S&W revolver forged triggers/hammers

[RealGun]

I recently acquired a S&W 629 SS 5" .44 Magnum. The trigger and hammer are that raw looking bare forged steel look, which does not compliment the gun at all. S&W says they have a MIM option, which I assume is a color compatible with SS. From purely a functional standpoint, not whether this is S&W sacrilege, please comment on making the change to the MIM trigger/hammer. It seems that if they offer these, they can't be that terrible.

 

[BBBBill]

Hammers/triggers on older stainless S&W revos were flash chrome (hard chrome) plated, so they should be a dull/matt silver color to blend well with the stainless unless someone has replaced them with parts from a carbon steel gun. The MIM parts that I've seen are all a darker appearance like carbon steel. However, I've seen few and handled fewer of the new guns with MIM parts, so seek comments on that from someone more knowledgeable as to the options with MIM parts. My MIM experience is limited to early poor quality MIM on other guns.

 

[Jim Watson]

I haven't seen a S&W hammer that looks "raw."
The vast majority of S&W hammers and triggers have been case hardened and therefore either black or blotchy colors even on nickel plated and stainless guns. They built a few with stainless lockwork but that did not hold up well, so they went to flash plated chrome moly, then back to plain dark case hardened.

I have pictures of later stainless guns with white hammers that are probably plated MIM.

I can't comprehend the expense and trouble of going to a generally less desired material just for looks, but hey, it's your money. But be VERY sure in making your order that they understand you are going for a cosmetic match so they don't put in case hardened MIM, leaving you no more color coordinated than before.

 

[Old Fuff]

Current MIM triggers should work in an older model 629, but making the exchange might also require a newer rebound slide and other small parts.

MIM hammers are made without the hammer nose (firing pin) mounted on the hammer because later model revolvers feature frame-mounted firing pins. Maybe they have had some special hammers made up, but I would check with them about this point because someone might have overlooked it.

Considering the probable total cost of having the new lockwork installed, and if cosmetic appearance seems to be the only issue, I think you could save a lot of money by simply having the original parts flash hard chromed to match the stainless revolver.

 

[BBBBill]

...MIM hammers are made without the hammer nose ...

DING, DING, DING!!! Give the man a cigar. Old Fuff nailed what the rest of us overlooked. Does your gun have a frame mounted firing pin or hammer mounted "hammer nose"?

 

[Jim K]

I am not sure whether it can be done or not, but if I were to chrome an S&W hammer or trigger, I would want to keep the chrome to the visible areas. The reason is that areas like the inside of the trigger slot and the single action sear and the single action sear notch and double action sear slot of the hammer are so precisely made that IMHO chrome plating might well cause problems in fitting or even in functioning if, say, the SA notch fills up with chrome.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

With regular decorative nickel plate (that consists of three layers, copper, nickel and chrome) you’d be right. But so-called “hard chrome” or “electroless nickel” plating is an electroless process where a thin layer of chrome or nickel is applied directly to the part. It is often used on machine tools to increase they’re useful life. Either would work in this case. S&W did this themselves before they stopped as a cost-cutting move.

However if there is any concern the inside-the-frame area on both parts could be easily masked off.

 

[4v50 Gary]

See if Jack First has the parts. He has CNC and can make them if needed.

 

[RealGun]

Old Fuff - <>having the original parts flash hard chromed to match the stainless revolver.

This makes sense to me and will retain any virtues of the forged parts. Now, where to get this done?

There is no pin on the hammer. The number starts with CPF77.., if that would date it.

The material is the blotchy dark coloring. Call it what you must, but it completely ignores any cosmetic consideration. I am used to the Rolex watch appearance of my Rugers.

 

[BBBBill]

Well, if there is no hammer nose (firing pin) on the hammer, you definitely have a newer gun. What is your dash number, i.e. 629 - ##?

 

[Jim Watson]

If the firing pin is frame mounted, your hammer is much most likely MIM already, with case hardening to give the dark mottled appearance. It would not be a great trick for S&W to put in flash chromed MIM to give you a prettier gun. They would probably charge a substantial price.

The CPF serial number block is not listed in SCSW, which makes it later than 2003.

 

[CraigC]

The material is the blotchy dark coloring. Call it what you must...

I would call it what it is, case coloring. The way S&W has finished most of their hammers and triggers for, well, a very long time. The new MIM stuff is finished the same way, it's just not case hardened.

 

[1911Tuner]

Call it what you must, but it completely ignores any cosmetic consideration. I am used to the Rolex watch appearance of my Rugers.

More likely than "ignoring any cosmetic considerations" it's probably done more to appeal to the purists who are used to seeing Smith's case-hardened hammers and triggers, and would be suspicious of an unwanted change if they didn't see it. Removing the firing pin from the hammer and mounting it in the frame was enough change to put many older Smith & Wesson buyers off...me included...even if I didn't know that the hammers are MIM.

It's a chemical process now, rather than actual case hardening, and serves no purpose other than for looks that appeals to the traditionalists. Personally, I like the coloring and find it attractive. Cuique Suum.

 

[Rule3]

The colored looking hammers are case hardened. Then they went with flash chrome which covers the case hardened look. It got to expensive so they stopped flash chrome.

Then MIM parts appeared. To the true SW fanatic connoisseur MIM parts are as bad as the internal lock. Changing the hammer if it is case hardened to a MIM will lessen the value of the gun.

Top pic is a M66-1 (flash chrome) bottom is a 66-4 Same with the trigger

 

[Jim K]

Those MIM parts are not case hardened because MIM parts are very hard all the way through and don't need case hardening. Case hardening was originally done because traditional S&W hammers and triggers were of medium steel, which S&W felt was more resistant to breakage, then case (surface) hardened. Actually, if I understand correctly, for many years before the used of MIM, the hammers and triggers were not forged; they were blanked (punched) out of 1/4 inch steel plate.

S&W makes an attempt to mottle the hammer and trigger not only because folks expect it, but because the case colored hammer and trigger is an S&W trademark, which they must continue to use in order to protect it.

Jim