replacement forged hammer and trigger
- Thread starter zt77
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Also try Gun Parts Corp. (www.gunpartscorp.com). I expect you mean non-MIM, but IIRC, the more recent S&W triggers and hammers were not forged and haven't been for decades, they were blanked out of steel plate. Some like target hammers and triggers were then cold forged to shape.
Jim
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
S&W never "chromed" anything, especially guns.
Well, they did chrome handcuffs, but thats another subject.
A J-K-or N-Frame factory nickel finished gun would have had a color case-hardened hammer & trigger like this one.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142432204
rc
Well, they did chrome handcuffs, but thats another subject.
A J-K-or N-Frame factory nickel finished gun would have had a color case-hardened hammer & trigger like this one.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142432204
rc
It is not commonly known, but in an attempt to fight off the importation of cheap lookalike Spanish revolvers in the 1920's, S&W trademarked the colored hammer and trigger. That way, if the Spanish makers did the same, S&W could stop importation on the grounds of trademark infringement. If the Spanish did not color those parts, then the guns would not look like S&W's.
To preserve the trademark, S&W still colors the MIM parts, even though those parts are so hard that case hardening is not needed.
Jim
To preserve the trademark, S&W still colors the MIM parts, even though those parts are so hard that case hardening is not needed.
Jim
Last edited:
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Guys, I'm confused. I understood that stainless S&W wheel guns had hard chromed hammers and triggers. My M65 and M629 certainly appear to be hard chrome.
Is that true (they are hard chromed) or not?
(I think that may be what the OP was thinking)
Is that true (they are hard chromed) or not?
(I think that may be what the OP was thinking)
Early stainless steel S&W revolvers had stainless hammers and triggers, but they proved to be too soft. So they changed to regular casehardened hammers and triggers that were flash chromed for cosmetic reasons and corrosion resistance. About the time they went to MIM parts they dropped the flash chrome to cut costs.
From way back in the 19th century, S&W always used casehardened hammers and triggers in nickel plated revolvers, with possible exceptions on custom orders.
Taurus uses MIM hammers & triggers that are flash chromed in they're stainless revolvers.
Ruger's lockwork is honest stainless steel, and they don't seem to have any problems with it.
From way back in the 19th century, S&W always used casehardened hammers and triggers in nickel plated revolvers, with possible exceptions on custom orders.
Taurus uses MIM hammers & triggers that are flash chromed in they're stainless revolvers.
Ruger's lockwork is honest stainless steel, and they don't seem to have any problems with it.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
OF, my Mountain Gun is from the late 80's, purchased in 1992 and the hammer/trigger appear to be hard chrome. S/N is BDZ76XX if that helps. I have it in my hands as I type.
earplug
Member
First off Gun Broker does offer many parts for S&W.
The current MIM parts don't need chroming. In fact they had had problems with flaking of the chrome off JM 625 hammers when S&W plated them to match the forged stainless triggers.
I have swapped out several case hardened parts for Stainless and have not had any problems with stainless. I do this swap when I want a narrow trigger or to radius the trigger for DA use.
The current MIM parts don't need chroming. In fact they had had problems with flaking of the chrome off JM 625 hammers when S&W plated them to match the forged stainless triggers.
I have swapped out several case hardened parts for Stainless and have not had any problems with stainless. I do this swap when I want a narrow trigger or to radius the trigger for DA use.
You're right in that MIM parts don't "need" plating, but plating improves the appearence when they are used in stainless guns. As for the case hardened MIM parts - they are indeed hard, but the finish is a mottled gray, not the rainbow colors and oil-slick look that older parts featured. Something is missing...
It called "quality."
It called "quality."
In a previous post, I said that S&W had a copyright on the colored hammer and trigger. I should have used the correct word, trademark, not copyright. I have corrected the original post, but wanted to add this just to set the record straight.
Hi, Fuff,
I don't think the MIM parts are better or worse than the earlier ones; they are just made differently, and require a lot less hand assembly. As to change resulting in weeping and wailing, I am old enough to recall reading the long laments and complaints about the S&W "short action" (with the cam on the trigger to change the leverage and make the DA pull more consistent). The old-timers praised the old "long action" to the skies and were sure S&W was headed on the skid road to Hades. Didn't happen, and most people consider the S&W DA pull the best in the business, no matter how the parts are made.
Jim
Hi, Fuff,
I don't think the MIM parts are better or worse than the earlier ones; they are just made differently, and require a lot less hand assembly. As to change resulting in weeping and wailing, I am old enough to recall reading the long laments and complaints about the S&W "short action" (with the cam on the trigger to change the leverage and make the DA pull more consistent). The old-timers praised the old "long action" to the skies and were sure S&W was headed on the skid road to Hades. Didn't happen, and most people consider the S&W DA pull the best in the business, no matter how the parts are made.
Jim
Johnboy53
Member
Herew is a custom 681 that had the factory hard chrome hammer and trigger in it.
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