S&W Mod 411 Reassembly problem.

[vis-à-vis]

So my roommate brought me his pistol. Its a S&W Model 411 in .40. The problem (or the only thing not done per instructions) is the hammer was cocked rather than in the full upright position when the slide was put on. So I cannot move the slide either on or off at this moment and I dont know how to correct the issue.

I'm not fully sure which one it is, but I believe the sear release is the one that cannot be pushed down so the slide can come back. Here is the manual (see page 26)

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/Pistol.pdf

 

[Jim K]

I don't know how the slide could be put on with the hammer cocked, it just isn't possible. If the pistol is SA/DA, there are three levers on either side of the hammer. Looking at the rear of the pistol, and going from right to left, they are the firing pin safety lever, the sear release lever, (the hammer), and the ejector/magazine safety lever. If the pistol is DA only, there is no sear release lever, since the hammer can't be cocked.

ALL the levers have to be pressed down in order to install the slide and that can't be done with the hammer cocked; depressing the sear release lever will drop the hammer even if it is cocked.

So I think there must be some other problem, though I don't know what it is.

IIRC, it is possible to remove the hammer and all the internals by removing the backstrap and the grips, without removing the slide. If that is true, you might be able to tackle the problem that way.

Jim

 

[vis-à-vis]

I fixed it. Don't know how. It was like that Scene from Empire Strikes Back when Yoda relaxes and pulls the X-Wing from the swamp. Yes, that must have been what Yoda felt like.

 

[usp_fan]

I used to have that model of pistol and had the same problem--It soured me on S&W auto loader designs for quite a while.

--usp_fan