I was given a gun from an old friend's wife after he passed away. According to serial number it is a .39 DA 4th model. I got it apart and am wondering if something is broken/missing. I checked with Jack First and also Numrich for parts. According to Numrich, the part I am concerned about is what they call the Hammer Fly. In Numrich's photo, the part looks very similar to mine but when I took the hammer apart, it appears that a spring in the hammer fly is broken. This gun has sentimental value and I would like to get it running again. Looking for a parts source and/or a competent gunsmith that can get it running. In the 2nd photo it shows what Numrich calls the Hammer Fly. Is that how it should look? My initial thoughts were that the very small spring was broken but the photo that Numrich shows looks the same. Any thoughts/suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you, Oldbird13
Long shot..looking for parts S & W .38 DA 4th
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mmaher94087
Member
What are the symptoms of the action that led you to the hammer fly? Looking at the photos, I'm guessing that the hammer will not hold full cock in single action.
Google Chris Hirsch Gunsmith ---who is a wizard gunsmith who works on antiques only ----or not, which is to say he may not be active.
Given he's not active, he may 1: Have parts, or 2: Know someone who can help you with repairs and/or parts.
Ralph Tremaine
Given he's not active, he may 1: Have parts, or 2: Know someone who can help you with repairs and/or parts.
Ralph Tremaine
OP
mmaher94087 sir, I believe that to be the case. I have received a message from a member in NC who may have the part I am searching for....Hammer Fly. Thank you
Chris actually fabricated a spring for one one of my antiques.
mmaher94087
Member
I'm at a loss here. If the hammer does not hold full cock, the problem is not the hammer fly. The fly only protects the trigger sear from catching/breaking the hammer half cock sear as the hammer drops when fired. I believe the single action sear at the rear of your hammer is broken/chipped and you will need to either weld and recut the sear or find a replacement hammer. Please let me know your progress.
OP
I will check however the other parts didn't seem broken but certainly could have been worn. Initial post should have stated .38 DA not .39
Hammer Fly
The Hammer Fly is a very late feature and it does have a small flat spring that is broken off of your example.
You can see in the photo of a 4th model diagram it lacks the hammer fly feature and photo 2 is a generic schematic that includes all DA hammer Models 3 thru 5.
Most diagrams will depict raw parts or unassembled parts. Notice the hammer lacks the stirrup and the hand lacks the spring? These parts won’t function without them. Just like the Hammer fly will not function without the original spring.
Referring now to the Photos of hammer comparison between the early and late model DA hammer. Outward profile appearance they look identical but attention to detail you can see a small hole where the hammer fly pin resides and flipping them belly up? You can now see the early hammer has no channel for the hammer fly to reside. However, the late hammer is channeled out just for that Hammer fly feature.
Because it’s a very late design, a replacement part will be very difficult to find so don’t lose it! You’ll have to fabricate a small spring and press it into the slot after you remove what remains of the broken spring.
You can use that broken spring for width and thickness of the replacement.
When I get time I’ll look through some of my parts and see if I have one to compare the spring
Length and appearance.
Oh, I forgot… So what’s the purpose of the Hammer Fly?
The Hammer Fly was a design improvement to improve the action by eliminating sear hang up. When using the single action feature the sear will sometimes catch the DA hammer notch when the trigger is pulled and the hammer is falling. The Hammer fly is designed (primarily) to prevent that from happening.
So, smoother action.
Murph
The Hammer Fly is a very late feature and it does have a small flat spring that is broken off of your example.
You can see in the photo of a 4th model diagram it lacks the hammer fly feature and photo 2 is a generic schematic that includes all DA hammer Models 3 thru 5.
Most diagrams will depict raw parts or unassembled parts. Notice the hammer lacks the stirrup and the hand lacks the spring? These parts won’t function without them. Just like the Hammer fly will not function without the original spring.
Referring now to the Photos of hammer comparison between the early and late model DA hammer. Outward profile appearance they look identical but attention to detail you can see a small hole where the hammer fly pin resides and flipping them belly up? You can now see the early hammer has no channel for the hammer fly to reside. However, the late hammer is channeled out just for that Hammer fly feature.
Because it’s a very late design, a replacement part will be very difficult to find so don’t lose it! You’ll have to fabricate a small spring and press it into the slot after you remove what remains of the broken spring.
You can use that broken spring for width and thickness of the replacement.
When I get time I’ll look through some of my parts and see if I have one to compare the spring
Length and appearance.
Oh, I forgot… So what’s the purpose of the Hammer Fly?
The Hammer Fly was a design improvement to improve the action by eliminating sear hang up. When using the single action feature the sear will sometimes catch the DA hammer notch when the trigger is pulled and the hammer is falling. The Hammer fly is designed (primarily) to prevent that from happening.
So, smoother action.
Murph
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mmaher94087
Member
All the above is correct but your photo #4 in post #1 shows a chipped/broken single action hammer sear. The hammer needs to be replaced or welded, and the sears recut regardless of what the fly does. The hammer is not an easy part to source.
OP
I am finding that out....
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Probably finding a parts gun of the same model is the best option.
Send the gun to Chris Hirsch and let him work it out for you
