S&W Safety Hammerless Firing Pin Issue

[commygun]

I recently acquired a Safety Hammerless (Fifth Model, I believe) that seems to be in good shape except for one, totally disabling, issue. Pulling the trigger doesn’t move the firing pin.

I don’t believe it’s the hammer as, once the retaining pin is removed, a hammer strike pops the whole bushing/spring/firing pin assembly out of the frame. Placing just the pin in its cut out in the frame and pulling the trigger sends the pin flying. Clearly, the hammer hits with enough oomph that, at the very least, it should visibly move the firing pin.

The spring looks like it’s in good shape and the bushing looks crisp with no deformation or burrs that I can see. Which makes me wonder if the firing pin is the source of the trouble. It seems to move smoothly through the bushing when I’m pushing the sprung pin through the bushing with my finger. When assembled though, no movement whatever.

Does the firing pin in the photo appear deformed? Or can one of our S&W experts suggest an alternative explanation for the problem?

 

[Johnm1]

Fortunately the firing pin, bushing and spring are an available from Jack First. If the pin and bushing fly out with the retaining pin removed it leads me to believe that the pin is hitting the bushing or the spring then the bushing. But you indicated that the sprung pin moves smoothly through the bushing by hand. Something is worn but I can’t figure what with the information presented.

There at least two relatively recent threads on this very issue. One started by me and another I joined in. I’m on my phone right now, so searching with my thumbs is ‘challenging’.

 

[Johnm1]

Here is the thread I created on this subject. Not sure it is going to help in this instance.

S&W New Departure Firing Pin Sticking

Here is the pistol: The issue is sometimes the firing pin protrudes from the recoil shield after the hammer comes forward. It can take significant force to 'push' it back in. As in sometimes I can't push it back in with my finger as it hurts too much and it takes a blow with a plastic...

www.thehighroad.org

Still looking for the other thread.

 

[commygun]

Thanks, John. Looking at your photo of your replacement firing pin, it may be that the ring or collar (or whatever it’s called) on my firing pin has been flattened and widened from use, possibly tying up the pin in the bushing when moved by the hammer. Hard to say without seeing what an original firing pin is supposed to look like.

 

[Johnm1]

Mine is kind of a bugger to get out or I'd pull mine out. When I pull the retaining pin and drop the hammer my bushing barely moves out. Maybe the picture at Jack Firsst will help.

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