S&W cylinder disassembly

[TT]

I’m planning to send the cylinder of my S&W 442 in for refinishing. I know how to remove the cylinder/crane assembly from the frame, but how do I remove the cylinder from the crane? Didn’t have any luck searching for ‘S&W’ + ‘cylinder’ + ‘disassembly’- got an error page.

Thanks,
Ted

 

[jaybar]

Cylinder removal ??

To remove the cylinder from the crane - hold the crane with your left hand, hold the rear of the cylinder with your right hand and pull. It slides right off.

 

[TT]

Ah! Thanks!

 

[Standing Wolf]

The bigger the hammer, the sooner you'll get it apart.

 

[TT]

Well, when all you have is a hammer, etc, etc…

Was that a warning against hapless hacks disassembling their revos, or is it really hard to separate the cylinder from the crane?

 

[bpisler]

It should slide right off unless it's real dirty
then it might stick a little.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Was that a warning against hapless hacks disassembling their revos, or is it really hard to separate the cylinder from the crane?

That was mostly tongue in cheek. I've been hanging out with a couple gunsmiths at work. One's a geezer my age. The other's fresh out of gunsmithing school. Both jest about needing bigger hammers.

That said™, the one time I encountered a J frame revolver with a stuck cylinder, I couldn't get it open for love nor money. The senior gunsmith looked it over about 15 seconds, then gave the cylinder a good whack with a non-metallic mallet. Presto!

 

[TT]

I don't think I have the guts to whack the cylinder with a hammer!

If it sticks I'll just file it off...

 

[Jim K]

Probably late, but I would remove the cylinder from the crane, but NOT disassemble the cylinder. Let the person who is refinishing the cylinder do that; he probably has the right tools.

Jim

 

[TT]

Sounds like good advice, Jim. The cylinder assembly came right out. It's getting shipped to Mac's Shooting Irons today. Thanks to everyone for their help.