What's with thw W mainspring

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Doc44 posted a picture of an N frame with a W mainspring. I have never seen one of these before and would like someone to expound on them for me. Are they smoother than the leaf spring ot what???

 

[Tired Gunsmith]

"W" Mainsprings

During the early 1950's when I was the gunsmith for REX we quite often changed out the main spring and the rebound spring on "N" frame revolvers at the request of customers.
Installing the "W" spring.
Some felt that this gave a smoother action.
We had a lot 1955-56 guns that came in with these as original, and had people who did not like them.
For those, we changed them for the usual set up of the coild rebound spring and flat mainspring.

 

[diamonback68]

Caj, as I understand it it was an attempt to use one spring for both the mainspring and rebound spring and supposedly smooth out the action. They didn't last too long about to the late 1950s. I had a 8 3/8" 29 no dash from 1959 that had the W spring and it now rest in the capable hands of Doc44. They also tried the same thing with a U spring about the same time, I think.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I learn something avery day on this forum.
That's why I like to hang out here. Also the
good people. Don

 

[Doc44]

Go to "Expert Commentary" and read my post on the 1950/1955 Target 45. You will learn about an interesting S&W handgun and a little more about the "alphabet" mainspring project.

Bill

 

[Andy Griffith]

So...

Can you tel a difference in the actions, Doc?

 

[Doc44]

Not really.

Bill

 

[Centenniel]

Very interesting information, guys. I learned something today. Thanks.