It strikes me as somewhat unusual to be starting a thread on the L Frame Target (Forged) Hammer when until very recently, I was convinced that such had never been produced. That's based on my own experience of never having seen anything but service and semi-target hammers on the huge number of 5-681's and 5-686's I have personally observed since the introduction of this frame size.
Imagine my surprise when I ran across new Case Hardened Hammers for the L Frame! I immediately placed an order, including a new L Frame Hand; sat back and waited for the package to arrive.
While I was waiting, I did a little searching in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition, and also searched here on the Smith & Wesson Forum. Here's what I've found so far...
One mention (that I've found so far) in the SCSW, 4th Edition: Under the Model 586; the next to last bullet point in the right hand column on page 297 states,
"Special 7-Shot In Oct. 2004 S&W released a 7-Shot version with 4" or 6" Full Lug Barrel Lengths with Red Ramp Front Sight and White Outline Rear Sight. Target Hammer, Smooth Target Trigger, Blue Finish. This is the first standard production 7-Shot in this model other than the L Comp in 2000 from the Performance Center. Approximately 300 manufactured. Product Codes: 163568 4", 163567 6". "
Of course, there's no picture.
And...
A recent thread on L Frame Target Hammers. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/611522-686-4-target-hammer-question.html?611522=#post140677413
An old thread with discussion of the L Frame Target Hammer with claims of having such a gun, but no photos. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/121129-l-frame-full-target.html?121129=#post1286492
A recent thread with (finally!) photographic evidence of the L Frame Forged Target Hammer at Post #8! http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/601302-why-not-l-frame.html?601302=#post140555015
Same thread as above, but just linking Post #8. http://smith-wessonforum.com/140555044-post8.html
Same thread as above. This time Post #17, where one of our members has posted photos of his Model 646 with wide, target style hammer. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/601302-why-not-l-frame.html?601302=#post140555015 Note: this gun, nice as it is, has a MIM hammer, so is not what I was actually searching for.
And finally, my L Frame Forged Target Hammer was delivered this Tuesday, February 16th!
You may have noticed that this Target Hammer is chamfered/countersunk to fit on a hammer stud with the Radiused Pins. I did a quick search of my S&W Parts Box and came up with a Smooth Combat Trigger (in good used condition) which also had the chamfer/countersink for a Radiused Trigger Pin.
It was beginning to look like I was ready to upgrade one of my L Frames!
A helpful hint to my fellow Forum Members: If you click on the photos I've posted a couple of times; you will be able to see an enlarged view.
I had picked out a nice Model 686-3 to attempt the Hammer, Trigger upgrade. My thoughts were, when I have the parts replaced, it will look very similar to my favorite Model 686, the 686-4 which came from the factory with case colored, rather than Flash Chromed Hammer and Trigger.
Here's the Guinea Pig:
Model 686-3, 4" Barrel, S/N BDA21XX
I had mentioned early in this thread that I had purchased a new L Frame Hand at the same time as the new hammer purchase.
If you're curious why I did this, the answer is actually two fold. I was fairly sure my Model 686-3 had a "Floating Hand" installed from the factory. I'm not at all fond of this feature, and wanted to eliminate it when installing my new Hammer and Trigger. I also wanted to try fitting the un-cut Double Action Sear on the new hammer. If successdful, I would end up with a viable drop-in set of parts (the originals) if I ever decided to go back to the factory look and feel.
I started the upgrade yesterday, after work, and finished the same evening. Getting photos and text together has taken a little longer.
Here's the finished product.
Model 686-3 with Case Hardened Target Hammer and Smooth Combat Case Hardened Trigger:
The upgraded Model 686-3 with factory parts in the foreground:
Finally, just the old factory parts:
How did it turn out? Perfect!
Here's the before and after measurements:
Factory Single Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
3# 14.5 oz.
Factory Double Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
9# 8.0 oz.
New Hammer, Trigger, and Wolff 15# Rebound Spring;
Single Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
3# 4.3 oz.
Double action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
8# 14.0 oz.
Cocking the new Target Hammer (S.A.) feels just like performing the same action on one of my big beautiful N Frames! The Double Action pull is light and smooth.
I may have created a new favorite!
Thank you for enduring this long thread.
Imagine my surprise when I ran across new Case Hardened Hammers for the L Frame! I immediately placed an order, including a new L Frame Hand; sat back and waited for the package to arrive.
While I was waiting, I did a little searching in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition, and also searched here on the Smith & Wesson Forum. Here's what I've found so far...
One mention (that I've found so far) in the SCSW, 4th Edition: Under the Model 586; the next to last bullet point in the right hand column on page 297 states,
"Special 7-Shot In Oct. 2004 S&W released a 7-Shot version with 4" or 6" Full Lug Barrel Lengths with Red Ramp Front Sight and White Outline Rear Sight. Target Hammer, Smooth Target Trigger, Blue Finish. This is the first standard production 7-Shot in this model other than the L Comp in 2000 from the Performance Center. Approximately 300 manufactured. Product Codes: 163568 4", 163567 6". "
Of course, there's no picture.
And...
A recent thread on L Frame Target Hammers. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/611522-686-4-target-hammer-question.html?611522=#post140677413
An old thread with discussion of the L Frame Target Hammer with claims of having such a gun, but no photos. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/121129-l-frame-full-target.html?121129=#post1286492
A recent thread with (finally!) photographic evidence of the L Frame Forged Target Hammer at Post #8! http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/601302-why-not-l-frame.html?601302=#post140555015
Same thread as above, but just linking Post #8. http://smith-wessonforum.com/140555044-post8.html
Same thread as above. This time Post #17, where one of our members has posted photos of his Model 646 with wide, target style hammer. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/601302-why-not-l-frame.html?601302=#post140555015 Note: this gun, nice as it is, has a MIM hammer, so is not what I was actually searching for.
And finally, my L Frame Forged Target Hammer was delivered this Tuesday, February 16th!
You may have noticed that this Target Hammer is chamfered/countersunk to fit on a hammer stud with the Radiused Pins. I did a quick search of my S&W Parts Box and came up with a Smooth Combat Trigger (in good used condition) which also had the chamfer/countersink for a Radiused Trigger Pin.
It was beginning to look like I was ready to upgrade one of my L Frames!
A helpful hint to my fellow Forum Members: If you click on the photos I've posted a couple of times; you will be able to see an enlarged view.I had picked out a nice Model 686-3 to attempt the Hammer, Trigger upgrade. My thoughts were, when I have the parts replaced, it will look very similar to my favorite Model 686, the 686-4 which came from the factory with case colored, rather than Flash Chromed Hammer and Trigger.
Here's the Guinea Pig:
Model 686-3, 4" Barrel, S/N BDA21XX
I had mentioned early in this thread that I had purchased a new L Frame Hand at the same time as the new hammer purchase.
If you're curious why I did this, the answer is actually two fold. I was fairly sure my Model 686-3 had a "Floating Hand" installed from the factory. I'm not at all fond of this feature, and wanted to eliminate it when installing my new Hammer and Trigger. I also wanted to try fitting the un-cut Double Action Sear on the new hammer. If successdful, I would end up with a viable drop-in set of parts (the originals) if I ever decided to go back to the factory look and feel.
I started the upgrade yesterday, after work, and finished the same evening. Getting photos and text together has taken a little longer.
Here's the finished product.
Model 686-3 with Case Hardened Target Hammer and Smooth Combat Case Hardened Trigger:
The upgraded Model 686-3 with factory parts in the foreground:
Finally, just the old factory parts:
How did it turn out? Perfect!
Here's the before and after measurements:
Factory Single Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
3# 14.5 oz.
Factory Double Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
9# 8.0 oz.
New Hammer, Trigger, and Wolff 15# Rebound Spring;
Single Action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
3# 4.3 oz.
Double action Trigger Pull - Average of five pulls;
8# 14.0 oz.
Cocking the new Target Hammer (S.A.) feels just like performing the same action on one of my big beautiful N Frames! The Double Action pull is light and smooth.
I may have created a new favorite!
Thank you for enduring this long thread.
