s&w cylinder latch operation question

[QuietMike]

This is kind of random but can someone explain how the cylinder latch is held in the forward position when you open the cylinder?
if you just push the release, its spring loaded and goes back, but as soon as you open the cylinder, the release button will remain in the forward position.

 

[mcb]

The cylinder release button is actually is spring loaded to the forward, open position. It is the spring pushing the center pin in the cylinder axle that is stiffer and pushes the cylinder latch back when the cylinder is close. In most S&W revolvers it is actually both the spring in the center pin and the spring on the locking bolt that catches the end of the ejector rod. Those two springs push back with greater force than the spring pushing the latch button forward. Open your revolver and pull the latch back and it will spring forward again. Also while the latch is forward most S&W revolvers cannot be dry fired. When the cylinder latch is in the forward position it will lock the hammer so you can't pull the trigger while the cylinder is open.

 

[QuietMike]

Thank you, I could not figure it out, - and i hate it when i don't understand how it works, I'm new to revolvers, they look so complicated on the inside. compared to like a Glock, it seems like comparing a hammer to a pocketwatch.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

At the top of this photo you can see the spring in question. It is a very small coil spring, and along with a plunger it fits into a hole at the rear of the bolt. Very easy to lose this spring if you don't know it is there while removing the bolt. You can see the slot in the frame that the bolt rides in. The threaded stud on the bolt fits through the elongated hole in the frame, and the thumb piece is attached to the bolt with a nut. The nut looks like a screw because it has a slot in its head, but it is actually a nut. When the revolver is closed, the stronger spring inside the ejector rod keeps the bolt and thumb piece in the rearward position. When the thumb piece is pushed forward, the cylindrical portion at its front pushes the spring inside the ejector rod forward, releasing the cylinder to be opened. At that point, the little spring in the bolt keeps the bolt and thumb piece in the forward position. The tab at the rear of the bolt is then in a forward position and prevents the hammer from being cocked, which in turn prevents the trigger from being pulled. Yes, it is a safety feature to prevent cocking the revolver while the cylinder is being loaded. You can defeat this safety feature by pushing the thumb piece back while the cylinder is open, which will allow the action to be worked normally.

 

[Old_Grouch]

Thank you, I could not figure it out, - and i hate it when i don't understand how it works, I'm new to revolvers, they look so complicated on the inside. compared to like a Glock, it seems like comparing a hammer to a pocketwatch.

It's all a matter of perception. I've had more revolvers apart than I could ever estimate.
I put a different trigger in a Glock once. At one point I was so frustrated that I almost gave up.

 

[Pat Riot]

You can defeat this safety feature by pushing the thumb piece back while the cylinder is open, which will allow the action to be worked normally.

Howdy @Driftwood Johnson
Thank you for that explanation. I was also curious about this issue that @QuietMike posted.
I recall an acquaintance of mine telling me what you said that I quoted above, but the “gentleman” that told me that wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer so I never tried doing it for fear of damaging something internally to my revolvers. Not that I need to do this, it was more of a curiosity.
I could see this coming in handy to see the operation of the cylinder stop and the hand.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I could see this coming in handy to see the operation of the cylinder stop and the hand.

Exactly.

By the way, the action of a Colt can be cycled when the cylinder is open, there is nothing that prevents the action being cycled with an open cylinder like there is in a Smith.

 

[StrawHat]

What DJ has posted is correction for all S&W Hand Ejectors except the New Century aka Triple Lock. On the TL, the extractor rod is also sprung forward and depends on the locking bolt to shove it rearward.

Kevin

 

[PapaG]

Magic. Same as how the trigger goes back to the ready position after you squeeze it.
I'm sorry, that was too easy.
S&W superior engineering.
Actually, forward is the default position with the cylinder open, held there by a s
spring.