Need ANTIQUE Gunsmith - S&W especially

[SalemCat]

I have a 1880's S&W DA 2nd Model, .38. Nearly new, but somehow no SA. No Half-Cock, no Full-Cock. DA works fine.

I need someone who can fix it.

Any good Gunsmiths who know Antiques in NE ? Especially North East Mass ?

 

[Navy Moose]

Contact S&W and see if they know anyone, heck, they may even want the repair job.

 

[SalemCat]

Contact S&W and see if they know anyone, heck, they may even want the repair job.

Thanks ! Might as well try S&W.

I posted my problem on the official S&W Collector's Forum, and it was suggested I contact Dave Chicoine. Now, he wrote a few Books on GunSmithing, and has over 35 years experience.

But I'd be out $65 alone just to mail it to him, get an evaluation, and then get it shipped back. With no repair done !

I spent $700 on this damn thing, from a non-Dealer. It has the Original Box, and if it were everything I expected it to be, I'd he happy. But it's not.

But since it wasn't a Dealer, just some guy with his Great-Grandfather's Gun, and I pretty much had to beg him to sell it, well.... If he were a Dealer, it would go back pronto !

I don't know if he knew the SA was screwed, or if he even knows what SA is. He probably pulled the Trigger, saw everything work, and figured all was well.

I should have asked more questions. He did email many pics, so I figured what could be bad with it ?

If I can't get it fixed reasonable, I'll just dump it on GB, and take a loss.

(beginning to hate it - not a good sign)

 

[sieveboy]

That's a nice looking gun. Have you tried to take the sideplate off and look inside? I recently bought one (a first model in .44 Russian) and it was loaded with solidified grease which was causing serious problems. Good luck.

 

[Garys]

You're getting a lot of good advice over at the S&W forum. I've only used 1776 Gun Smiths once, and that was on a modern pistol. However, I did notice when I was at the shop that they have a lot of older firearms there being worked on. They're in Walpole, so they aren't real close to you, but they are worth at least a call or email. Two nice young guys, just starting out their shop.

 

[chinalfr]

Don @ 1776 is a S&W revolver lover. He will be happy to help you.

Sent from my Tinfoil hat

 

[SalemCat]

That's a nice looking gun. Have you tried to take the sideplate off and look inside? I recently bought one (a first model in .44 Russian) and it was loaded with solidified grease which was causing serious problems. Good luck.

First Model .44 Russian ? WOW ! Pics ?

Mine's super clean inside. The problem is the Rear Sear Spring is weak. Maybe the gun was stored at Full-Cock for a Century ? Who knows. I figure pop the Rear Sear Spring, re-temper it, pop it back in - Problem Solved.

Easier said than done, eh ?

I emailed Don at 1776. If this works out, I've got some more challenging business for him as well.

 

[Garys]

He's good about getting back to you, but it might not be until Tuesday. They are closed on Mondays and I recall that he doesn't always answer emails when they aren't open.

First Model .44 Russian ? WOW ! Pics ?

Mine's super clean inside. The problem is the Rear Sear Spring is weak. Maybe the gun was stored at Full-Cock for a Century ? Who knows. I figure pop the Rear Sear Spring, re-temper it, pop it back in - Problem Solved.

Easier said than done, eh ?

I emailed Don at 1776. If this works out, I've got some more challenging business for him as well.

 

[SalemCat]

He's good about getting back to you, but it might not be until Tuesday. They are closed on Mondays and I recall that he doesn't always answer emails when they aren't open.

No problem.

Will keep thread updated.