MatthewVanitas
Member
Follow-up on my $35 pawnshop special.
Gun in question is an FIE Standard: solid-steel DA snubnose in .38 Spl. Cylinder pin is pulled and whole cylinder removed for reloading, like NAA mini. U.S. made by FIE after their imports were blocked by the '68 GCA.
So, I look over this revo, and notice that the firing pin stays protruded when the hammer is down. Cocked the hammer back, firing pin recedes into frame, but can be pushed back into engagement by any object (ballpoint pen, etc). I checked my Ruger and S&W DAs, and they clearly do not operate like that.
It seems to me that, when the hammer is down, the firing pin is protruding, and would rest on the primer of a live round. So, I take it this revolver should not be carried hammer-down on a live round?
If so, that would explain the little window in the recoil shield: there's a small hole in the recoil shield that allows you to see into the chamber which is in the 10 o'clock position. Would the purpose of this be to aid in "cowboy loading"? i.e.: you load five rounds, line up the cylinder so that the empty chamber is under the window, then dry-fire (or thumb-decock) once to get the empty chamber under the hammer?
Very weird manual of arms. But it's solid steel, .38 Spl, and cost me $35. Just wanted to make sure I know how to use it safely.
-MV
Gun in question is an FIE Standard: solid-steel DA snubnose in .38 Spl. Cylinder pin is pulled and whole cylinder removed for reloading, like NAA mini. U.S. made by FIE after their imports were blocked by the '68 GCA.
So, I look over this revo, and notice that the firing pin stays protruded when the hammer is down. Cocked the hammer back, firing pin recedes into frame, but can be pushed back into engagement by any object (ballpoint pen, etc). I checked my Ruger and S&W DAs, and they clearly do not operate like that.
It seems to me that, when the hammer is down, the firing pin is protruding, and would rest on the primer of a live round. So, I take it this revolver should not be carried hammer-down on a live round?
If so, that would explain the little window in the recoil shield: there's a small hole in the recoil shield that allows you to see into the chamber which is in the 10 o'clock position. Would the purpose of this be to aid in "cowboy loading"? i.e.: you load five rounds, line up the cylinder so that the empty chamber is under the window, then dry-fire (or thumb-decock) once to get the empty chamber under the hammer?
Very weird manual of arms. But it's solid steel, .38 Spl, and cost me $35. Just wanted to make sure I know how to use it safely.
-MV