Spring-loaded, hammer-mounted firing pins - why?

[Dave Dembinski]

I was wondering about this, today. Why are the hammer-mounted firing pins on Smith revolvers spring-loaded? I came up with some theories, but I'd like to know the real reason(s). Is it so that the firing pin gets a little extra "snap" from inertia? Is it less stress on the pin, so that it last longer? I assume the reason it's not a part of the hammer itself is to make it easier to replace?

Thanks for indulging my curiosity.

 

[Onmilo]

"Stuck on the end of the hammer like a malevolent nail."
I always liked that quote.

 

[Old Fuff]

The spring is nested in the firing pin at the top/rear. It's very small and light, and all it does is push the end of the nose (firing pin) down so that it doesn't flop, and always strikes the frame at the same place where it should be closely centered to the hole in the frame. I don't know that the lack of a spring, as was the case in earlier production, caused any serious problems. In any case it became a moot point when S&W went to frame-mounted firing pins.

If you find the idea of the spring to be attractive you can replace an earlier type firing pin with one that has a spring. As for myself, I wouldn't bother unless the pin had to be replaced for some other reason.

 

[EddieCoyle]

As always, Old Fuff's advice is sound. Earlier Smiths has the firing pin "loose". It always worked. You won't get any extra inertia from a spring-loaded firing pin, but by spring loading it, they make it so that it always comes at the primer from the same direction. I don't think it matters on most guns

 

[grendelbane]

OK, as usual, I am out of the loop. All of my N-frames, .41, .44, and .357 have the spring. As does my L-frame .44 Spl.

My K-frame .357 does not. Neither does my J-frame .38.

So is it a frame size thing? Is it a time of production thing? Is it a random thing?

Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Old Fuff]

I believe (without actually checking) that the spring was added to the "N" and "L" frames first, followed by the "K". If I remember correctly, the "J" frames never had a spring. If any of your guns lack a spring I wouldn't loose any sleep.