Hammer mounted firing pin spring.

[Model29-26.5]

I have a spare Target hammer. Either the spring is gone or not in place but either way, there’s no tension keeping the pin down.
What’s my next move here.
I would really like to do this work myself.
Do I need to punch out the retainer pin and get the firing pin out first?
I figure this is probably the smallest spring in the gun?
Any videos would be helpful but I haven’t yet found anything specific to the spring on YouTube.
Thanks

 

[CH4]

Even though the schematic (one size fits all) shows a spring, not all S&W revolvers have the spring. Unless the rivet and firing were removed, your example does not require one.

 

[Model29-26.5]

Even though the schematic (one size fits all) shows a spring, not all S&W revolvers have the spring. Unless the rivet and firing were removed, your example likely does not require one.

The pin moves a little. Just flips around a tad.
All my other hammer mounted pins are sprung, although I’d have to double check.
This would be for a model 19-3 to replace the hammer with a target hammer.
Does the 19-3 require a spring in the firing pin or can you get away without one?
What is the purpose of the spring if it is not necessary?
It seems to hold the pin up for the purpose of hitting the centerfire cartridge?

Thanks

 

[WR Moore]

The purpose of the spring is to load the hammer nose in the down position. If the one you've got doesn't have a spring, it's not supposed to. I personally think the spring is a purely theoretical advantage. If the itty bitty part of the hammer nose above the spring breaks, the spring leaves and the hammer nose is then free to flop about and catch on the top of the frame instead of hitting the primer.

 

[Alk8944]

As CH4 stated the hammer nose either could have originally had, or not had the spring, they were issued both ways. There is no possible way that a hammer with the spring could have lost the spring! The only way to know which hammer nose is in the gun would be to drive out the hammer nose rivet. The hammer will function perfectly well without the spring, so leave it alone!

The hammer nose rivet may, or may not, be reusable if you drive it out, and this is one of the hardest S&W parts to come by!

 

[WR Moore]

Out of curiosity, can you install a springless hammer nose in a hammer that uses the spring? I sort of assume so, but I'd like an expert opinion. When I was replacing the hammer nose & spring I was focused on getting the @#$%^^ spring, nose & rivet in place, so I didn't really look.

 

[Protocall_Design]

You can, but make sure that the hammer nose in the up position doesn't catch on the top of the frame opening as the hammer falls. Some frames have a little clearance slot filed on them there. The spring was intended to hold the nose down to prevent the hammer nose from catching on the frame and breaking.

 

[Retired W4]

As for the Combat Magnum specifically, my pre-19 does not have a spring loaded hammer nose. My 19-3's don't have it either.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Appears the spring was more in the N frame hammers than the K's.....Most of my K's don't.

 

[rosewood]

No spring in my 1974 model 67. I asked the same question.