toocool
Member
I just picked up a very nice 4006 with a black hammer and trigger. The hammer has a hole in it and I was wondering if this is an anomaly? I don't recall ever seeing this before. Is (or could this become) a problem?
hammer hole?
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Denver Dick
US Veteran
Not so unique apparently. Especially on 1995 era 4006 pistols.
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I wondered about that as well...the box has all the info on the gun (caliber, model number, etc.) including "features": night sight and a special order number of 5356; anybody know who that order might have been made for? I'm curious if anyone knows; not sure if I'm curious enough to ask S&W to research it for me
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have one of the first 200 Model 59's made. It was shipped in 1971, and has a smooth frontstrap but serrated backstrap insert. It is NIB. I owned it for several years before I noticed the hole in it's hammer spur.
I cannot imagine why it is there.
I cannot imagine why it is there.
Denver Dick
US Veteran
toocool wrote:
I've not heard or read about the hole in the hammer being related to LE sales, but it could be correct. I've seen other MIM black hammers on 4006 pistols without the hole that are hollowed-out in the back. I notice that the one with the hole is not hollowed-out in the back, however. It may have something to do with the MIM process. Maybe they need the hollowing-out or a hole. I just don't know and I've seen nothing definitive on the subject.
In any event, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone in have a HOLY hammer.
Many here believe the Spec Ord is a Julian date of manufacture ( as opposed to the ship date which can lag behind manufacturing by quite a bit), in your case it would be 1995, the 356th day of that year. The 4006 I have is serial number VDC91xx with a Spec Ord of 5188. Based on the serial number, mine was made in 1995. With respect to the Spec Ord date being a Julian date, all bets are off if *** SPECIAL *** appears under features. In that case the Spec Ord number gets weird, like 5745. Obviously, there is no 745th day of any year.
I've not heard or read about the hole in the hammer being related to LE sales, but it could be correct. I've seen other MIM black hammers on 4006 pistols without the hole that are hollowed-out in the back. I notice that the one with the hole is not hollowed-out in the back, however. It may have something to do with the MIM process. Maybe they need the hollowing-out or a hole. I just don't know and I've seen nothing definitive on the subject.
In any event, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone in have a HOLY hammer.
Thanks for the help...my gun's s/n is VYJ59**, which would make it later in 1995 than yours, and seems to follow your pattern. To further describe this one, it looks to be unfired; there's not a blemish on it, there's no residue on the breechface, the barrel looks extremely clean. The guy I got it from said he found it in a Gander Mountain when he was looking for an M&P .40. I didn't ask how much he paid, but I think I made out OK. Also got a great deal on some 11-round mags on Gunbroker.
I have a hypothesis that the hole would allow the hammer spur to break off if the pistol was dropped on its hammer onto a hard surface, but still leave a functional "spurless" hammer. An intentional weak spot, if you will, so that the hammer does not break off cleanly near the hammer pin and thus render the pistol inoperational.
I have a 4006 with the same hammer and believe it is from the same time frame. It is a police trade-in.
I have a 4006 with the same hammer and believe it is from the same time frame. It is a police trade-in.
