My beloved 19-3 has a problem. When holding the revolver with the muzzle down, the hand rotates the cylinder normally and locks it into place. When the revolver is held horizontally, the hand will not turn the cylinder or lock it into place. Is there a spring that is missing? Any ideas? Will appreciate any suggestions anyone might care to offer. Sincerely. bruce.
K-Frame Problem
- Thread starter brucev
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The hand spring has either broken or the tensioning leg has come off the tensioning pin on the hand. The long leg of the hand spring provides forward tension to the hand, maintaining it's contact with the extractor ratchets when the trigger is pulled. Sometimes the spring leg will inadvertently come off of the small tensioning pin on the back side of the hand when the gun is disassembled.
If it has broken, a replacement spring can be pinned into the trigger body, and the leg of the spring re-positioned. If the long leg has just come off of the tensioning pin of the hand, it can be re-positioned back in place pretty easily.
Carter
If it has broken, a replacement spring can be pinned into the trigger body, and the leg of the spring re-positioned. If the long leg has just come off of the tensioning pin of the hand, it can be re-positioned back in place pretty easily.
Carter
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+1 to Armorer951... no question about it... he's correct IMHO of course,,,,,
"The hand spring has either broken or come off. The long leg of the hand spring provides forward tension to the hand, maintaining it's contact with the extractor ratchets when the trigger is pulled."
"The hand spring has either broken or come off. The long leg of the hand spring provides forward tension to the hand, maintaining it's contact with the extractor ratchets when the trigger is pulled."
OP
Hum... Now the fun begins! First ... get myself some supper. Then, start looking for the spring! Sincerely. bruce.
You won't have to look very hard, it's pinned inside the trigger.
If someone had it apart and removed the hand from the trigger and didn't get the one end of the spring on the hand pin it rides on it would act like a broken spring or pin. One pin on the hand pivots on the trigger the other goes in a crescent cut in trigger and one end of a spring that resembles a tiny cloths pin spring needs to be place on the hand pin that goes through the crescent cut.
OP
Guess it'll be tomorrow evening before I can get back to work on the revolver. It is a four inch blue 19-3 that was purchased a little over three years ago back before I was moved to my now current pastoral appointment. From what I gather, the spring should be somewhere in the area of the trigger? Hope to the good Lord it is not missing in action! Sincerely. bruce.
This "pigtail" style hand spring that is the origin of your issue, in the design of the model 19-3 vintage revolvers, is literally pinned inside the body of the trigger.
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cgt4570
Member
It takes practice and you have to hold your mouth just right to be able to get the spring behind its pin. Odds are, the hand just needs to be installed correctly. I've never seen or heard of the spring breaking but I guess the pin could break off the hand.
I use an eyeglass screwdriver that just fits between the trigger outer walls. I put the hand in so the spring pin is just flush with the trigger and hold sideways pressure so it doesn't slide all the way through. Then use the screwdriver to press down on the spring. When the spring is down, shift the angle you're holding the hand against the trigger so it seats, putting the pin on the proper side of the spring.
I haven't looked, but there's gotta be a youtube video showing how to do it. I learned before youtube was a thing.
Worst case if something's broken, you'll either need a hand spring for the trigger or a new hand. Neither one is expensive but may or may not require fitting depending on your level of luck.
I use an eyeglass screwdriver that just fits between the trigger outer walls. I put the hand in so the spring pin is just flush with the trigger and hold sideways pressure so it doesn't slide all the way through. Then use the screwdriver to press down on the spring. When the spring is down, shift the angle you're holding the hand against the trigger so it seats, putting the pin on the proper side of the spring.
I haven't looked, but there's gotta be a youtube video showing how to do it. I learned before youtube was a thing.
Worst case if something's broken, you'll either need a hand spring for the trigger or a new hand. Neither one is expensive but may or may not require fitting depending on your level of luck.
This "pigtail" style hand spring that is the origin of your issue, in the design of the model 19-3 vintage revolvers, is literally pinned inside the body of the trigger.
Excellent drawing to show it
Could the post at the bottom of the pin not be in the right position? Not hooked on the spring and there fore not creating tension?
The spring is actually inside the trigger. The drawing only shows 1/2 the trigger except for the dotted area which is the outside of the trigger where the hand rides and the post which passes though the crescent slot cut passes so the arm of the spring can press on it. Been a while since I removed a hand from a trigger, but I think only the arm that presses on the hand pin can be wrong and the other arm is caught on its pin. The pin that is shown in the coils of the spring normally is tight enough in the trigger that it stays in place unless purposely pressed out.
OP
Thank you very much! Your two photographs are well worth two thousands words! Sincerely. bruce.
OP
Hope I'm lucky! Looked at the hand. It has two small pins. There is a odd dimple looking rough circular mark. Found a picture. It would appear that the large pin has broken off. So, I need a new hand. Lots of fun! Will have to button it up tonight. Tomorrow I will need to get cracking on ordering a correct hand. Very much appreciate the help offered by everyone. Sincerely. bruce.
Seems odd that the cylinder would still rotate if the hand pin was broken.
OP
Re: Hand pin. Just now buttoned everything up before putting the revolver away. Took a couple of half-way decent pictures of the hand. Are there instructions on this site as to how to send pictures? Sincerely. bruce.
