Hammerless Maintenance

[sjs]

Just got a 640 Centennial. While I have owned many revolvers of many kinds this is my first with a concealed hammer. It wasn't until I tried to clean and lube it that it actually occurred to me that it would bother me that I could not get in to the hammer to clean and oil it and the surrounding area.

Is there anything special or different to do with oil when dealing with a hammerless or do I just ignore the fact that it is inside there being ignored by me?

 

[CH4]

FWIW, I've never opened any of my centennials and all are working smooth after years of service. I'd only worry about it if it stopped working smoothly. Here's my latest and it runs like sooo smooth.

 

[minconrevo]

Clean and lube it like any revolver. Lube it sparingly on the star, a side of the cylinder stop, the yoke and the center pin on the barrel. SPARINGLY please. Should only need to open the side plate to clean and lube on a rare occasion. like dropping it in a sand pile or into mud. The 640 series is much less likely to get gunk in the action while in the holster due to the lack of an exposed hammer.

 

[riverrat38]

I remove the side plate on any gun, new or old, that I acquire.
I do any cleaning and lubing that I think necessary. Repeat maybe every 5 years.
I use Boeshield. The carrier evaporites and leaves what looks like a fine grease. Very good corrosion protection and lube.


73,
Rick

 

[chief38]

The FIRST thing I do when buying a new Revolver (before I even fire it) is completely strip it, clean it and lightly lubricate it. After doing so, the inside of a Centennial should be good for years before repeating that.

For the most part, I usually will suggest that people who are not comfortable taking a Revolver apart, NOT keep dripping or squirting oil inside through the hammer or trigger openings because that will eventually just cause debris to clump, goo up, and be more harmful than not.

Just for the record, many of the S&W Revolvers I have purchased were new and pretty dirty, gritty and had burrs inside. A few even had light rust! Some Revolvers were shipped bone dry and some were dripping inside - hence the importance of doing what I do. On used ones - they have generally been dirty and over lubed. I like Revolvers done up to my spec's. not some Assembler's interpretation up at the Factory.

 

[sjs]

Thanks much for the help guys.