Hand/post/trigger issue

[socal s&w]

I purchased a used 686 recently and getting it home removed the sideplate to clean and inspect. It is very clean inside, no gunk or caked on debris, however upon inspection I noticed that the main post on the hand that goes through the trigger, not the spring post, appears to be too loose.

My other revolvers have a hand that does not have the same set up as this one even though they are of the same dash. They look like a single piece, although I know they are not.

This one has a post that has a nailhead style top that sits on the trigger itself, then another after the hand. (Looks like a duplex nail for concrete forms.) It looks like there is simply too much room between the two surfaces creating the looseness. The timing appears to be okay, but there is a slight binding from the hand being off center and not aligning with the window properly.

Did S&W let this slip through? Is there an easy fix other than replacing the hand that must be fitted? I have extra hands, but am not sure how to fit/time them to the cylinder. Should I just live with it and shoot single action only? Any suggestions?

 

[shawn mccarver]

I purchased a used 686 recently and getting it home removed the sideplate to clean and inspect. It is very clean inside, no gunk or caked on debris, however upon inspection I noticed that the main post on the hand that goes through the trigger, not the spring post, appears to be too loose.

My other revolvers have a hand that does not have the same set up as this one even though they are of the same dash. They look like a single piece, although I know they are not.

This one has a post that has a nailhead style top that sits on the trigger itself, then another after the hand. (Looks like a duplex nail for concrete forms.) It looks like there is simply too much room between the two surfaces creating the looseness. The timing appears to be okay, but there is a slight binding from the hand being off center and not aligning with the window properly.

Did S&W let this slip through? Is there an easy fix other than replacing the hand that must be fitted? I have extra hands, but am not sure how to fit/time them to the cylinder. Should I just live with it and shoot single action only? Any suggestions?

Does it look like the one on the left? If so, you have a floating hand, which was discontinued. The older one, which is now the newer one again, S&W having gone back to the original design, can be fitted to your revolver. The floating hand was not around long, but however long it was, it was too long.

 

[socal s&w]

"Does it look like the one on the left? If so, you have a floating hand, which was discontinued. The older one, which is now the newer one again, S&W having gone back to the original design, can be fitted to your revolver. The floating hand was not around long, but however long it was, it was too long.

That is EXACTLY what it is and looks like! Floating hand huh? I can see why it didn't last too long....

I suppose that I could take it to a local gunsmith....if there were one around here, probably the closest would be LA from me.

Thank you for the enlightenment, I had heard about these, but have never experienced seeing or using one. Strange how it is a dash -3 and my other dash-3's are not like that. Do you think that someone fiddled with this revolver?

 

[shawn mccarver]

"Does it look like the one on the left? If so, you have a floating hand, which was discontinued. The older one, which is now the newer one again, S&W having gone back to the original design, can be fitted to your revolver. The floating hand was not around long, but however long it was, it was too long.

That is EXACTLY what it is and looks like! Floating hand huh? I can see why it didn't last too long....

I suppose that I could take it to a local gunsmith....if there were one around here, probably the closest would be LA from me.

Thank you for the enlightenment, I had heard about these, but have never experienced seeing or using one. Strange how it is a dash -3 and my other dash-3's are not like that. Do you think that someone fiddled with this revolver?

I doubt anyone would knowingly install the floating hand in a revolver that did not come with it. If you do not have trouble with it, shoot it as is. If you have trouble, then send it back to S&W for proper re-fitting.

 

[socal s&w]

Thank you shawn mccarver for the technical and insightful answers! A huge help!

 

[bob42]

Will S & W fit a new hand on a used revolver(17-6) probably shipped in late 80's/early 90's(-6 with standard underlug)? Any idea of approx. cost?
Thanks
bob

 

[glider1]

Call em up, they might replace it free, doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[jimmyj]

If it an't broke--don't fix it.
If it works--don't worry.
If it is going to bother you--sell/trade it and get a different "Dash" model.