N frame .400 SS Target Hammer-A Mystery!

[yowsaboss]

I hope the collective knowledge here can answer a question I’ve been unable to get answered elsewhere, even from Smith & Wesson. Apologies in advance for the length, but I wanted to be thorough, to avoid leaving any question unanswered.

I recently bought a Lew Horton 624 at auction. Unfortunately, the previous owner committed the sacrilege of bobbing the hammer. Here’s a picture of the gun.



I want to restore it to original condition, with a (non-MIM) replacement that’s in excellent or better condition My research tells me it’s a .400 target hammer. However, after looking extensively on the internet, it appears N frame SS .400 target hammers are seldom found, despite all the various N frame 6XX guns made.

I located a copy of a Smith & Wesson multi-model parts listing.

In the parts list for the 624, no SS hammer and part number are listed. There are blue hammers listed, but If you do a Google image search for “Smith and Wesson Model 624”, they all certainly have stainless hammers!

Further, if you look at the 629 listing, there are FIVE different hammers listed. None of them are designated as SS. I thought perhaps since the 629 is obviously a stainless gun, it was implied that the parts are understood to be stainless. Not so. If you search the internet for any of those 5 M629 part numbers, every one of those hammers is either blue, or case hardened. None of them is a SS hammer.

So, I contacted Smith & Wesson customer service, via the online chat. Here is the transcript of my conversation with the rep-

Thank you for choosing Smith&Wesson. A representative will be with you shortly.
You are now chatting with 'Steve'
scott: hello Steve
scott: I just bought a M624, serial number ALUXXXX. The previous owner bobbed the hammer. I want to replace the hammer and return the gun to its original condition. I’m unable to find an original replacement anywhere. Is it possible to purchase a replacement directly from you?
Steve: Hello Scott, Welcome to our Live Chat. How may I help you today?
Steve: Does the hammer have the firing pin on it?
scott: yes
Steve: I am sorry but these are now obsolete. You will have to pursue the used market to find one.
scott: I wonder if you could provide me with the part number, to aid me in my search?
Steve: Are you looking for a standard or target hammer?
scott: it's the target hammer, .400
Steve: OK. Please give me a minute.
scott: no problem
Steve: 897840000
scott: Steve, I appreciate your assistance. Have a good morning, and thanks
Steve: Anytime.
Steve: You as well!
scott: Bye )


So, now I have a part number, I’m in business, right? Not so fast!

Steve: Hello Scott, Welcome to our Live Chat. How may I help you today?
scott: Hello Steve, this is scott, I just spoke with you minutes ago about a .400 hammer
Steve: Yes.
scott: That part number you gave me, it's not correct, I don't believe. I need a SS hammer, that part number is for a blue hammer
scott: I need an N frame .400 SS target hammer
Steve: That is the part number for the 624.
Steve: Let me have another look.
scott: This was a Lew Horton Gun, made to their specs. Any N frame SS .400 target hammer will work
Steve: I have checked and I don't see a .400 SS hammer number. Only a .500 one. Sorry.
Steve: You are right though, any "N" frame hammer will work.
scott: OK. They're out there, I've seen used ones advertised on line, and my gun certainly has a SS hammer
Steve: I have a few used places that you can try?
scott: so, we're stymied ??
scott: sure, any help you can give me.
Steve: They salvage used parts from guns that are not repairable.

So apparently since Smith no longer produces this part, they’ve expunged it from their records, as if it never existed. Rather than simply leaving it in the parts book, designated, “Not Available”, it's ceased to exist, as far as they're concerned. Now even they are unable to provide me with the correct part number. Care to speculate why that is?

He then went on to provide me with the names or internet addresses of a number of companies, none of which could help me. The troubling part for me is, neither Steve at Smith or anyone else can provide me with the part number for this hammer, which makes finding one a lot more difficult. I see .500 SS N Frame hammers hammers everywhere, but .400, few and far between.

Notice I’m not asking help with locating a hammer, although I’d be happy if someone can provide assistance with that. Rather, my question is this- I assume this hammer wasn’t made exclusively for the gun I have, as only 7000 units were produced. It must have been used in some other gun(s).

Which gun(s)? AND WHAT’S THE PART NUMBER!?!?!?

thanks in advance

 

[colt_saa]

Welcome to the Forum

Let me say that Smith and Wesson discontinued the use of stainless steel for hammers and triggers back in the 70s. The sear engagement was breaking down prematurely due to stainless on stainless galling.

To keep the look, Smith and wesson went back to their original forged parts and had them flash chrome plated.

Personally I never worry about a part number for a firearm that has been discontinued for so 3+ decades. I buy or sell by description.

I have a few flash chromed N-frame hammers in my projects bench. This weekend I will see if any of them are .400s

You might want to try a WTB add in the classifieds. Lots of us have parts lying around from unfinished projects

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

So apparently since Smith no longer produces this part...... Care to speculate why that is?.....

Perhaps they think stocking obsolete parts for 30 year old guns is not cost effective or the best use of their limited resources.

Fortunate, there are many ways to get these parts. An appeal to fellow members or a WTB ad like Colt_SAA suggested. Gun Broker and eBay offer a multitude of S&W hammers. Gun Parts Corp. (Numrich) has a very complete and impressive online catalog of old parts. Many over 100 years old.

Knowing the p/n isn't so crucial, as Colt_SAA says, since the p/n isn't physically inscribed on the part. A good description and in-focus photos can be as useful. None of the part resellers really know what the p/n is for certain anyway (though GPC does a pretty good job most of the time). They wouldn't know what to do, or have use for, the p/n even if you gave it to them.

 

[qballwill]

There is one on Gunbroker right now.
Search - Smith&Wesson S&W N frame Forged .400" S/S Hammer

 

[yowsaboss]

Welcome to the Forum

Let me say that Smith and Wesson discontinued the use of stainless steel for hammers and triggers back in the 70s. The sear engagement was breaking down prematurely due to stainless on stainless galling.

To keep the look, Smith and wesson went back to their original forged parts and had them flash chrome plated.

Thanks. This makes every bit of sense, and explains why (for this model, and the 629) the parts book doesn't say, "stainless" - Because they're not, but rather plated steel.

This gun was manufactured in 1985, so it fits that chronology, this hammer must indeed be hard chrome plated. I have people looking, including colt_saa, (thanks!) but I'm still curious as to the part number. This isn't idle curiosity, as if I'm lucky enough to find a NOS hammer, I can confirm before I buy.

 

[ken158]

Thanks. This makes every bit of sense, and explains why (for this model, and the 629) the parts book doesn't say, "stainless" - Because they're not, but rather plated steel.

This gun was manufactured in 1985, so it fits that chronology, this hammer must indeed be hard chrome plated. I have people looking, including colt_saa, (thanks!) but I'm still curious as to the part number. This isn't idle curiosity, as if I'm lucky enough to find a NOS hammer, I can confirm before I buy.

You have received good and accurate information but my thoughts are that the part number search will be unnecessary because when you find what you seek, it will not be in a package with a part number assigned. The part number you seek is 1487620.