K-22 second day

[Fackler Rebel]

After being told my little .22 was made in 1957 really thrilled me so today I got her out again. Double action works great, clean pull doesn't seem to have a ton of pressure before breaking, but dang it, in single action, just every now and then it acts like the cylinder doesn't want to turn and of course the hammer travel is stopped about half way back, but with a firm finger, the cylinder rotates and the hammer comes to lock. Question is where do you get a K-22 worked on?

Reb

 

[Muley Gil]

Are you capable of taking it apart and cleaning it? The first thing is to have the proper sized GUNSMITHING screwdrivers, as sold by Brownells. If you don't have these, find a good gunsmith.

I believe there is a large gunshop in Huntsville (Larry's???). See if they have a 'smith. The S&W design hasn't changed much in many years. The only issue may be parts.

 

[akviper]

Does the revolver have after market grips? If it does, some grip screws can ride on the mainspring causing your problem. Some of the Pachmayer rubber grips had this problem. Also check to make sure your mainspring screw is tight while you have the grips off.

 

[Fackler Rebel]

No Sir, it's got the original grips as best I can tell. If I could figure out how to upload I've taken a few photos of her.

Reb

 

[DCWilson]

Sometimes simple grime and solidified lubricants can interfere with smooth action. A good internal cleaning might save you a trip to the smith. Just take the stocks off, spray or pour in some solvent lube like Breakfree CLP, and let it sit over night on a stack of newspaper or something else you don't care about. Then repeat, and after a few hours blow it out with Dust-Off or some other canned air. If it fixes the problem, fine. If not, you knew it needed work anyway, and the gun is cleaner. There is no downside.

 

[phenson]

Are the recesses in the cylinder clean? If the rounds aren't seating all the way, it will cause that. I'd just run a swab down all 6 and make sure the recesses are gunk free before I did anything else.

 

[H Richard]

As stated accumulation of grime internally and lack of lubrication can cause a revolver to seize up. If yo are not familiar with removing the side plate and cleaning the internals, you can get a little Kano Kroil "The oil that creeps", and put several drops in front of the hammer when it is cocked back, and gently work the hammer back and forth keeping the trigger pulled back. See if that loosens it up. It will still need a good cleaning, but that will tell you if it is just gunk build up.

 

[williamlayton]

Contact:
James Willis
Willis Arms
2998 Smith Rd
ElmGrove, La.
318-742-7432

He is familiar with the K-22.
ElmGrove is real close to Shreveport.
Blessings

 

[Larry from Bend]

I went thru a very similiar situation with this 1959 model that I've had since '71 -- shot thousands and thousands of rounds thru it. It was acting just like yours. It wasn't dirty.

I sent it back to S&W and they replaced the hand. Great service and reasonable (not counting the mailing cost to S&W). It yours is a pre-17 (no model #) I'm not sure if Smith will work on it --- you'd have to call them.

 

[williamlayton]

Won't work on one older than 1965.
Blessings

 

[mikepriwer]

The difference between single and double action is that single
action has the hammer back much further than double action. The
question is - where is the binding coming from ?

I doubt its related to the cylinder, since it seems to work fine in
double action. One test would be to open the cylinder, and then
single action the gun repeatedly, to see if the problem reoccurs.
You need two hands - the second hand has to hold the cylinder
release thumbpiece in its rearward position. If it binds in this test,
perhaps there is something in the lockword that the hammer is
rubbing against, towards the rear of its single-action travel.

I suppose its also possible that there is something on either the
toe of the hammer, or the rear part of the trigger - dirt or a bit of
metal, or whatever. During single-action pull, this could be causing
the trigger to retreat too far, and that would feel like binding.

Either way, I would remove the side plate, and at least clean the
lockwork with copious amounts of borecleaner. That will wash out
lots of stuff.

Mike Priwer

 

[wraco]

Process of elimination, it could be one of a 3 or 4 of problems. If you're up to doing you're own repairs without doing damage to the gun; start by taking the gun down and thoroughly clean it. As others have suggested, without the correct screwdrivers you'd be best to take it to a good gunsmith.

Rod