Fitting a new hand on a N frame...

[RightWinger]

I recently bought a 629-1 and it isn't in the "great working condition" it was described as on the internet auction, however its now my gun and I'll deal with it. I do need to get a new hand because the old hand is not turning the cylinder enough for the cylinder stop to engage. I ordered an "oversized" hand from Brownells, but have no idea what I need to do to fit this hand. I am comfortable striping revolvers down and and putting them back together, however this is something I have yet to vewnture into yet....any suggestions? any special tools I need?

 

[RightWinger]

I recently bought a 629-1 and it isn't in the "great working condition" it was described as on the internet auction, however its now my gun and I'll deal with it. I do need to get a new hand because the old hand is not turning the cylinder enough for the cylinder stop to engage. I ordered an "oversized" hand from Brownells, but have no idea what I need to do to fit this hand. I am comfortable striping revolvers down and and putting them back together, however this is something I have yet to vewnture into yet....any suggestions? any special tools I need?

 

[john traveler]

No special tools needed. Remove the hand and measure it's width using a micrometer or reloader's dial calipers. Order the next larger size from Brownells. The S&W revolver action does final timing to lockup by the width of the hand, and as the hand and hand window wears, looseness against the hand-to-ratchet is what results in failure to-carry-up.

 

[RightWinger]

I did put the new oversized hand in today, and it locks up tight, however I have noticed after the 2nd click (cylinder stop engaged) there is still a considerable amount of travel left in the trigger and it seems to be a bit tough to follow through with. This gun has already had a nice trigger job and it was not like that before....Do you think I need to just stone the width down a bit? The old hand measured .0945, the new hand was .0975....if I just keep it like that and dry fire it a bunch will it wear the new hand in or will it harm anything?

 

[Bullseye Smith]

First check the slot that the hand goes in, try the hand from the other side and see how it fits. Could also be it is to wide at the bick when it makes contact with the cylinder. If it ends up being the bick, stone a little off the side of the bick and try. If you take to much off you will need a new hand. If thr slot isn't wide enough lay the hand down on 600 paper and work it a little at a time, on the right side of the hand( not the side with the studs sticking out ). Have Fun.

 

[tomcatt51]

Your OS hand is too thick and needs thinned.

Dimensionally, S&W hands vary quite a bit. I've got 6 Std.N frame hands in my parts bag. They measure:
.0933
.0938
.0939
.0948
.0948
.0952

 

[bountyhunter]

If you are going to narrow the hand, remove metal from the left hand (frame) side.

Before cutting, I would mark the cylinder tubes and see if all are too tight, or just some. If any of the cylinder positions is NOT too tight, and you thin the hand to accomodate the tightest one, the loose ones may fail to carry up.

If all positions are too tight, shave the hand a couple of thou and recheck all positions until you get proper fit on the loosest one. If the cylinder positions are significantly unbalanced, the "tight" ratchets may have to be adjusted to get good carry up on all slots. If they are close, just shaving the hand may be enough.

 

[tomcatt51]

Assuming your OS hand fits the window ok, open the cylinder, hold the cylinder release back, pull the trigger while looking at the recoil shield and you'll see how much of the hand sticks thru and engages the ratchets. This is the only part of the hand you need to thin. Thin from the left side, thin carefully, maybe .0005" at a time, a little goes a long way.

 

[tennexplorer]

Oversized hands can vary a bit in width. I have seen them from a little over .096 up to .099. Are you anywhere near Memphis? If so, I have a small supply and we might be able to swap around to a narrower one and prevent having to thin your hand down.

 

[RightWinger]

I really appreciate the offer Tennexplorer, however I am in Nashville and not too close to Memphis. It sounds like a lot of people on here really would be very comfortable fitting a OS hand, however after thinking about it I just decided to take it to our departmental Gunsmith (and its free work) and let him fit it, he's very competent and does good work. I asked him about fitting it myself and he basically told me that its really easy to screw up and then you have to buy a new hand....I guess I'm not as brave as I thought originally....ha ha

 

[tennexplorer]

Originally posted by RightWinger:
I really appreciate the offer Tennexplorer, however I am in Nashville and not too close to Memphis. It sounds like a lot of people on here really would be very comfortable fitting a OS hand, however after thinking about it I just decided to take it to our departmental Gunsmith (and its free work) and let him fit it, he's very competent and does good work. I asked him about fitting it myself and he basically told me that its really easy to screw up and then you have to buy a new hand....I guess I'm not as brave as I thought originally....ha ha

Hey, if I had a departmental smith and it was free work, I'd be there in a heartbeat.