Malfunctioning S&W .38 Special.

[Michael Harless]

About a year ago my mother passed away.

I found a S&W 38 special revolver in her safe. It has a ~2-inch barrel.

This gun is at least 40 years old, is a family heirloom, and has historical significance as an icon of 2nd amendment and 19th amendment civil rights.

The problem is, when I pull the trigger once, it doesn't work after that.

My first thought is to just give it a long bath in oil.

What would you do?

 

[chief38]

Bring it to a qualified GunSmith. You might get lucky and just have to pay for a deep cleaning.

 

[Inusuit]

Chief38 gives you good advice especially if you are new to firearms. A revolver that's been in storage a long time with an unknown history of maintenance is likely to be gummed up with dried lubricant. An oil bath will not fix that.

If you want to try something before going to a gunsmith, remove the grips, open the cylinder, and spray a solvent into every opening. Gun Scrubber is a brand name available anywhere firearms are sold. If that frees up the gun, be sure to lightly lubricate those same openings with a good gun oil.

 

[BC38]

I'd take the grips off and put it into a sealed container submerged in a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone for a few days. Then pull it out, blow compressed air through every opening and see what you've got. That will remove any gummy deposits and I'd bet a dollar that will fix the problem.

 

[4barrel]

My shooting buddy soaks his in diesel after a shooting session with the stocks removed. It wont hurt the finish.

 

[DeathGrip]

Follow Chief38s advice.

For my money, A deep clean should involve removing the side plate. You better have proper screwdrivers to keep from chewing up the heads or worse yet scratching the gun.

 

[sheepdawg]

I'd take the grips off and put it into a sealed container submerged in a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone for a few days. Then pull it out, blow compressed air through every opening and see what you've got. That will remove any gummy deposits and I'd bet a dollar that will fix the problem.

Just thinking, would acetone mess with the finish on an aluminum framed revolver like an old model 12?

 

[BC38]

Just thinking, would acetone mess with the finish on an aluminum framed revolver like an old model 12?

Good point. I was thinking of an all-steel gun.
Not really a safe assumption as your post points out.

 

[BC38]

Follow Chief38s advice.

For my money, A deep clean should involve removing the side plate. You better have proper screwdrivers to keep from chewing up the heads or worse yet scratching the gun.

And you'd better know what you're doing as well.
Many people (most?) don't...

 

[DeathGrip]

And you'd better know what you're doing as well.
Many people (most?) don't...

Some can and some shouldn't even try.

 

[Michael Harless]

Follow Chief38s advice.

For my money, A deep clean should involve removing the side plate. You better have proper screwdrivers to keep from chewing up the heads or worse yet scratching the gun.

I know I have the right tiny little screwdrivers, somewhere around here. I'd have to find them.

I thinking that I should figure out how to post a picture of it, to better express what I am talking about.

 

[Golphin]

I know I have the right tiny little screwdrivers, somewhere around here. I'd have to find them.

I thinking that I should figure out how to post a picture of it, to better express what I am talking about.

If you are thinking of removing any screws get a set of gunsmith screwdrivers first. Also study up a lot first as you may end up at the gunsmith with a larger problem if you just start taking the gun apart.

 

[Michael Harless]

I'd take the grips off and put it into a sealed container submerged in a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone for a few days. Then pull it out, blow compressed air through every opening and see what you've got. That will remove any gummy deposits and I'd bet a dollar that will fix the problem.

Thanks for the advice.

However, I'm playing doctor with this patient. Primum non nocere.

 

[Hair Trigger]

If you are thinking of removing any screws get a set of gunsmith screwdrivers first. Also study up a lot first as you may end up at the gunsmith with a larger problem if you just start taking the gun apart.

I second that about the proper screwdrivers. Even if they fit the slot, you don't want tapered blades, they will gall the top edge of the slot too easily. The screws are under moderate torque for their size, so they won't come loose from shooting, and you still need a rather large grip on a small blade to get them loose. Jeweler's drivers aren't the right kind.

 

[Michael Harless]

Bring it to a qualified GunSmith. You might get lucky and just have to pay for a deep cleaning.

I don't know any gunsmiths. How much usually charge to fix an old .38 special.

 

[ken158]

I don't know any gunsmiths. How much usually charge to fix an old .38 special.

If you had your location listed you would get more help and maybe a close by forum member that could help you out or at least recommend someone close.

 

[Krogen]

There's a lot of good advice in this thread, some of it from hard lessons. Screwdrivers are a big deal. Only use snug-fitting, hollow-ground gunsmith screwdrivers or you will likely bugger up the screws. If you take off the sideplate, do it right. Don't pry it off or you will bugger it up too. Be careful using solvents. In particular be cautious of degreasers. Unless you get a film of oil back on the steel parts you just degreased they will eventually rust. Degreaser means just that.

Sooo.... look before you leap!

Finally: Where are you located? Members might be able to offer a gunsmith's name or be willing to help you in person.

 

[Dan Zulu]

Just out of curiosity what is the relationship between the 19th amendment and this model gun?

 

[murphydog]

Perhaps his mother had older relatives in the women's suffrage movement of the early 20th century? Interested to find out.

 

[jframejoey]

Can you post a pic of the gun with the grips removed? Maybe someone backed the strain screw out long ago to make it lighter for you mom and it just kept working its way loose. Lots of people think its and "adjustment screw". Another common problem is years of old dried up WD-40 which could gum it up and prevent it from working properly.