Chief's Special .38 Revolver Hand Problem

[rory477]

I've got this old S&W Chief's Special, which I took the sideplate off to inspect for rust and grime, etc; after many years. I took out the grip spring, and popped out the hand, to inspect for rust, clean, lube. I popped the hand back in, re-installed the spring in the grip, and now the Hand will not hold tightly to spin the cylinder. The hand will spin the cylinder if I point the barrel downwards, and rotate the cylinder when trigger is pulled, but if I point the barrel upwards and pull the trigger, the Hand moves out of its slot, and the tip of the hand does not engage the star on the cylinder until I point the barrel back downwards, and shake it. The Hand will not hold tight against the slot for the tip of the hand to go thru the frame and engage the star. Did I lose a spring or something that keeps it tightly in place, or something else I did wrong ? Can't figure this out, nothing seems broken, parts wise. Can anyone help or advise ? thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

There is a small spring in the trigger that presses on the pin in the side of the hand to push it forward.

Yours slipped off.

You need to put it back in place, then insure the hand is spring loaded forward in the trigger before you put the trigger back in the gun.



rc

 

[mnrivrat]

I think RC meant trigger rather than hammer.

But yes you have pulled the hand out and now the tension spring is no longer in its correct position.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, I meant trigger!!

Thanks for catching that mnrivrat!!!

I do know better. I really do!!

rc

 

[Jim NE]

This happened with me the last time I took a K frame apart. They are right about the hand. The spring is very small and easy to miss. Good news is you didn't break your gun.