Still having trouble with this 38.

[feets]

I think this is a 3rd model but I'm not positive. It's a 38 S&W serial number 173630.

This little guy had been dunked in some form of shellac and my coworker wanted it resurrected. Once I got it cleaned up the cylinder would stop short when the trigger was pulled slowly. A brisk pull would spin it around properly.

I tried everything I could think of to get it back in time but the hand needs a bit of attention. As far as I can tell it's a bit short.
My attempts at repairing the part have gone awry and I'd like to find a replacement. Are there such things on the market? If so, where should I start looking?
Numrich is out.

 

[JayFramer]

Go to a gunsmith.

Trust me on this one.

 

[glowe]

That part will be very difficult to locate. A couple of options would be to have a bead of weld placed on top of the hand and file until the revolver indexes correctly. I have had a machinist make long hands for large frame top-breaks in the past, but it might cost you more than your 38 DA is worth, so the weld bead may be the best alternative.

 

[Engine 21]

Go to a gunsmith.

Trust me on this one.

I'll second JayFramer on this - go to a gunsmith.

 

[feets]

That part will be very difficult to locate. A couple of options would be to have a bead of weld placed on top of the hand and file until the revolver indexes correctly. I have had a machinist make long hands for large frame top-breaks in the past, but it might cost you more than your 38 DA is worth, so the weld bead may be the best alternative.

I took that approach when fitting the DA sear on my 25-2. The replacement had been cut a little too much so I popped a dot of weld on it and fit the piece.

For the record, I am a home shop machinist and have done my fair share of gunsmithing projects.

The problem here is that I had a bit of a problem when applying the dot of weld to the hand. It was one of those horrible moments where everything goes wrong. I've been able to rebuild the part to similar dimensions but I failed to record the angle of the working end. Now it's off and I'll end up spending far too much time rebuilding it at various angles until I get it right.
I knew I should have made a master impression of this piece before I started working it.

 

[deadin]

Live and Learn

(Besides, those suggesting that you "take it to a gunsmith" obviously haven't tried to find a gunsmith that will work on these oldies.....)
(For a reasonable price..)

(Or they are very lucky to have found one..)