Hammer Question

[FPrice]

I recently saw a pre-WWII Outdoorsman for sale with what I thought was a strange hammer. I have never seen a hammer marked in this way. Was this a factory option or an after-market addition?

 

[Rigmover]

That is what they call the Humpback Hammer they came out in the late 30's around the fall of 1937 there bouts..

Rick

 

[Rigmover]

And yes it is a factory hammer it may been an option also but not sure someone will chime in on this one an sure.

Rick

 

[cgt4570]

Yes that was a factory special order option and quite valuable. The hammer itself would bring $200-400 depending on the day and how much someone needs it. Humpbacks were first introduced as an option on N frame registered magnums. They were then made available on N frame .38-44 Outdoorsman, on K38 (and probably a couple K32s) target sighted guns and K22 Outdoorsman. I even have an non-target .38 M&P that has one I believe was a police dept special order. I find that odd though because you can't sight the gun in double action because the hammer is in the sight picture.

 

[1blindref]

Like the others have posted, it's known as a hump back hammer or a HBH.

.... but the real question is - did you buy the gun? If not, where is it for sale?

 

[FPrice]

I knew that it was a humpback hammer but the cross-hatching on the top was what my me curious. I have not seen that pattern or that much of the hammer done that way. I thought the normal pattern was at 45 degrees to the side of the hammer and only the last 3/8ths of an inch or so (roughly a square patch). Still a lot out there for me to learn.

 

[FPrice]

Added:

Had to check my terminology. What I was trying to say was that I thought the checkering was usually just on the hammer spur, not extending so far down the hammer body.

 

[JSW]

No, it looks like a standard HBH. Did you buy it?

 

[lowhog]

Looks like the revolver is wearing service grips. My guess the hbh was added at a later date or the od is wearing the incorrect grips.

 

[Hondo44]

The standard Registered Mag hammer is the only other one with the same square diamond checkering pattern:

Both Humpbacks and standard hammers came swirl machined and unswirled:

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes that was a factory special order option and quite valuable. The hammer itself would bring $200-400 depending on the day and how much someone needs it. Humpbacks were first introduced as an option on N frame registered magnums. They were then made available on N frame .38-44 Outdoorsman, on K38 (and probably a couple K32s) target sighted guns and K22 Outdoorsman. I even have an non-target .38 M&P that has one I believe was a police dept special order. I find that odd though because you can't sight the gun in double action because the hammer is in the sight picture.

Years ago, police target shooting (PPC) used point shooting for double action work close in and single action for longer distances.

 

[FPrice]

One of the big reasons I like to post pictures and questions like this one is the amount of information that follows about early S&W's and the resulting education that I and probably some others receive.

I appreciate everyone who chimed in and my thanks for sharing what you know.