Hammer nose spring

[Boogsawaste]

When did s&w start using these? I have a 28-2 from 1969 that has one and I thought it was way later than that when they came into use. Could the spring be retrofitted on older hammers or was a whole hammer swap needed?

The case hardening on the hammer is also noticeable nicer than on the trigger. I'm guessing a some point it was swapped but could be wrong. Just curious.

 

[Hapworth]

My understanding is that the hammer nose spring arrived in the '80s. Most references in the SCSW date it to when the radius stud package and floating hand were introduced, which is later '80s, though I've handled an early build ('80) 581 that had one.

I've never encountered reference to one as early as '69 and guess that it's a swap.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Thanks and that's what I was thinking myself but wanted to hear it from a more reputable source than my brain.

This also has me curious. Could a hammer from a different engineering change cause a push off problem? When I got this one of course it was the time I forgot to check and now it's my one and only revolver with this issue. No springs were monkeyed with and there doesn't appear to be any bubba trigger work. In fact both the trigger hook and single action sear on the hammer are sharp enough to shave my finger nail. I'm hesitant to stone the trigger (per the FAQ section), since it seems sharp.

Maybe find a hammer from a 28-2?

 

[Hapworth]

Thanks and that's what I was thinking myself but wanted to hear it from a more reputable source than my brain.

Hopefully someone other than me will chime in, then.

...Could a hammer from a different engineering change cause a push off problem? When I got this one of course it was the time I forgot to check and now it's my one and only revolver with this issue. No springs were monkeyed with and there doesn't appear to be any bubba trigger work. In fact both the trigger hook and single action sear on the hammer are sharp enough to shave my finger nail. I'm hesitant to stone the trigger (per the FAQ section), since it seems sharp.

Maybe find a hammer from a 28-2?

Possibly poor fitting of the hammer if and when it was swapped, or -- and this would explain why there's no apparent bubba work -- maybe there was no fitting of the hammer; someone might've just it dropped in, made sure double action worked and thought they got off lucky not having to stone anything.

I can do small smithing tasks on my revolvers, and maybe this is just weak-kneed on my part but correcting push-off I'd take to my gunsmith. When sear and hook geometry is in play, I know Kuhnhausen shows the angle and technique to correctly work it with just a stone -- I've even had it shown to me by a pro -- but I prefer a well-informed hand for that, ideally one with a jig.

Keep us posted how it works out...

 

[Boogsawaste]

I'm close to the same boat at taking it somewhere to get corrected. I'd hate to be a bubba myself!

 

[cowboy85306]

My understanding is that the hammer nose spring arrived in the '80s. Most references in the SCSW date it to when the radius stud package and floating hand were introduced, which is later '80s, though I've handled an early build ('80) 581 that had one.

I've never encountered reference to one as early as '69 and guess that it's a swap.

Howdy- was reading this thread, and you made me look- I have a very clean and apparently un-messed with 28-2 ( pinned and recessed ), which has the hammer nose spring, a 25-2 ( target model of 1955, pinned ) which has it, and a 66 no dash ( pinned and recessed ), which has it ( condition has visibly appropriate wear on all parts ). I'm sure they came in earlier than the 1980's

 

[Boogsawaste]

Interesting...none of my j/k frames from the same era have it so maybe this was an N frame thing at that time? But that wouldn't explain your 66...

 

[Hapworth]

Howdy- was reading this thread, and you made me look- I have a very clean and apparently un-messed with 28-2 ( pinned and recessed ), which has the hammer nose spring, a 25-2 ( target model of 1955, pinned ) which has it, and a 66 no dash ( pinned and recessed ), which has it ( condition has visibly appropriate wear on all parts ). I'm sure they came in earlier than the 1980's

Very interesting info, cowboy -- thank you. To confirm, these firing pins are spring-loaded and return to a set upward position when pushed down, as opposed to firing pins that freely wobble a bit on their bushing?

Wish SCSW had more info; if it's in there, I haven't found it.

Now we really do need a few more to chime in on this one -- all info I've encountered thus far points to the '80s for this change, and none of my earlier revolvers has it.

I do love a mystery...

 

[loc n load]

Hammer nose springs

Been following this thread....went out and busted out some 70 vintage pinned and recessed K frames and N frames, including several 28's,57's, 29's and some 58's....all of the 70 era P&R N frames that I pulled out have the spring loaded hammer nose.....none of the P&R K frame 66's,19's, 10 or 15 that I pulled out had them - although I have a 65 that I bought new in 76 that did have a hammer nose spring because I had to replace it & the nose several times over a period of 10 years and 60,000 rds, finally just let the nose free float( and I have several non P&R era 65's that have the nose spring as well)......most of these guns I bought new back in the early to mid 70's....(and none of them have been "Bubba'ed" or had hammers swapped)...or their SN's place them in that era and they are all P&R'ed....not a definitive answer.....but more data for you to draw your own opinions.

 

[Hapworth]

The is turning into classic S&W -- the answer is it's all over the place.

Boogsawaste: let's revise the earlier assessment; odd are increasing that your hammer might be factory original.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Could be! I find this interesting. Let's hope some others chime in.

 

[loc n load]

More info

Okay....I went and pulled more guns....I have two model 66's 2.5" bl's....one with a hammer nose spring and it's SN prefix is "6K", and it is P&R....the other is a non P&R'ed and it's prefix is "98K"....and you guessed it - no hammer nose spring....now for the totally subjective part of this post....I was an armorer from the mid 70's until 2008 ( I didn't work on dept. issued revolvers after 95).....I worked on / handled thousands of k frame Smith's during that time period....some had hammer nose springs and some did not...and these were all combat magnums or M&P's models....I remember discussing this with my fellow armorer who was forty years older than me....and had forgotten more abt Smith's than I will ever know....his sage response was: "sometimes they do - sometimes they don't"....and for those of us who study Smith & Wessons, that pretty well sums it up for me....now I got to go out and put back a bunch of guns, and take my hounds for their constitutional..... we are past the appointed hour....my Bassett is threatening insurrection. Hope I was helpful.

 

[Boogsawaste]

As promised here's my update. Took my angle grinder to the trigger and.....well actually took a 6" 1000 grit ceramic stone and very slowly corrected the hook on the trigger. Under a great big magnifying glass I could see some wear. Not much but it was there. Took my time with filing a little and checking with the magnifying glass and now push off is gone. Phew, glad that worked out!