Need A Gas Ring for A 32 Safety Hammerless

[TomJohn]

I need a "gas ring" (also called a "gas collar") for a third model S&W 32 Safety Hammerless (lemon squeezer, New Departure). I've checked all the regular places - Numrich, Jack First, etc. and drawn a blank. Does anyone know where I might find one?

Thanks.

 

[opoefc]

Best chance on finding one is to haunt the gun shows for a junker donor .32 hammerless that has a good gas ring and salvage it. Ed.

 

[TomJohn]

It may come down to a junker, but I worry that I may not be able to get one out without damaging it.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[glowe]

I agree with TomJohn, most 32 Safeties are over 100 years old, gas rings are never removed when cleaning, they are thin steel tubes, so unlikely that it will be easy to get out without damage.

Is yours worn, broken or missing? If worn, thin washers can be used to take the end shake out of a cylinder. If broken or missing, I have seen small collars made and slid over the base pin. If you are just trying to get a shooter grade gun back to working condition that might be a solution.

 

[TomJohn]

It is a shooter grade gun. There's an interesting pattern of wear on the collar: is is cut all the way through in a couple of places right next to the cylinder, like revolving chewed a fine line through it. In fact, there are just a couple of spots holding it in place. A collar over the base pin is an interesting idea - I may just work on that.

Thanks!