I have an old S&W top break. From what I can figure out from the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd ed., p. 84, it is a .38 double action, fourth model.
It used to be possible to push on the hammer with the action cocked and have the hammer fall. A gunsmith who I won't name told me the problem was that the sear was soft and tried to harden it. He was unsuccessful, and now it will not operate single action (i.e., the hammer will not stay cocked). He told me that parts are no longer available from S&W, which didn't surprise me a bit.
Can anyone recommend a gunsmith who could work on this and, possibly, fix it? It must be possible to make a sear. Any ideas how much it would cost, assuming that the diagnosis of a soft sear is correct?
Thanks.
It used to be possible to push on the hammer with the action cocked and have the hammer fall. A gunsmith who I won't name told me the problem was that the sear was soft and tried to harden it. He was unsuccessful, and now it will not operate single action (i.e., the hammer will not stay cocked). He told me that parts are no longer available from S&W, which didn't surprise me a bit.
Can anyone recommend a gunsmith who could work on this and, possibly, fix it? It must be possible to make a sear. Any ideas how much it would cost, assuming that the diagnosis of a soft sear is correct?
Thanks.