Help me find a gunsmith?

[T Gorch]

I have an S&W "Perfected .38" revolver, and it seems to me that the timing is off. I'm looking for a gunsmith who works on these revolvers. Does anyone have any suggestions as to who I could contact?

For anyone who's interested, here's why I THINK that the timing is off. (Disclaimer-- I'm not a gunsmith.)

I only shoot new factory ammo in it (.38 S&W, which is not readily available-- I reload, but I haven't bothered yet with that caliber).

If I shoot it single action, then each round will go off, and each will have a small, circular, well-centered dimple in the primer.

The same thing happens if I shoot it SLOWLY in double action.

But if I try to shoot it RAPIDLY in double action, then one or 2 rounds out of every cylinder (a cylinder is 5 rounds) will fail to detonate. Those rounds will each show a different, and abnormal, indentation in the primer. The indentation starts in the center and extends radially to the outer edge of the primer.

So I THINK that what is happening is that the hammer is allowed to come forward before the cylinder has locked fully into battery, and I think that the abnormal indentation in the primer results from the firing pin hitting initially at the outer edge of the primer, and then as the cylinder finishes its rotation into battery, the firing pin "drags" from the edge of the primer to the center. Of course by the time the firing pin gets to the center of the primer, it is no longer pushing on the primer with enough force to detonate it.

Bottom line: I'd very much like to get this revolver running the way it should, and so I'd very much appreciate knowing where to send it for work.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Where do you live? It would be less expensive for you if you don't have to ship it. If you must ship it, https://apwcogan.com will work on it and Bob Cogan is pretty competent as a gunsmith. But, be prepared for the excessive shipping costs.

 

[Heinz]

Welcome, and what Guy said above

 

[rct269]

I suppose the excessive shipping costs arise in accord with some regulatory mumbo-jumbo. That being the case, does the removal of a key component (barrel or cylinder-----or perhaps just the mainspring) render the evil firearm harmless, and reclassified as gun parts?

I sent a NM #3 barrel with latch/sight from Tennessee to Texas-------and it came back with nary a hitch in either direction. Am I now to expect a visit from someone with an indictment and an arrest warrant?

Ralph Tremaine

On the other hand, I seem to recall some other regulatory mumbo-jumbo that says a NM #3 isn't a firearm-------I suppose some Perfected models are. Yes? No?

It's No-----------all of them are evil firearms (but not the NM #3's). That makes sense----right------somewhere??

 

[robertrwalsh]

The frame is the gun. Even a stripped frame is a gun as far as the feds are concerned (usually). Very old guns, made before 1898 and for which ammo is not easily available are often exempt, but it can be a minefield over which I have inadequate expertise.

 

[rct269]

The frame is the gun. Even a stripped frame is a gun as far as the feds are concerned (usually). Very old guns, made before 1898 and for which ammo is not easily available are often exempt, but it can be a minefield over which I have inadequate expertise.

Good point!!

I keep forgetting some of the more inconvenient mumbo-jumbo------especially that which makes no sense at all.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Wiregrassguy]

On the other hand, I seem to recall some other regulatory mumbo-jumbo that says a NM #3 isn't a firearm-------I suppose some Perfected models are. Yes? No?

Ralph,
I believe most, if not all, NM#3's are considered antiques. However, the .38 Perfected was made from 1909 to 1920 and is considered a modern firearm. Therefore, an FFL must be involved if it is shipped across state lines.



I'm not an expert on shipping a gun. This is my understanding of the rules and regs. An individual can ship to an FFL if a copy of the FFL's license is included in the shipping. Due to Postal Service regulations, it has to be shipped via Common Carrier unless an FFL is shipping it. And, due to the CC rules, it must be shipped 2 day ($$) delivery. Can you get around these rules and regulations? Yes, if you want to play footsie with the shipping carrier and the law. The consequences if you are caught are losing shipping privileges with the carrier and losing your right to own and bear arms due to the felony gun violation.

 

[ammodave]

Everytime I've shipped a handgun I got my friendly FFL involved. For a small fee (sometimes free) he helped me ship the gun via USPS for a much cheaper rate. Private individuals can mail a long gun but not a handgun.

 

[NewDeparture]

One way to validate your theory is to compare the direction in which that "indentation arc" is created vs. cylinder rotation (CCW). The firing pin could be dragging either before or after the charge hole is aligned with the barrel. You might want to check tension in both mainspring and cylinder stop spring. Hand length might also be involved, IMHO.

 

[raljr1]

Chris Hirsch works on older smiths, especially top breaks. He did a great job on an antique for me and turn around time was very reasonable.

[email protected]



Robert

 

[rct269]

Chris Hirsch works on older smiths, especially top breaks. He did a great job on an antique for me and turn around time was very reasonable.

[email protected]



Robert

This man is a WIZARD----with a magic wand. He fixed a broken, completely worthless NM #3 Target latch/sight assembly for me, and you can't even tell where it was broken. I can show you where it was broken, and you'll never see it!! I can also tell you what to never ever do with one of those latch/sight assemblies----never ever!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[NewDeparture]

This man is a WIZARD----with a magic wand. He fixed a broken, completely worthless NM #3 Target latch/sight assembly for me, and you can't even tell where it was broken. I can show you where it was broken, and you'll never see it!! I can also tell you what to never ever do with one of those latch/sight assemblies----never ever!!

Ralph Tremaine

OK, off topic here, but I have to ask: what not to do with it? I have seen a sheared off latch from a NM#3 due to his owner firing smokeless loads way to hot for the poor old top break frame. Luckily for him, only the latch was broken. He ordered a replacement part and learned the lesson (halfway): he still uses smokeless instead of real BP but at least he had reduced his loads considerably