What Happened To This Hammer?

[Retired W4]

Picked up a 25-5 yesterday and disassembled it for a good cleaning and this is what I found.

!: Someone sanded the forward edge of the hammer (right side only), and

2: The double action sear looks to be forward from normal. The scratch by it's pin indicates it was removed at some time.

The gun functioned normally before I took it apart but the DA pull seemed a bit rough.

The things people do. Am I looking at a future fail.

 

[AudieMurphy]

check the side plate...was the hammer rubbing there?....Also the pin for the sear looks smaller than normal from the pic's...I'd say time to find another hammer and toss that one

 

[S&W revolverman]

Almost looks to me like the sear needs to be turned half around. The long cut is outward and needs to be inward.
And, I agree, the pin looks abnormal as well.

 

[Alk8944]

The double-action sear cannot be turned around because of it's shape, it is in it's proper position! Someone may have filed the back of it to let it out a bit because it needed to be. The hammer rubbing is not uncommon. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it. Leave it alone. If the gun functions properly in double-action, with no catches or hitches, then there is nothing wrong and it should be left alone!

 

[armorer951]

Does the gun operate normally in single action? Looks like the SA cocking notch on the hammer is missing.



Carter

 

[AudieMurphy]

The double-action sear cannot be turned around because of it's shape, it is in it's proper position! Someone may have filed the back of it to let it out a bit because it needed to be. The hammer rubbing is not uncommon. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it. Leave it alone. If the gun functions properly in double-action, with no catches or hitches, then there is nothing wrong and it should be left alone!

OP said the DA was rough...

 

[Retired W4]

No abnormal rubbing on the side plate. SA holds well with no push off. I just put the side plate back on and SA is crisp while DA still has that rough feel. The DA sear pin moves with the side plate off but I don't think it can come out with the plate on. I'm between "shoot it and watch it" and replace the sear/pin which might require some fitting.

 

[WR Moore]

OK, the pin for the DA sear appears to be too small diameter, jackleg replacement for the lost original? This will change how the hammer & sear meet and work. There's no fitting, the pin is the pin-just make sure it doesn't stick out on the sides.

The wear on the side of the hammer is weird, may be the result of the improper pin allowing the sear to cant and make the hammer rub on the side plate or where it fits when in fired position. Some hammer shims might help center it too. Could also be from a previous owner "improving" it.

 

[Retired W4]

Well, that pin was not even a pin. Looks like a piece of wire. The DA sear had been filed on as well so I tried to replace it with a NEW sear, spring and pin but my tremors would not let me. I have some really pretty K hammers but I do have a N hammer with decent case colors so in it went. All is well now with this 25-5. Thanks for all the responses and encouragement. I'll get some pictures up in the proper section soon.