S&W 1917 Disassembly

[roo_ster]

I just bought a S&W 1917 & would like to thouroughly clean & disassemble it before firing.

Thing is, I have never disassembled an old S&W large frame revolver or any other revolver for that matter. I never found the need, as all my revolvers were bought new. I am fairly handy & have disassembled/assembled other firearms (mausers, Rem 1100 shotgun, semi-autos, Rem Nylon 66 ) and could (at one time in the past) disassemble M16A2s & M4A1s down to the component parts.

Which is the best hard copy resource for disassembly?

Also, who sells the most appropriate gunsmith screw driver set? I figure I might as well spend the money on a quality set, this go 'round.

Last, are there any other tools necessary to do it right?

 

[Onmilo]

The Jerry Kuhnhausen book on gunsmithing Smith and Wesson revolvers is one of the very best manuals on the subject.
If you can't figure out how to gunsmith a Smith and Wesson reading this book and following along, then leave the task to someone with better skills.

B-Square produces an excellent set of hollow ground screwdrivers as does Brownells.
I consider these two sets the best of the best and they are what I use.

Chapman screwdriver makes a kit that utilizes one handle and a bunch of interchangable bits as does Brownells.
These kits are extensive but I consider them distant thirds to the two fixed blade, individual screwdriver sets listed above.

 

[slopemeno]

Buy the rebound spring tool while youre at Brownells...

 

[TooTech]

Would this work?:

Take off the grips, and then spray something like metal degreaser up behind the sideplate to clean out the gunk. Then finish up with a spray lube like RemOil, again squirting it up behind the sideplate. After letting the action drip dry for a day or two, put the grips back on.

 

[roo_ster]

TooTech:

That is the approcah I take with my newer revolvers, which are stainless, titanium alloy, and aluminum alloy. I do not know what such solvents (brake/carb cleaner) would do to a blued steel finish. Anybody know?

Also, I am not sure that brake/carb cleaner can clean cosmo off the innards just by sloshing around.

To see images of the revolver

 

[Onmilo]

I definately second buying the rebound spring tool if you buy the rest of your stuff from Brownells.
This little tool is a godsend and a problem and frustration solver no doubt about it.

 

[Jim K]

I agree that a rebound spring tool is nice to have, and I finally bought one, but I always just used a Phillips screwdriver and it worked fine.

Jim

 

[roo_ster]

I have ordered that Jerry Kuhnhausen book on gunsmithing S&W revolvers as well as a screwdriver kit set up for S&W revolvers (can't swing the big kahuna screwdriver kit from Brownells/Midway, yet).

I have a S&W 686, so I think I'll tear THAT down before I disassemble the SW 1917 for the experience.

The wife is all in favor of getting the right tools so as not to mar screwheads, etc. Gotta love that in a woman.

I will read the book before I order any more tools, with special attention to the rebound spring tool.