Need gunsmith help

[Forty Rod]

I have a S&W 1 1/3 .32 that is in pretty good shape except for a loose hinge.

I also have David Chicoine's book, which gives great details about fixing that very problem...greta book, even if you're not a smith...but I haven't the tools, skills, or courage to tackle repairing this myself.

Any takers?

[Hemlock Mike]

Rod --

This is one of the problems of these "old" guns.  Most smiths won't work on them because many are not worth the effort and they don't want the liability for someone actually shooting one !  The S&W has a little more value but most would tell you to retire it 

I had an Iver Johnson with a loose front pivot hinge once and rather than hit it with a hammer, I put a stack of washers and shims in the gap so I couldn't crush it and pressed it with a soft face vice.  Those shims will keep you from crushing the frame and if it's not tight enough, take out a shim and do it again just a few thou per time.

Hope this helps because you may be on your own for this.

Mike

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Yep.. most gunsmith shops would charge you more than the gun is worth.
If you were local, I could tell you about an old school guy who doesn't charge a mint and will work on just about anything.  It sure wouldn't be worth it to ship to him.

Good luck,

[Forty Rod]

This gun is a shooter as it is, but it drives me nuts to have that teensy little wobble.

I found a couple of boxes of .32 rf short with real mild BP loads and have shot the gun.  It's a lot of fun, but whoever designed that hammer spur so dang high and forward, with a spring that would cause Ahhhnold to grimace, needs to be shot.  Between the position of the hammer and that infernal spring it's a two handed proposition to cock that booger.

Guess I'll pack it as a decorator.

[Hemlock Mike]

Forty --

Don't give up.  If it shoots, take it to a few CAS shoots and ask the pards there about who is a "shadetree smith".  If it locks up good enough to shoot, someone can help you.  Maybe a thin shim will help.

I have a 1 1/2 Smith and I shoot Navy Arms smokeless in mine.  They are supposed to be "reduced" loads for old guns and mine shoots them OK.

My hammer spring is strong but not too bad.  The screw on the front of the grip sets hammer (main spring) tension.  Backing it out a little will help.  Be careful removing the grips if you want to look at it.  There is a pin in the bottom of the frame which alligns the grips and it is usually tight.  Remove carefully.

Mike

[gophergrease]

Forty, if you get up to Fresno talk to the guys at 'Gilman and Mayfield' then were doing work on a lot of CASS guns back in 98 before I move from there.

[Forty Rod]

Mike, that screw is tighter than a Scotsman's purse.  Haven't been able to move it at all.

I may take a crack at the shim idea.  It isn't very loose at all, just enough to notice.

Thanks for all the ideas.

[Burt Mossman]

Forty R.,
Send it over. I'm sure I can fix it up for ya'.

Burt

[Forty Rod]

Over where?  Where are you?

[Burt Mossman]

Oh, sorry Forty R. I'm in Prescott, AZ. (928) 717-0067

[Forty Rod]

I'm thinking about it.  Got a fella closer that I'm checking out.

Thanks for the offer.

[Jubel]

I got one I shoot and I broke the hand on an older model. So the old guy goes into a shadow box with a set of jail keys and a nice reproduction badhr and the Picture of a real U.S. Marshal's picture 1880-1890 with a derby like mine and walah a keeper lol lol