Picked Up a Project Gun: .32 Safety Hammerless 2nd Model

[rhm0351]

I tapped the pivot screw out easily, and the pistol came apart. The trigger, hammer, hand, and grip safety work just fine together, but that cylinder is still stuck. Some of the color case hardening on the hammer is visible now. Here is a photo of it in Evapo-Rust; lets hope for more improvement and no significant damage to the remaining finish! The rifling looks good and strong, too, though very dark.

 

[rhm0351]

No more finish on the trigger or hammer, unfortunately, but, using a couple wooden dowels cut to about 3", I was able to un-stick the cylinder and remove it. The only hurdle now seems to be the extractor.

 

[rhm0351]

I went a little beyond the point of diminishing returns; the nickel is now a bit gold tinted (don't soak beyond 12-24 hours in Evapo-Rust). The upside is, everything functions. The ejector works, all five cylinders time properly on the DA pull, and it locks up solid. After a scrubbing with dish soap, hitting it with hot air, some Kroil, and photos, I dropped it back in the ATF/mineral spirits solution until I have more time to work on it. I left the sideplate in the Evapo-Rust since I added it yesterday evening and it had not turned colors like the rest of the revolver. I'm going to knock out the pins holding the trigger guard and the firing pin so that I can completely clean every piece before I decide on whether to refinish it or not. Part of me wants to just put some Mother's Mag Polish on it and leave it, gold tinge and all, part wants a factory re-nickel just to add to a historical letter if I were to ever order one on this, and part of me just wants to media blast it and hit it with some cerakote to look like hard chrome where the nickel was and a dark blue where it had originally been blued. I'm pretty traditional when it comes to revolvers, so a fancy modern finish is the least appealing option, initially. I may cold blue the trigger, trigger guard, and hammer, again, though, just for protection. Surprisingly, the t-latch retained most of its nearly black finish.

 

[TACC1]

WAY TO GO!!

So, basically, you have saved this pistol from almost
certain destruction. No matter what you do with it now, it
has a new life ahead of it. I have a project gun of my own
in 32S&W. Much better starting condition, but same
great S&W craftsmanship. You deserve still more points.
TACC1

 

[mmaher94087]

"I'm going to knock out the pins holding the trigger guard.. " The trigger guard is a big spring. No pins hold it in place. Front and rear of the guard 'snap' into recesses in the frame. Rap the rear of the guard with a leather mallet to loosen it from the frame. The pins are for the trigger and return spring as I recall. Mike #283

 

[rhm0351]

Thank you both for the support and guidance. I heard the Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West book might cover this, or a similar pistol, but need to dig out my copy and take a look before I get too much farther into it.

 

[jframejoey]

Any pics of finished prodject?

 

[rhm0351]

No, I've had it sitting in a tub of oil for years, and just not gotten back to it. I'll see about getting it done in the next couple months and posting some photos.

 

[glowe]

What a shame to lose all these images over time. My fear is that all of our linked images will be gone down the road, leaving posts like this with a bunch of blanks and pretty much meaningless. I ran across one a week ago that had 50 likes and sure would have liked to see what everyone was excited about??

I see this all the time and there are probably thousands of blank pics out there right now on this Forum, lost forever. If members would simply upload images to the Forum, they will remain available for future members to enjoy many years down the road.

 

[rhm0351]

Uploaded a few photos to replace the broken links. I'll see if I can find the rest.

 

[DocB]

These old guns make great part guns. Any Smith under $100 is a buy for me. Just this past few weeks I've taken needed parts from a Winchester M62 and a Smith Safety hammerless. Boy was I glad I had them when needed. A year back, I redid a Combat Masterpiece with a parts gun. You can't tell it from a near new one. Then I sold the parts gun for more than I paid for the restored one. Same thing with a Colt OM Match that needed parts.