Model 12 timing

[dotdsd334]

Just picked up a 12 no dash. From my understanding I am owner 4. Owner 1 fired it a few times,as did owner 2. Owner 3 estimates 300-400 rounds. Condition supports the story. Faint cylinder line, other than the goodyears on it the finish is 95%+ easy.

Timing is off on 3 cylinders. It's very close but just doesn't quite lock up when you cock it slowly. Normal speed or double action is fine.

What I've tried:
Good cleaning and checked for any binding. I've also swapped out the hand with another k frame hand. The hand from the m12 locks up the other no issue but the m12 is still off on 3 cylinders with the hand from the other gun.

Am I down to fitting an oversize hand or do I have other options? I am leaning toward this being a factory miss back in 1960. The gun hasn't seem enough rounds to be out of time... Or am I wrong? Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 

[scooter123]

I would suggest that you consider how unrealistic these tests are. Really. Are you actually going to be cocking the gun in super slow motion? Or are you going to cock it at a normal pace and do the same when shooting in Double Action?

IMO this particular test is the result of ignorance and laziness. Ignorance is that it has absolutely zero adherence to how these revolvers are actually used. Laziness in that it's easy to identify the cylinder stop dropping in if you are moving the cylinder in super slow motion.

I only get concerned about carry up with the revolver fails with the trigger being pulled at a pace appropriate to a precision target shooting venue. Which can be a slower rate of pull but it's far from the super slow rate I've seen some use when testing for carry up.

I'll also note that S&W revolvers are famous for a failure to carry up with a left handed trigger pull. This particular issue is so widely know that the "floating " hand was introduced in an attempt to cure this issue. Unfortunately that floating hand was a total failure and has since been phased out.

 

[loc n load]

Timing

I instructed Smith K frames for over half of my 34 year career and was also an armorer( Smith & Wesson certified) for that period as well, I had 250 Smith's in the armory under my care.....the condition you describe is not abnormal in my experience.....I have seen this many times on different guns....you have to take in consideration the tolerances and spec's of all of the parts that compose the "timing" in your Smith..and as you point out the timing is fine when cocked or cycled normally.....there are several dynamics at play in timing Smith's & this includes the momentum the cylinder has when cycled normally..... if you induce an unrealistic parameter such as super slow cocking the gun ( and thus retarding the normal momentum of the cylinder), then you may get an inaccurate "read" on the timing..( as noted in post #2)..personally I would not worry about it, the gun obviously has not had a lot of rounds thru it. If you still have qualms about it, take it to a professional who has experience with DA Smith's and have him go thru it.

 

[dotdsd334]

Thanks for your thoughts guys! I'm not all that concerned, just more of a general question about the "symptoms". All the other smiths lock up with the slow cock. What really stumped me was when the 12 hand worked in the other k frame no problem. This is the earliest manufacture of all of the smiths I own. Was just kinda curious if its a vintage thing or just how it is. I'm not all that worried about it since I'm fairly confident of the low round count history. The only other thought I had was that part fatigue may be enhanced with the alloy frame vs the steel frame most others have.

Overall I'm new to the "oldies" and just trying to gain a bit of knowledge. Point taken from both and I appreciate your knowledge. Ill shoot it a bit, put it in the safe and worry about it if/when it starts shaving lead.

 

[loc n load]

Timing & K frames

As noted in post #3 I have a lot of trigger time and bench time on K frames and you do not typically see a real timing issue until the gun has had thousands of rounds thru it, or has been abused in some manner.....do not fret over your alloy frame mod 12.....they are a lot stronger than folk's want to believe.....I have an 2" mod 12 that I have had since the late 70's and have close to 10,000 rds thru the gun......and it still is quite serviceable..as far as the mod 12 hand working differently in another gun, it is as I pointed out earlier, every revolver has to some degree different tolerances and spec's, these parts typically have to be hand fitted - machining processes in the 60's, 70's 80's were a far cry from what we have today...a lot of folks are under the impression that every Smith product that came out of the factory was perfect in every way.....that is not true, the same with other mfgr's......In the 80's I was posted in a state that was home to a large police distributor, they had me and another armorer go thru all of their new guns that were going to be shipped out in lots to police agencies.....these were new guns and we went thru every one of them to make sure they were functional.....there was a reason this company paid us to do this.....enjoy your model 12.

 

[dotdsd334]

Thanks loc n load! I'm confident all is well....just to curious for my own paranoid self.