Some 'Classic' S&Ws I bought this week...

c pierce said:

Ronjon I know that this is an imposition, would you please post a complete disassembly of a smith&wesson.

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If I understand correctly, you are asking for a step by step instruction for dis-assembly and reassembly of a S&W revolver?

If so, I have to point you to Jerry Kuhnhausen's "THE S&W REVOLVER A Shop Manual" Published by VSP Publishers.

You will also need some professional grade tools for gunsmiths - I suggest the 89 piece gunsmith's screwdriver set (which has the special tools for several makes of firearms, including S&W revolvers) made by Wheeler engineering and available from Midway (about $100).

There is no way I could write you a posting here of everything you need to know - I literally spent hours using that book to 'hold my hand' as I worked on my Smith & Wesson revolvers until I did enough of them to do it without (usually) having to refer to the book. It's really easy once you get the hang of it - I think I now do a complete strip-down of a S&W revolver now in 10-15 minutes. Maybe 20- 25 to put it back together!

You might be able to get the book from several on-line gun book sellers. I got mine from Midway (but you may have to get on the used book list because I recently heard that it is out of print now).
Edit: I just checked Midway - Not listed there anymore, but Amazon has 2 new ones in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/Revolver-Shop...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235710806&sr=1-3
(It's pricey now though ($89.97) probably because it's out of print and in high demand!)

I have Kuhnhausen's books also for Colt (2 volumes for revolvers, and 1 for the .45 autos); Ruger revolvers; US M1 Carbines; US M1 Garand and M14 .30 cal rifles; and Mauser bolt action rifles. I don't know what I'd do without them - They are truly the 'Bible' for gunsmithing!

Good luck!

RonJon

Jim said:

Congrats
Two nice additions. One tool that makes it easier to take S&W revolvers apart is the Wessinger extractor rod tool. Not that hard to tear them apart. As far as the parts I just chuck them in a pile.Clean them up & put it back together. As far as screwdrivers. I make my own from old screwdrivers. I grind them to fit.
Jim

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I had one of those tools - It worked great until it formed a stress crack and fell apart.

Now I simply put most of the length of the ejector rod into a rubber padded vice while having 3 empty cartridge cases in the cylinder (to relieve the stress on the locating pins) and turn the cylinder to loosen the rod (remember - it's a left-handed thread! - Except in the very old S&Ws such as my 'Victory' model from WWII). This method works great in both dis-assembly and in reassembly. You must determine first if you have an older S&W whether it has the old right hand thread or the later left hand thread to prevent stripping it entirely (another reason to have the documentation!)

There are a lot of pitfalls within stripping a S&W that make the 'book' a necessity - From where the loaded springs are (to keep them from flying across the shop) to how to properly remove the side plate without destroying it. Also, removing and re-installing the rebound slide and it's spring is damn near impossible without the proper tool (included in the Wheeler Engineering set - or available separately from Brownell's).

RonJon

Doc44 said:

RonJon...Very nice photos of very nice S&Ws.

Bill

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Hey Doc - I made a few quick & dirty mods to my photo box and used the tips you gave me (curved white background, q-tip gun support, etc.)

So here is a sample of my first results using your ideas!





Am I getting closer?

RonJon