In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

changing a revolver hammer

Henry0ReillyHenry0Reilly Member Posts: 10,892 ✭✭✭
edited April 2004 in Ask the Experts
After an unsuccessful attempt to file/dremel the sharp edges, I have decided that eventually I will need to change out the broken hammer on the S&W model 10-5 that I purchased through the GB auction. Will it require "fitting" or is it just a matter of changing it?

I have never disassembled a gun without boogering up (no offense intended, Pa Booger) at least one of the screw heads. Do good gunsmiths keep dozens upon dozens of screwdrivers handy to match the exact size of the screw slots?

avitar.jpg
Semper Fi

Remember Ruby Ridge.

Experience is the best teacher and usually charges accordingly.

crawfordsville.gif
I used to recruit for the NRA until they sold us down the river (again!) in Heller v. DC. See my auctions (if any) under username henryreilly
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It should work without fitting.
    Gunsmiths have a set of screwdrivers that will fit most screws precisely. If they dont, they will grind one carefully to properly fit the slot width and length. Buggered screws make a gun look like hell.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Contender ManContender Man Member Posts: 2,110 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Henry,

    If you've had problems in the past with damaging screws, etc., then it really is best to let a gunsmith do the work for you. It's a simple job and the cost should be in the range we estimated when you were originally posting to determine if the hammer was damaged or not.

    Otherwise your just going to frustrate yourself and be unhappy with the end result ... and ... possibly even have to spend more money for a "smith" to rectify any further damage.


    2470099-S.jpg
    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mag44pistolmag44pistol Member Posts: 229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    V35 and contender man are right on the screws, I have a whole range of screwdrivers, I found one at a junk sale probably made in the 1950`s that had a actual tip adjustment, its the one I use the most. I even have a few ones I have made myself out of brass for special circumstances. Also no matter what have a drawer full of extra screws sometimes you just can`t help it no matter what you do, you will screw one up, factory over tighten is one I run into the most Ruger must have a 7 foot tall 500 lbs man putting some of them im. My policy is if I mess it up I replace it free of charge if its that way before I get it I ask if they want me to replace them with new ones, there not that expensive most of them I only charge $.30 for. As for your question on the replacment if its a actual replacment part from S&W it should work fine, very few times have I had to make modifications to a facty replacment.

    mag44pistol

    If you like my first shot? wait until you see my next!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Instead of buying every loose screwdriver you run across, B-Square makes a pretty decent gunsmith's screwdriver kit that runs about $25. It is a nice big padded handle with an insert socket for placing tips of various sizes into. The kit comes with about 20 tips ( some of which are torx etc.) many of which are good standard slots for guns. Bought mine at Galyans and have been Molto happy with it. The next piece of good news is that Home Depot and other stores have a section with about a godzillion socket head replacement tips that are in the$1 range so you could concieveably get hundreds of these things!! Only drawback is that if you need a stock retainer driver with a "18 handle that is obvously not going to happen with your little "4 multi-tip! I must have spent 200 bucks on the butt-load of screw drivers I have on the bench before this little gem came to my attention...wish someone could have informed me about this as I could have used that money towards buying another gun!

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,292 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just my $.02, but Stanley cabinet screwdrivers will fit most gun screws better than the high dollar gunsmith screwdrivers.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 260260 Member Posts: 1,133 ✭
    edited November -1
    trapp55, cabinet screwdrivers are not made for gun work. at least not the quality of gun work i do.i have to grind some tips to fit at times and then mark that tip so i know what it was ground for. sorry, but just my opinion
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.