S & W 32 Double Action Safety

pinestraw

New member
Bought revolver yesterday for $20.00! Not a misprint, $20. As a double action, has long, hard trigger pull. Otherwise, good condition. Is scew lacated
on handle, near bottom, for purpose of tightning?loosening this trigger mechanism? How should I get trigger opull to manageable level? That is, without paying gunsmith big bucks to open revolver, do trigger job, etc.
 
Are you talking about the old top-break Hammerless or the newer "Centennial" (Model 40)?
The screw on the frontstrap is for tensioning the mainspring. Loosening it will reduce the pull but will also lessen the hammer strike and can cause misfires and other malfunctions.

Dean
 
Hi, Deadin,

Pinestraw must be talking about the old S&W, the new J frames have no screw adjustment since they have coil springs. There is, BTW, only one .32, the 332 in .32 H&R Magnum.

Hi, Pinestraw,

I don't recommend trying to work on that gun and a trigger job is likely to ruin it, since the internal parts are case hardened and stoning or filing will cut through the hardening and the parts will not last long.

I would try unscrewing that spring strain screw a little bit, testing to make sure the gun still works OK. But first, I would get a good spray cleaner (I like G96 Gun Treatment), remove the grips and spray the cleaner into the inside of the action. Let it drain, and spray again. If the problem is old grease and dirt rather than a stiff spring, that should help.

Those guns were made to be child-proof, so they have a heavier trigger pull than most guns, but you can get used to it and actually do some accurate shooting with it (or in spite of it). The gun was not intended to be a target revolver.

Note though that if you fire it, there are few parts available, so if anything breaks, you will be SOL. But if the revolver times up OK and works, you sure have gotten $20 worth.

Those guns have collector value. If it is in very good condition, it is worth over $300; an average is closer to $150, as a lot were made.

Jim
 
Back
Top