Two Casturated S & W Revolvers, The Fix?

[Curt Fesler]

I have two S & W Revolvers from the LAPD that were altered so they shoot double action only. Is it possible to return them to the stock condition where they will shoot both double action and single action. Do I need to buy new parts? Is it an easy install?

 

[cgt4570]

There's a good chance that they just removed the double action sear. It might be as simple as putting one back on the hammer. It's also possible that they modified the hammer or trigger notches. You'll just have to look and see.
Chris

 

[tomcatt51]

There's a good chance that they just removed the double action sear. It might be as simple as putting one back on the hammer. It's also possible that they modified the hammer or trigger notches. You'll just have to look and see.
Chris

I'm curious what standard proceedure is/was for LE armorers making a S&W rvolver DAO. I assumed they ground the SA surfaces off the hammer. Rounding just the trigger surface still allows a real peculiar/iffy SA. Removing the sear, incorrectly called the "double action sear" above, makes the gun SA only.

In any case, replacing the hammer or trigger (or both) will restore your gun to SA/DA. Need a pic with the sideplate off to see what was modified.

 

[bountyhunter]

I would assume they would grind off the little "step" on the hammer which is the SA cocking notch that the trigger nose hooks into when the hammer is cocked SA. If you grind that step down flat, you get a DAO gun. It would take about two minutes with a sharp stone or two seconds with a (gasp) Dremel.

 

[tomcatt51]

I would assume they would grind off the little "step" on the hammer which is the SA cocking notch that the trigger nose hooks into when the hammer is cocked SA. If you grind that step down flat, you get a DAO gun. It would take about two minutes with a sharp stone or two seconds with a (gasp) Dremel.

Which leaves us right where we were, wondering what the accepted proceedure is/was.

 

[Muley Gil]

The DAO revolvers that I have examined had the SA sear ground away.

 

[bountyhunter]

Which leaves us right where we were, wondering what the accepted proceedure is/was.

Well, not having the gun in my hands and with my crystal ball being in the repair shop, I was hoping the person who actually had the gun might look at it in the areas where posters in the thread have referenced and tell us which one it is.

Or, would that be too easy......

As for the "standard procedure for armorer's"...... that would depend on which armorer and which department. Obviously the SA cocking notch is being removed from function either by stoning the face or brute force grinding away of the bottom of the hammer.

 

[tomcatt51]

Well, not having the gun in my hands and with my crystal ball being in the repair shop, I was hoping the person who actually had the gun might look at it in the areas where posters in the thread have referenced and tell us which one it is.

Or, would that be too easy......

As for the "standard procedure for armorer's"...... that would depend on which armorer and which department. Obviously the SA cocking notch is being removed from function either by stoning the face or brute force grinding away of the bottom of the hammer.

Muley Gil addressed the issue. Not knowing has not kept you from enlightening us with speculation. You can modify the hammer or the trigger. As I said in my first post, a pic would show which in this case. Muley Gil, with 1st hand experience, addressed which way he had seen it done which was my question.

 

[judge]

Put in a new hammer & your problems will be over.

 

[bountyhunter]

Muley Gil addressed the issue. Not knowing has not kept you from enlightening us with speculation. You can modify the hammer or the trigger. As I said in my first post, a pic would show which in this case. Muley Gil, with 1st hand experience, addressed which way he had seen it done which was my question.

I don't know why your ego seems to compel you to potshot my posts with personal attacks, but Muley did NOT address what I posted which was that any revo can easily be converted to DAO by simply shaving the SA sear face's notch down. That's not the same thing as grinding off the entire sear end of the hammer, and the difference is important: if the face was only shaved down, it's possible a new notch could be cut into it restoring SA function.

I wouldn't think I would have to explain that to a gunsmith.

As for your question:

"I'm curious what standard proceedure is/was for LE armorers making a S&W rvolver DAO."

Could you be any more vague? Which armorers? Or, we just assume every armorer will do the same thing when there is more than one way to do the task?

Yes, Muley said:

" The DAO revolvers that I have examined had the SA sear ground away."

The point I made was that this is not the only way to convert an SA/DA to DAO.

 

[tomcatt51]

if the face was only shaved down, it's possible a new notch could be cut into it restoring SA function.

"I'm curious what standard proceedure is/was for LE armorers making a S&W rvolver DAO."

Could you be any more vague? Which armorers? Or, we just assume every armorer will do the same thing when there is more than one way to do the task?

I would really like for you to show us how you would recut a hammer notch (when it's been "shaved off" or "ground off" for DAO) to restore SA function. Putting that out like it's a viable option is not helping anyone.

As for LE armorers DAO mods. I was curious. I have seen this done more than one way (but not on an issue gun), some methods seem to give better results than others. Simple question: Is/was there a "commonly accepted", "standard" method among LE armorers? I thought some members here might have had experience with this vs your speculation. There may not be a "standard" proceedure. That is one possible answer.

 

[Curt Fesler]

Gentlemen,
I apologize for not coming back sooner. I'll take my pistols to a buddy of mine for disassembly and let you know what they did. I suspect they ground off the notch on the hammer. If so, where could I buy new hammers, from S & W I hope? I would tear into them myself but I'm no expert on the inards and don't want to butch up any screws.

 

[tomcatt51]

Hammers should be available, ~$50.00. Triggers too. S&W, Brownells, etc.