Reader Forum

Gun Parts List I need a list of names, phone numbers and addresses of people that sell new, used and old. I’ve been a subscriber for many years and certainly appreciate this. Ronald M. Will Jr.

Quicksburg, VA For new parts, go straight to the factory, importer or Brownells (brownells.com, For used parts or parts for out-of-production guns, the best sources are The Gun Parts Company, formerly Numrich Arms (gunpartscorp.com, and Jack First (jackfirstgun.com, Also, ask Brownells for a complimentary copy of their parts source list which contains enough phone numbers to wear out your dialing finger. S&W Outdooorsman I believe I can shed some light on the 1931 S&W Outdoorsman in R. K.

Campbell’s article in the September 2012 issue. Before World War II up into the 1950s, it was common for NRA bullseye shooters to use revolvers for the center fire and, to a lesser extent, the .45 caliber stages of the National Match Course. When revolvers were used for the timed fire (5 shots in 20 seconds) and rapid fire (5 shots in 10 seconds) events, they were often fired single action. The purpose of the extension was to make the hammer spur more accessible to the shooter’s strong side thumb.

I don’t know if Colt or S&W offered extended hammers as factory options at this time, but I suspect that the extended hammer on this gun is a gunsmith-applied modification. I have seen several examples of such modifications applied with levels of skill varying from excellent to crude. The only one that I could attribute to a particular gunsmith was a Colt I-frame modified by the King Gunsight Company. The quality of the workmanship was as good as that described in the article.

I believe that Kings referred to these hammers as "cockeyed hammers", patented the idea, and attempted to trademark the term "cockeyed hammer". For a nice video of revolvers with King cockeyed hammers see youtube. com/watch?v=3n Mbu EUee98. law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/218/825/60991 contains a judgment in a patent infringement lawsuit that Kings pursued against Micro Sight Company in 1955 regarding these cockeyed hammers.

The other custom features of this revolver (the single action conversion, the trigger and hammer stop pins, the trigger shoe and the light crisp trigger) also suggest that it was built as a bullseye gun. It would be interesting to know what the trigger pull is. The lower limit for a center fire pistol is 2 1/2 pounds. I would guess that if you weigh the trigger it will come in at just a hair over that weight.

Note also that during the 1950s Colt and S&W offered single action only options for Officers Model Match, K-22, K-32 and K-38 Masterpiece revolvers. By the 1960s, demand for this modification had pretty much subsided due to a number of factors, such as: The availability of "target hammers" as factory options on Colt and S&W revolvers, The availability of .38 special target automatics (converted 1911s and S&W Model 52s), Improvements in the accuracy and ergonomics of 1911s in .45 ACP. I concur with Mr.

Campbell’s decision to leave the gun as it is. He has apiece of firearms history which should be treated with respect. John F. Author RK Campbell responds: Thanks so much for the informed feedback! I am filing this letter for future reference. This is indeed an interesting piece of history that should be left as it is. What stories it could tell! Revolver Sideplates I did enjoy "Revolver Sideplates, Cleaning And A Surprise" by RK Campbell very much.

I do not have access to alike revolver, so I just wondered if he checked to see if the cylinder on the 38-44 Outdoorsman was long enough to chamber the 357 magnum, and if so, if the chambers had been opened up enough to take the 357 magnum case? Just a thought that maybe someone wanted to make

himself along range single action for that powerful new 357 magnum. He sure went to a lot of work to convert it to single action. Fletcher M. Author RK Campbell responds: No, sir, it was not modified to the .357 Magnum although that is a good guess. The first long range records set at 600 yards fired with the .357 Magnum, by the way, were fired with heavy "Keith" loads in .38 Special cases. Rossi M68 I decided that I wanted a laser on my Rossi M68 snubnose. Lots of lasers around for S&Wand Taurus revolvers.

I even wrote to one company and asked if one of their Taurus ones would fit a Rossi. Answer, we do not recommend using our product on other than the exact model it was designed for. Laserlyte offers aside mount laser CK-SWAT that fits S&Wand Taurus J-Frame Revolvers. It comes with one laser and four side plates and two sets of screws. I figured that one or the other would fit. It didn’t take long to determine that the CK-SH plate and CK-TS screws would work on a Rossi M68. That’s the S&W plate and Taurus screws.

Since the Rossi had wood grips, I had to replace them with Pachmayr Compac Grip for Rossi small frame revolvers ROS/C 03147 because the side plate is designed to fit under the grip. While the mix and match solution was a surprise, it was a pleasant one. Not being a professional gunsmith, I have profited by several of the articles in American Gunsmith which explained procedures that even a novice can do. That success gave me the courage to try my own fix!

John Gavel Melbourne, Florida You’re very welcome, Reader Gavel. It’s what we try to do for all our members. Muzzle Break Installation I have been a machinist since 1964 but have just done minor gun work for myself. I want to install two muzzle breaks for a friend. One will go on a .300 Ultra Mag and the other on a 7mm Magnum. I don’t know where he purchased one of them but the other he got from Remington. The barrels have been removed from the action already.

Can I go online or get any sort of printed material, photos or instructions on doing this? Do the breaks bottom out on the end of the barrel or on a shoulder behind the threads on the outside diameter of the barrel after it’s threaded? One of the breaks has left hand threads and the other right hand threads. E. J. In regard to the question last asked in your query, avoid any and all interference with the muzzle and contact John Hinnant.

He’s put together a detailed and great book on barrels and actions, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Precision Rifle Barrel Fitting and can be contacted at Weatherby Vanguard Trigger Have you written on tuning up the Vanguard trigger so that it is not so mushy? Can it be made to exhibit traits of a two stage military trigger? Or should I just buy one of those devices at Brownells? Geo No, we haven’t. We’re working with their legal department for an OK to proceed.

Better do "as usual" and install an aftermarket trigger this time around. Hang on to the factory one, though. If the gun ever has to be returned to Weatherby for service, replace the replacement with the OEM trigger prior to shipping. Why bother? Chances are slim to none the rifle, having been returned to pre-sale specifications, would be returned to you with the replacement still attached. You might or might not ever see the upgrade part ever again. Meaning what?

Meaning your customer would be out the bucks he spent for the new trigger and you’d have to make that dollar loss go away. You’d also have to refund any money paid you for installing the replacement in the first place. AG