What's The Purpose of These Sleeved Holes in the Hammer?

[TomJohn]

In breaking down a S&W Model 1903 .32 Caliber hand-ejector I noticed the hammer has two sleeved holes that seem to have no purpose. In the picture they are roughly in the center of the hammer, one to the right and below the other. The holes pass all the way through the hammer and seem to have no function whatsoever.

Anybody know what these are for?

 

[-db-]

They are bearing surfaces, commonly called chafing bushings, S&W back then incorporated into triggers and hammers to keep them centered/trued during their arcs of movement within the gun.

 

[TomJohn]

Wow - very interesting! I've never heard of this before. I noticed one in the trigger as well, but left it out of the question. Thanks for the reply!

TomJohn

 

[Jaymo]

So, no trigger/hammer shims needed back then.
They don't make 'em like they used to.

 

[TomJohn]

"They don't make 'em like they used to."

Boy, ain't that the truth.

 

[Hondo44]

TomJohn,

Depending on if your .32 is a 2nd Model and below ~#19,425, you may have noticed another little piece of old world craftsmanship panache.

Does the cyl hold itself in the open position? Or is there a hole in the yoke hinge that would hold a plunger pin (some have been lost)?

 

[vigil617]

They are bearing surfaces, commonly called chafing bushings, S&W back then incorporated into triggers and hammers to keep them centered/trued during their arcs of movement within the gun.

Very interesting!

Do I understand correctly, then, that the chafing bushings helped prevent side-to-side movement of the hammer? (The "chafing" part of the name is what leads me to this.)

And I take it there is no pin that goes through the hole. So that makes me wonder why there is even a hole in the bushing -- unless in the production process, a jig was used that made installing the bushing simpler if there was a hole in it, for ease of centering, etc.

I enjoy these threads that talk about the old-school factory practices! I recently also found Lee's sticky on this part of the Forum that shows all the pictures of the manufacturing process from back in the 50's. Great stuff!

 

[-db-]

S&W apparently experimented with a few different methods. This photo of the inside of a 1902 M&P First Change shows solid bearing surface inserts:

 

[JayCeeNC]

-db-, I think there's something fishy going on in that picture...

 

[-db-]

-db-, I think there's something fishy going on in that picture...

Pardon? ...........

 

[JayCeeNC]

Sorry, -db-, the picture I saw was of a nice bluegill. Dunno where it went....

 

[-db-]

Sorry, -db-, the picture I saw was of a nice bluegill. Dunno where it went....

Sounds good, was it a keeper?

 

[TomJohn]

"Depending on if your .32 is a 2nd Model and below ~#19,425, you may have noticed another little piece of old world craftsmanship panache. Does the cyl hold itself in the open position? Or is there a hole in the yoke hinge that would hold a plunger pin (some have been lost)?"

'Fraid not, Hondo44. It's a Second Model - 1st change. Serial # 506XX. I do appreciate the panache of the detent, though - that's very cool.

 

[Hondo44]

'Fraid not, Hondo44. It's a Second Model - 1st change. Serial # 506XX. I do appreciate the panache of the detent, though - that's very cool.

Oh well, now you have a reason to shop for another!

 

[TomJohn]

"Oh well, now you have a reason to shop for another!"

I hardly need a reason, but this does help. ;^})

 

[Watchdog]

Threads like this, and the information they contain, are why I joined this forum.