hand makes first contact. So, I assume a competition hand that has no bevel, but a straight edge across the entire width of the hand, would need a mirror cut across the lugs in order to re-establish correct timing.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 
Register to hide this ad
You're wrong. You asked!

In a properly functioning S&W revolver the final locking is between the left side of the cylinder stop and the inside of the hand against the side of the ratchet lug corresponding to the charge hole behind the barrel. If the cylinder carries up on a charge hole this is correct.

If the cylinder fails to carry up on a particular charge hole by the time the trigger is fully back then your assumption is correct. If this occurs the revolver is not functioning properly then.
 
Given the hand's position, I don't understand how it provides more resistance than the cylinder stop. If the hand finishes against the side of the lug, or parallel to the lug, what part of the star snags the hand and prevents movement?

All my old Smith's are the same in that regard: try to advance the cylinder (CW) at lock-up and it is stopped hard. CCW has just a little give to it.


You're wrong. You asked!

In a properly functioning S&W revolver the final locking is between the left side of the cylinder stop and the inside of the hand against the side of the ratchet lug corresponding to the charge hole behind the barrel. If the cylinder carries up on a charge hole this is correct.

If the cylinder fails to carry up on a particular charge hole by the time the trigger is fully back then your assumption is correct. If this occurs the revolver is not functioning properly then.
 
Last edited:
I see, now.

Image2.gif

I was looking at the tip of the hand, which does the pushing, being free of obstruction and, therefore, providing no more resistance should the cylinder rotate back on it.

It is the fit of the hand in its final position - snug along side the lug - that makes for the very solid resistance to a counter movement by the cylinder.

So, the hand would be as it seemed to me: a more solid stop than the cylinder stop.
 
Back
Top