Breaktop action, Forehand & Wadsworth

[Herb Fredricksen]

I just received an auction win, a Forehand and Wadsworth .38, further
identified as a DA Automatic. The sales text said the SA would not function
but probably could be fixed, indicating it was DA/SA originally. I was
willing to accept the lack of SA function against a future fix. However the
action may be defective beyond that and I need advice on normal operation.

The firing pin retracts on halfcock but the hammer does not stay on halfcock
if the cylinder is rotated, causing the firing pin to protrude through the
frame to its fired position. I can return the hammer to halfcock again but
it falls anytime the cylinder is rotated. I can also push it off halfcock
with my thumb.

The seller says he always assumed these revolvers must be carried with an
empty chamber under the firing pin and that the protruding firing pin is
normal. I have always assumed the opposite, that empty chamber is not
required nor should the firing pin protrude through the frame. Dropping the
gun or striking the hammer would cause a discharge if the firing pin is on
the round.

Looking at my other breaktops, all but one ( I'll pursue that one later)
withdrew the firing pin on halfcock automatically or allowed it to be
withdrawn by manual halfcock. No movement of any of these cylinders caused the firing pin to protrude, short of trigger pull and hammer drop.

Also, two of the five cylinder lugs on the extractor star look uneven, a bit
chewed up, although that may be how they are designed, but it's not enough to return the gun. The protruding firing pin has the potential to rub on it and previous owners may not have noticed that opening it, with out going halfcock, allowed it to to rub on the star.

The protruding firing pin and lack of a secure halfcock concern me enough to
prompt a return but I'm not sure it is defective and need some advice.

Herb Fredricksen

 

[BluesBear]

Most Forehand & Wadsworth revolvers had what they termed a "rebounding lock" and a "positive hammer safety lock".

Sounds like yours has some issues.


Having owned several F&W revolvers back in my teenage years I can attest that they weren't made of the best steels and I have seen many more damaged and dangerous than I have seen that were intact and safe.

It seems they were all designed to just barely tolerate black powder pressures. Many were shot with smokless loads which just accelerated the wear.


I truely wish someone would manufacture an updated version of their "Safety Hammer Double Action" model in .32 S&W Long with better metals so it would be strong enough to handle .32acp. I bulged the chambers in a near mint original one doing this before I was smart enough to know it was dangerous.

 

[Josey]

That pistol is DANGEROUS!! Do not load it! You run the risk of igniting a primer when closing the action. It is defective. It is dangerous. There is 0 method of repair. They are not worth the custom machining of parts and handfitting of springs. I would return it. The S&W 4th and 5th models breaktops are pretty well built. I see F&Ws for $50.00 and less at gunshows. They are NOT safe with current production smokeless powder ammo. Wall hangers only. I hope you can work out a return to the seller.