Custom Hammers for Navy Arms Schofields?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I have the sad combination of short stubby fingers and thumb combined with much beloved Schofields ...

The problem is that when shooting gunfighter ( my normal way to shoot), I have to slide my thumb up the grip to reach the hammer to cock it ....

Does anyone know of a replacement hammer that has a lower thumb grip on it?

[Blair]

Wadd,

The new Schofield's are quite a bit oversized compared to the originals.
Perhaps as an alternative from modifying the hammer, and just a suggestion on my part, resizing the grip frame on the new Schofield.

The image "Smith grip 1"

The top revolver is an original S&W #3 First Model Russian, 2nd Model.
It is this basic frame type that S&W will use in the Schofield Models.(with modifications of course)
The revolver on the bottom is the new Schofield with the left grip of the original placed on the grip frame. I think you can there is quite a bit of difference

"Smith grip 2" is a close up of the differences

Removing some of the back strap will place your hand slightly colser to the hammer and the trigger, IT may just give you the reach you need.
 Blair

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Blair,

I am thoroughly happy with the grips as is ...don't want to change a thing ...in fact, if I didn't shoot senior gunfighter and would have an off hand free to cock the weapon, everything would be gravy.

But I had an incident happen at the shoot that really rattled me. As usual, I slid my thumb up the back of the grip to cock the hammer, leaving the pistol in a slightly muzzle up position. With the hammer cocked, I accidentally fired the weapon, sending a round over the berm.

Don't want to ever do that again. Obviously.

So the reasons that I believe the accidental fire happened was that a.) I had to put the gun in enough of a barrel up position to cock it that I might fire over the berm, and b.) I had my finger on the trigger while cocking it.

b.) is easy to fix; keep my *$%*^& finger off the trigger while cocking.

a.) seems a much harder trick ... I see hammers sold for Colt clones that have lowered thumb grips to make them faster ... logic would have it that there is something like that for a Schofield ... No?

[Blair]

Wadd,

Sorry, I actually misunderstood your original question.

Please disregard my previous suggestions. They were only intended/meant to offer you an alternative to what I assumed/understood (based on your posting) was a "safety" issue for "short" appendages.
  Blair

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Blair,

No worries, mate ... and I think your fix would work ... I was just hoping for a bolt-on hammer that I could add on without doing any permanent modifications ...

[Coffinmaker]

WWE

Well ........ the actual answer to your question is no.  The number of Schofields doesn't justify tooling up for much in the way of after-market parts.  Best suggestion would be to pick up a couple of hammers from VTI and have a good smith re-contour the hammers.

Coffinmaker

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Coffinmaker,

That sound like the route to go ... but there seems to be a dearth of gunsmiths doing this kind of work in the local area.

Is there a 'smith that comes to your mind when thinking about re-contouring hammers?

[Coffinmaker]

WWE

At your end of the country, I'd give a call to the Cowboys & Indians store in Southern California.  Those guys can work magic.  Fair in their prices too.

Coffinmaker

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Coffinmaker,



I tried to call them hopeing that they had late hours ... nope 10-5 Mon-Friday.Tried to send them an email but their program ate my message whtn I was half done, so I will call them tomorrow ....

Thanks!

[Abilene]

WWE,
There was a fellow named Joe Whitely in Palmdale, CA who used to do a lot of hammer spur bending for mounted shooters.  The contact info I have for him is about 5 years old, so don't know if it is still any good, but you might try :  661-538-9826 - 818-519-0921 (M)    gentlemanjoe@att.net   

And if that is no good, I'm betting Cowboy & Indian store could tell you who does it even if they don't.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Abilene,

Thanks ...

My plan is to have a couple ofextra Navy Arms Schofield hammers for them to bend ..... then to keep the originals and have the replacements bent and installed.

Sound like a plan?

I tried to talk with Cowboys and Indians on the phone but they were already closed ... and the combination of their email system and my old computer sent the email when it was half written ....  so I will wait until tomorrow and call them ....

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Wadd,

Take a good look at your Navy Arms Schofields. Some of the early Navy Arms guns were make by ASM and I'm told that parts don't interchange with Uberti.

For what it's worth, I too have short fingers and small hands and I now have no trouble cocking My ASM as Ilightend the mainspring. The little screw in the front of the grip frame can be back out to lighten the spring. I also had to file a little off the end of the screw, but still get good ignition with a substantially lighter and easier to cock sprign

Reverend Chase