general replacement question

[cmansguns]

good morning all;

yesterday I saw a Model 64 in a LGS that had a severe crack at the root of the spur of the hammer. This is a K frame with the hammer mounted firing pin.

Of course the price was based on solid gold plating, extremely scarce and rare, once owned by Elvis....etc....blah...blah. I know the place and they will negotiate with me, especially when I point out the severe crack, but I'm not sure I really want another project to play with hence a couple questions:

This gun MAY be a police turn-in, shows heavy holster wear and grip wear.

1. Could the hammer crack result from a lot of dry fire, or some sort of practice drill?
2. Are other internal areas I should try to get a look at before any offer?
3. Flea Bay and Midway have hammer assemblies for $80 -$90 plus shipping. Is hammer replacement a drop-in thing, or is special fitting, filing, machining required?

I won't be into this gun for more than 2 Bennies plus another Bennie for a hammer assembly, but even for $300 total I don't want (or need) a paperweight.

I have the tools and have been inside some of my Smiths but haven't had occasion to change out a hammer before so thought I'd ask you folks.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have never seen a hammer crack there from wear. (Doesn't mean it has never happened.) I have seen them crack there from being dropped. I saw a LOT of high mileage 64s at our academy. The range guns got shot a ton. I saw several broken firing pin noses (firing pins) from use and a lot of dry firing. Never saw a hammer crack as you describe unless the gun was dropped. Of course that usually just bent or flat-out broke the hammer spur, so......

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Sounds like used, abused and dropped.
Keep moving, keep looking!

 

[dave1918a2]

You can change the hammer Yourself in a few minutes, unlike the trigger there is nothing to un-do except the spring.

 

[H Richard]

You may have to do a little "fitting " on the sear, and trigger interface. It may just drop in.

 

[mmande]

If you are looking for a flash chrome hammer, I can help you out with one that is probably nicer than the condition of the gun you describe for $75 shipped.
Mike

 

[glenwolde]

Years ago I had a Mod 17 that I shot quite a bit. One day at the range, as I fired, I felt something brush my hand. I looked for the reason and didn't see anything. I went to cock it for the next shot and got nothing but air. The hammer spur wasn't there. I found it on the ground. It just broke off.

I called S&W and they said send it in and they'd replace the hammer. The guy I spoke to said it was most likely over-hardened, making it brittle.

 

[WR Moore]

You're going to have to swap the double action sear & spring from the old hammer into the new. You can try to fit the one that comes with the hammer, but the swap is whole lot less trouble. If you don't lose any parts