Pre-30 hammer interchangeable

[mint466]

Hello. I have what I believe is a "pre-30" .32cal. See photos. Does anybody know if the hammers are interchangeable with any other models? Somebody bobbed the hammer and I'm trying to find a replacement.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum!

Well you don't have a Pre Model 30. You specifically have a Post War Transitional I frame. And it has a leaf (flat) mainspring.

Any .32 and .38 S&W post war I frame center-fire hammer up to 1952 before the leaf hammer spring was replaced with the coil spring, will interchange.

You don't want a hammer from the Improved I frame model, Model of 1953 I frame, or any pre model # I frame guns.

The main thing to look for is where the hammer spring seats in the bottom of the hammer; the replacement must have the stirrup like your hammer to connect to the flat spring.

 

[mint466]

Good to know! You probably saved my purchasing the wrong hammer and spending an hour scratching my head.

Now to hop over to the wanted forum and see if anyone can find one of these. Is this a particularly rare/unusual gun? Wondering if I'm going to have any luck finding a hammer for it.

 

[Hondo44]

No not a rare gun, tens of thousands made in the time period that you need a hammer from. I'll send some suppliers of parts. Also check Gunbrokers on-line auctions.

 

[mint466]

This rather looks like it. Yes? Just a moment...

 

[Hondo44]

Close but no, that's a pre WWII hammer. You need a post war hammer, notice the notch below the firing on yours. That's for the post war hammer block safety on your gun.

Also see the lever on the front of the hammer? You'll want to switch yours to the replacement hammer because it's the double action sear and fitted to your trigger. Push out the pin holding it to the hammer and be careful not to lose the small coiled spring behind it.

 

[hardknocks]

Hammer time

How about modify a pre WW2 hammer.
Hondo explained to me how it's done it works fine.
A few years back, there is a post on how to do the job.
Not too difficult.
Thanks

 

[mint466]

Alternatively- could one upgrade the spring stirrup and use a hammer from a later model? If anybody has a photo of a 63-98 j-frame's clockwork that would give me a comparison of how the spring/hammer setup changed.

I've attached a photo of my gun's guts, along with a stirrup and hammer I'm ogling.

 

[mint466]

How about modify a pre WW2 hammer.
Hondo explained to me how it's done it works fine.
A few years back, there is a post on how to do the job.
Not too difficult.
Thanks

Any idea what that post was called, or who wrote it? Didn't pop up in a search.

 

[Hondo44]

Alternatively- could one upgrade the spring stirrup and use a hammer from a later model? If anybody has a photo of a 63-98 j-frame's clockwork that would give me a comparison of how the spring/hammer setup changed.

I've attached a photo of my gun's guts, along with a stirrup and hammer I'm ogling.

Unfortunately the later hammer used with the coil spring is too short on the bottom to drill the pin hole to mount the spring stirrup.

Much easier to grind the notch below the firing pin on a late (later than 1920) pre war hammer.

 

[hardknocks]

Info

Any idea what that post was called, or who wrote it? Didn't pop up in a search.

Here you go.
Info from Hondo44

 

[Hondo44]

Besides looking for a hammer on Gunbroker, try these parts suppliers:


GUNS AND GEAR S&W
Smith and Wesson Revolver Parts & Pistol Parts For Sale – USA Guns And Gear-Your Favorite Gun Parts Store

'Guns & Gun Parts' (Recommended by S&W)
(413) 732-9938
983 Westfield St
West Springfield MA 01089-3813
EMAIL: [email protected]
Guns n Parts - New and Used Guns Bought and Sold. no parts list here.


Liberty Tree Collectors Phone:207-285-3111
139 Main Street, Corinth, ME 04427
Email:[email protected]

George Dye
"Salt Lake Collectibles Co."
P.O. Box 57433, Salt Lake City, UT, 84157
phone (205)502-2026


"Aonepawninc" http://stores.ebay.com/aonepawninc
has a bunch of old S&W parts for sale. They are very customer oriented and have very reasonable prices. 1/10/16

Dave Bennett: Parts and guns from 1900 up to 1970's.
e-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: 22ammobox.com - contact with domain owner | Epik.com


Jim Horvath: Many parts for all S&W's (large and small) from 1860 up;
can reproduce parts.
e-Mail: [email protected]

Jeff Lee: Lee's Gun Parts (an extensive supply of gun parts, including S&W) Mike who works for Lee has 45 M25 barrels.
(Open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).
3401 W. Pioneer, Suite 2, Irving, TX 75061
Phone: 972-790-0773
Lee's Gun Parts

Jan Matlega: Parts for Pre-WWII S&W hand-ejectors.
Mail Address: 528 Eddy Glover
New Britain, CT 06053
Phone: 860-229-6872

Poppert's Gun Parts: http://www.poppertsgunparts.com/
P.O. Box 413
Glenside, PA 19038
Tel: 215-887-2391 Fax: 215-887-5816
Email: [email protected]

Charlie Pate: Provides screws (original & reproduction) for S&W Tip-ups and Top-breaks; author of books and articles on S&W guns.
Phone: 703-533-8057
e-Mail: [email protected]

Phil Saccacio: Phone: 540-456-6405
e-Mail: [email protected]

Dave Szilagy: Manufactures parts for older S&W's.
Mail Address: 3107 Electric, Lincoln Park, MI 48146
e-Mail: [email protected]

Mike Veilleux: Guns and Gun Parts
All Parts inc. for Pre- and Post-WWII S&W's.
Phone: 413-732-9938
e-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.gunsnparts.com

S&W Parts; antique and new
[email protected]
Ph: 352 394-7412

"Schludershots"
https://www.schludershots.com/gun-parts-by-model/s-w-gun-parts.html

Everygunpart.com - Parts Kits
https://everygunpart.com/

 

[mint466]

Thanks! This is a great list.