Firing Pin Question

[trashpickinman]

I was just looking at my S&W Model 15-2, which has been sitting in a trunk for a good part of the last 20 years or so. Although it has been fired in the past few months. Just now when I pulled the hammer back, I noticed the firing pin moved a little bit, in an up and down motion, not side to side. I made sure it was empty, and dry fired it, the pin did come through the hole every time. This is the first revolver I've taken care of, and wasn't sure how much if any movement was allowable in the firing pin.

Thanks

 

[Cosmoline]

I seem to recall all my old S&W's having this kind of wiggle.

 

[model 649]

That's the way it should be. They were pinned to the hammer and allowed to move a bit up and down.
Josh

 

[trashpickinman]

Thanks for quick answers.

I guess it was just something I never noticed before.

Thanks for calming my fears.

 

[Jim K]

They were made that way so the tip of the firing pin would come straight out of the frame rather than coming down at an angle. Ignition is better and the size of the firing pin hole is minimized.

Jim