DAO Revolvers

[DonD]

I am a little chagrined to have only recently considered the question but here it is.

Are DAO revolvers that way simply because they have a hammer that is not accessible (I think that is the case) or is the internal lockwork different so that there is no single action option? Thanks, Don.

 

[P&R Fan]

The Centennial series. I.E. Models 442, 642 etc. have a totally enclosed internal hammer, regardless of the presence of a lock.

 

[scha]

If you are asking about some of the law enforcement purchased models, these came with a factory hammer that was Double Action Only. Usually they can be converted back to single/double action by replacing the hammer. Other DAO revolvers were converted to DAO after leaving the factory and these might require a new trigger as well as a new hammer. This depends on how they were converted.

I just got a Model 64-5 from J&G Sales and replacing the hammer was all I needed to do to get both single and double action.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

A DA revolver can be made a DAO by stoning off the SA notch in the hammer. This can be done regardless of whether the hammer is bobbed. If the hammer IS bobbed, it is not always a guarantee that the SA notch has been removed. If it has not, the revolver can still be cocked, although usually a bit less easily. However, a bobbed hammer which has not had the SA notch removed can sometimes be a bit tricky to uncock safely, at least when the gun is loaded.

 

[PR24]

Many large PD's like NYPD & LAPD mandated DAO. NY Bobbed the hammers on their 10's & 64's as did LA in their 67's & 15's when the gelding of their revolvers was mandated. Mostly for safety so one couldn't attempt to cock a DAO gun.....u know someone would.

As mentioned, if u happen upon a DAO J, K or L you can usually replace the hammer & restore it. Except the Centennials.

 

[Dave T]

Some of us might actually have custom guns built specifically to be DAO:



In this case my gunsmith not only cut off the hammer spur but removed the SA sear from the hammer. This 681 will only function now as a DAO.

Dave

 

[KLYDE]

A couple of weeks ago I got my M 10 back from the Factory. Purchased it last Spring and sent it in for the hammer bob and DAO conversion. They did a nice job.

 

[BobR1]

I have a factory DOA 66-2 with 3 Inch barrel.
It has a factory bobbed hammer.
It also came with a non-standard Partridge front sight, and a taller than normal "All Black" rear sight blade to go with it.

It also has Ball Loc added, only not using a Ball, it has a Rounded Detent Pin.
I asked Ron Power about the detent, and he thought this could have been S&W Custom Shop work from a long time ago.

It has a trigger job, Trigger Stop, and the cylinder spins like it is on roller bearings. One slick 66 snub.

I have never lettered it. It could have been special ordered or sent back for the work.
It did not look to have been fired much when I got it.

I shoot my revolvers a lot, and I almost never cock them anymore.

Bob

 

[kaaskop49]

Last year's 637 "Wyatt Deep Cover" PC variant is a DAO gun with the hammer spur removed and the rear of the hammer faired into the curve of the frame. There is no SA notch.

 

[WC145]

Like Dave T and Klyde, I have also had revolvers bobbed and altered to be DAO, though I also like to have a trigger stop added. I find that properly worked DA trigger pull is smooth and light enough to be my preferred set up for all around use.

 

[Jaymo]

I have a spare hammer for my 66-1.
Yep, the spare is going to get neutered and have the SA notch stoned off.
I plan on using it as a carry piece, and DAO does not bother me.
Having owned several Taurus 85CH DAO .38 snubs, I'm used to it.
My 66 has a sweet DA pull. I don't shoot much SA, except for 1911s and SA revolvers.
Now, my 586 will not get neutered. It would look funny.
Plus, it has such a sweet DA AND SA that I like to shoot it both ways.

SD, DA.
Hunting and targets, SA.
If I want to look like I actually know how to shoot, SA.

 

[BobR1]

WC145
Those are nice. I would guess the top one is a 327 Night Guard. Not sure what the lower one is.

I have both a 310NG and a 315NG. I do not think I could bob either of them. Even though they both should have been bobbed and DAO out of the box.

Bob

 

[681ismyfavorite]

I have a NY-1 model 60 that my wife prefers.... factory bobbed hammer is nicely rounded.

 

[Mister X]

I am a little chagrined to have only recently considered the question but here it is.

Are DAO revolvers that way simply because they have a hammer that is not accessible (I think that is the case) or is the internal lockwork different so that there is no single action option? Thanks, Don.[/QUOTE

To put it simply....

Yes the internals are different and it doesn't really matter if the hammer is exposed or enclosed, any revolver can be DAO(or converted to one), it 's just most DAO revolvers feature a spurless or enclosed hammer for snag free drawing. If a revolver is DAO , it cannot be cocked to single action irregardless whether the hammer is exposed or not.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I am a little chagrined to have only recently considered the question but here it is.

Are DAO revolvers that way simply because they have a hammer that is not accessible (I think that is the case) or is the internal lockwork different so that there is no single action option? Thanks, Don.

DAO revolvers are that way because they are either factory original or later modified so that they cannot be placed in the cocked position for single action firing.

There is a difference between a revolver with a hammer spur that has been ground off leaving the ability to cock the revolver (Bill Jordan used to do this to his revolvers) versus a revolver designed to be strictly DAO, which cannot be fired single action.