S&W Model 60 Cylinder Release Failure

[ryan3465]

Hello all!

Thought some of you might find this interesting. Out at the range the other day with my S&W Model 60 (early 70's vintage I believe) I fired five shots, a reload, then five more shots. I tried opening the cylinder and I could not. Only after i disassembled the gun could I get it open and I discovered the "bolt" which releases the cylinder had sheared off and wouldn't push the center pin in to release.
I asked a revolver smith friend of mine and he said he hadn't seen one break like that before. Anyone else ever experience this?

I was shooting light target loads made with HP-38 and 148 grn HBWC. Never had a problem with it before, but I've never seen this part break like this before. The gun still functioned, even though you couldn't open the cylinder. Nothing indicated anything abnormal with the ammunition.

 

[rcmodel]

I've never seen one break.

It's not even a stressed part.

Must have been a flaw or crack in it from the get-go.

rc

 

[Jim K]

I made this comment on the OP's post on another site, but will do so here to get rcmodel's thoughts. That bolt looks to me like it was worked on by someone. There are marks on both sides of the bolt as well as what look like hand tool marks on the top part (the part that broke off). I have asked the OP if he bought the gun new or if it has ever been worked on. (The factory would never repair a part like that - they would just replace it.)

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

Yes Thanks Jim, I didn't notice that.

But there are definitely faint vice-jaw marks (or somebody smacked it with a wood rasp?) on the one flat, and some very unusual looking mill or file (rasp?) marks in other places on it.

I would have to agree that it did not come from S&W like that.
No fitter at S&W has a file that course, or a vice with toothed jaw flats on a bench at S&W.

Somebody dinked with it and did so for whatever reason sometime since it came out of the factory.

If they actually did clamp it in a machinist vice to file on it, they very likely cracked it.

rc

 

[Jim K]

Hi, RC,

Thanks for confirming what I suspected. I don't know what the intent was or what needed work, but I am sure part never came from S&W that way.

Jim

 

[ryan3465]

Thanks guys! I didn't know if anyone had "worked" on it but they very well could have. Well, off to find a replacement bolt!