N Frame repair

[mexicanjoe]

I have a .357 Magnum with a 3.5" barrel. It was shot quite a bit and I noticed the cylinder stop window is wallowed out. It does shave a little lead when shooting. I was wondering if there a repair that can be performed on the frame and a new cylinder stop installed?
IF so who can you recommend This piece has a very special place in my life,it belonged to a dearly departed lodge brother.
Thank you for your help!

 

[Vtgw938]

Couple things the guys in the know might ask for is pictures, is the cylinder stop sloppy in the cylinder notches, is it sloppy in the window. My thought would be the metal around the window might be able to be peened back into place if there is a problem with the window. A new cylinder stop is an easy fix but it has to fit the notches regardless of the window fit.

Sounds like you might have a variation of a model 27, very nice. I wouldn't do anything to it unless you really need to.

 

[Richard93]

I have a .357 Magnum with a 3.5" barrel. It was shot quite a bit and I noticed the cylinder stop window is wallowed out. It does shave a little lead when shooting. I was wondering if there a repair that can be performed on the frame and a new cylinder stop installed?
IF so who can you recommend This piece has a very special place in my life,it belonged to a dearly departed lodge brother.
Thank you for your help!

First of all I advise you not to shoot it until you have it fixed to avoid any damage. As for the repair I have seen micro TIG welding done to add material where it has worn and then use the milling cutter to shape the steel. I have seen impressive work done on precision mechanical parts this way. There are ways to fix it without changing the cylinder in my opinion, just find a good gunsmith.
A friend of mine did a similar repair on a gear of the gearbox of an old motorcycle

 

[stansdds]

Is the stop window wallowed out or is the stop undersized? If the stop is wallowed out, you could fit or have fitted an oversized stop.

 

[mogwan]

Cyl Stop Window

I don't believe S&W ever made "smaller" cylinder stops. Frequently mfr's will make little parts a bit oversize for a "Gunsmith fit." I'd go with the gent who recommended micro-welding some material onto the frame cutout; or perhaps trying to weld some extra metal onto the cylinder stop itself BELOW the area where the stop engages the cylinder cuts themselves.

Is the stop window wallowed out or is the stop undersized? If the stop is wallowed out, you could fit or have fitted an oversized stop.

 

[stansdds]

I don't believe S&W ever made "smaller" cylinder stops. Frequently mfr's will make little parts a bit oversize for a "Gunsmith fit." I'd go with the gent who recommended micro-welding some material onto the frame cutout; or perhaps trying to weld some extra metal onto the cylinder stop itself BELOW the area where the stop engages the cylinder cuts themselves.

Yes, but you don't know what a previous owner might have done to the stop.

 

[AudieMurphy]

After the window is correctly tig welded..probably about 10 amps...because the metal there is really thin...then the window itself is reshaped for the stop. there are oversize locks available on the internet. I know this for a fact, I installed one in my old 1929 44 spl. it tighened up the play in it... Now we get to the reason why this happened...its more than likely for playing "Hollywood" or like Miami vice...if the slots in the cylinder are mushroomed or hammered up....****n your finger across the slots and if you can feel the sharp edge...you may need to find another cylinder....there'll be to much play for even an oversize lock to correct.....just sayin

 

[cgt4570]

If you don't plan on shooting it a ton in the future, yes, I've peened a couple with a flat punch from the inside. Move just enough metal from the bottom to guide the stop without binding. Keep it centered.