Hammer mounted firing pin?

B

BeornLS

New member
Hi Everyone,

I just got a new to me (slightly used) Smith and Wesson Model 37 airweight, Gunbroker.com auction.

After I received it, I noticed that it has a hammer mounted firing pin (not sure if thats the correct terminology).

In the past I have not really like this, thinking that it should be carried on an empty chamber, and just not liking it mounted on the hammer in general.

Any opinions on this? Is this model 37 "safe" to carry with a round under the hammer? Any opinions on hammer mounted firing pins in general?

Thanks!!
 
If you look behind the cylinder, you will notice that the firing pin (FP) does not protrude. The only way for the firing pin to stick out is for the gun to be cocked and the trigger to be pulled all of the way back. Do this with your thumb on the hammer and observe the back area of the cylinder where the FP sticks out. You will see that the FP sticks out with the trigger back, but as soon as you release it, the hammer is lifted a little and the FP is pulled back.
 
Also, Smiths have a hammer block that slides up into place when the trigger is released, that prevents even a fall directly on the hammer from engaging a live round. All of my revolvers have the firing pin attached via a pivot to the hammer, and I have never had a problem. The only headache the Smith's have ever given me is after removing the side plate to replace springs. Re-aligning the hammer block perfectly is a pain in the *$%, and I've seen some people, either by accident or intentionally, fail to put the hammer block back in during re-assembly. THAT'S when you have a dangerous weapon!
 
Actually, a hammer mounted firing pin could be considered to be safer than a frame mounted one. A hammer mounted firing pin is positively blocked from forward movement unless the trigger is depressed. A frame mounted firing pin is held back by spring tension. If the revolver were dropped on its end hard enough, the firing pin could (in theory) move forward under its own momentum and set off a round. This is of course extremely unlikely, but I do like to muddy the waters every now and then:p . Also, a hammer mounted firing pin gives the hammer a little extra weight which could be helpful in the event of a stubborn primer.
 
There is a hammer block, there is a somewhat better trigger geometry on a hammer mounted FP and they are old school cool. The pivot actually helps them last longer as they don't absorb the full recoil and they are easily replaced. Better all around and safer in my opinion.
 
Thanks for all the replies! I do notice that the firing pin does pivot, and I do notice now that it does not protrude unless the trigger is pulled all the way back.

Great little gun so far :)
 
My .38/44 has the hammer mounted FP, but then the whole gun is old school. :)

I didn't know they stopped making them that way, the .38/44 was inherited and is my first/only revolver.
 
I once bought a small frame .22 target revolver with a six inch barrel. I don't remember now whether it was a Colt or an S&W, it has been that long (I'll find out tonight). But, anyway, it was old, possibly pre-war, and I managed to bread the firing pin the first time out. It was easily repaired by the local gunsmith but he had to make the part from scratch. I guess old things like that just get tired.

Under the for what its worth department, the US Army NCO manual I have from 1917 states in the chapter on pistols and revolvers that, in preparing for a range session, you were to load a full magazine in the 1911, chamber a round and then let the hammer down on the loaded chamber, whereas for a revolver you loaded only five rounds and left an empty chamber under the hammer. That is quite the opposite from what you might expect. It wasn't clear which revolvers they were referring to but I suspect it wasn't single actions. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Colt revolvers made up to that point did not have the positive safety feature.

It occurs to me that most bolt action military rifles will always require that you chamber a round and set the safety (if you want and if there is one) if loading from a full charger or clip, since the magazine will often not actually hold a full five rounds. Any ideas on that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top