S&W pre 88 K frame hammer nose ??'s

[Slips73]

Hey everyone, I had a question about the hammer noses on pre 88 k frame smiths, I have a model 64-3, its the older style non spring loaded firing pin, I want to have a few backup pins for it just in case, I orded some rivets for it, but have yet to find a pre 88 firing pin. Will the old S&W victory m-38 firing pins work? I found some of those, its a k frame but i know the lockwork changed a bit from then until the 80s. and the pins look slightly different.

Just looking to clarify

thanks,

Adam

 

[scooter123]

I recently had an issue with a newly acquired 1971 vintage 19-3 misfiring with magnum primered ammunition that was due to a "short" hammer nose installed by the factory. So much for the Pinned and Recessed era being the "Golden Age". Since I do like shooting some home brew Sub Magnums loaded between 38 +P and Magnm starting charges in that model 19 being about to shoot them in Double Action was rather important. The solution was a Power Custom extended hammer nose purchased from Brownell's. It's a post 1988 spring loaded hammer nose but I can tell you that it was a drop in fit on my 1971 vintage hammer. It also had enough extra length that it went a bit beyond solving my misfire problem so I used a diamond file to shorten it by 0.008 inches per my caliper. Probably didn't need to shorten it but primers from the first test after installing it had dimples that looked like the Grand Canyon so I thought it a good idea to knock it back just a bit. More recent testing and shooting shows it's still a touch deep but not enough to bother with.

Point is, this hammer nose will likely work with anything made post 1950 or so. I can also tell you that the instructions for the fitting and fitting points on the new hammer nose provided by Power Custom were just superb even if they weren't needed.

 

[Hapworth]

...The solution was a Power Custom extended hammer nose purchased from Brownell's. It's a post 1988 spring loaded hammer nose but I can tell you that it was a drop in fit on my 1971 vintage hammer...

...Point is, this hammer nose will likely work with anything made post 1950 or so....

I'm surprised. The rivet point in the factory post-'88 hammer noses is lower than the earlier ones to accommodate the spring, and the corresponding rivet point in the post-'88 hammers is drilled lower than the earlier hammers. I'd think there would be a fair amount of post-'88 hammer nose body sticking up through the top of the '71 vintage hammer, and might affect alignment dropping into the firing pin hole. You're not noticing unusual wear?

Too, I've noted that the post-'88 hammer noses have a thinner firing pin tip than the earlier ones, and a correspondingly narrower firing pin bushing hole to pass through. I'd wager you're getting deeper dents in the primers not only because the pin is longer, but the '71 vintage firing pin hole is letting more of the narrower firing pin through.

 

[Slips73]

I'm surprised. The rivet point in the factory post-'88 hammer noses is lower than the earlier ones to accommodate the spring, and the corresponding rivet point in the post-'88 hammers is drilled lower than the earlier hammers. I'd think there would be a fair amount of post-'88 hammer nose body sticking up through the top of the '71 vintage hammer, and might affect alignment dropping into the firing pin hole. You're not noticing unusual wear?

Too, I've noted that the post-'88 hammer noses have a thinner firing pin tip than the earlier ones, and a correspondingly narrower firing pin bushing hole to pass through. I'd wager you're getting deeper dents in the primers not only because the pin is longer, but the '71 vintage firing pin hole is letting more of the narrower firing pin through.

will these hammer noses (victory model) work with pre 88 hammers? I know the post war ones have a cutout for the hammer block, but as long as the pin fits in the hammer i would think it should be an issue, as outside from the longer bottom/ cut away section they look the same

pre 88,

 

[Hapworth]

will these hammer noses (victory model) work with pre 88 hammers? I know the post war ones have a cutout for the hammer block, but as long as the pin fits in the hammer i would think it should be an issue, as outside from the longer bottom/ cut away section they look the same...

I don't know, but I think it's wisest to keep like with like and stay on the hunt for a model correct hammer nose...

Check PMs for suggestion...

 

[scooter123]

Hapworth, the instructions provided with the Power Custom went into detail on how to properly fit the hammer nose and how to check for the fit. When properly fitted the hammer nose is supposed to contact the bottom surface of the firing pin bushing and "ride" that surface as the hammer falls. First thing I did after installing the new hammer nose with the rivet loosely in place was to install the hammer only and and to check to see if it was contacting the firing pin bushing properly. It in fact fit just perfectly so all I needed to do was rivet the pin and install the trigger, rebound slide, hammer, and main spring.

I'll also note there is a specific point on the hammer nose that can be stoned to adjust the striking position of the hammer nose as it contacts the firing pin bushing but in my case I didn't have to do any fitting at all. I also tested the fit with the hammer completely loose with no springs installed and did not feel any indication of a bind due to the firing pin sitting cockeyed in the firing pin bushing.

As for the new hammer nose "riding high" in the cutout in the hammer, it's about 1/64 inch above the mating surface on the top of the hammer but with the variation in this fit over the generations these revolvers were built I would be inclined to say it's within the normal variation.