Colt agent light strikes

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greyling22

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I recently came into a late 70s vintage Colt agent. The parkerized one. It has a bobbed hammer. I took it out the other day a d got a whole lot of light strikes in double action mode. Single action was better, but still had a couple.

So, I could try bending the hammer spring, or I could buy a replacement from numrich, or if i could find some, i could try federal primers I guess.

Anybody have any other ideas on how to make this thing run more reliably? Double action pull does not ear the hammer back as far as single action does.
 
First of all, all of the double action/single action revolvers I'm aware of release the hammer in double action before the hammer reaches the full-cock position.

Bending the mainspring in these little guns is usually a mistake, and if the revolver you have came to you second-hand is probably what's causing the light hits. I would check the cylinder for end-shake (back and forth movement of the cylinder, as opposed to rotational movement when it is locked.

I this condition isn't found I'd be sure the tip of the firing pin isn't broken off, and if it isn't I'd order up a new mainspring.

Be aware that a lightened mainspring combined with a bobbed hammer is not a good way to go.
 
Cylinder had some play until you drop the hammer, then it locks up tight. Firing pin looks intact. I'm assuming the spring either was bent or took a set, and that combined with the light hammer is the cause of the problems.
 
Cylinder had some play until you drop the hammer, then it locks up tight.

Which in this little Colt is what should be expected. However do not confuse rotational movement (or lack of same) with back & forth movement.

I agree that everything identified so far points toward the mainspring, and I suggest you replace it as a precaution if nothing else.

I have no way to evaluate what other work the person who bobbed the hammer might have done, but I strongly advocate removing the single-action option if this wasn't done. When under stress lowering a cocked but bobbed hammer can lead to an unexpected discharge, and I personally know of two instances where this happened.
 
have you tried a good cleaning inside the lockwork.May be gummed up
 
The "original" spring is probably used, as I don't believe Colt is making or selling them any more. The aftermarket one is likely new, but of unknown quality. This is a tough decision, but I'd try the latter, and if it didn't work exchange it for the original + $5.00. Shipping shouldn't :uhoh: be a killer.

Concerning the one in the gun now, it could be improperly tempered and soft.
 
well, the reproduction mainspring arrived today, and I swapped them out. I'll take it to the range tomorrow and hopefully the problem is fixed. And upon comparing the 2 springs, I think I found the problem. Bubba had been in my gun. :eek: The factory mainspring had about a third of it's width ground off for most of the length to make a lighter spring. sigh. Why would you do that to what can only be considered a self defense gun?! why?!!!

anyway, just upon dry-firing, the trigger is a lot heavier and hammer seems to be hitting a lot harder.

(in my defense, I've never been inside a colt before, and this gun is from a less illustrious period of of the company. I thought the horrible rough grind marks on the side of the spring were par for the course. it wasn't until I took it out and looked at the profile compared to a new spring that I saw what the problem was. Sometimes you just have to have the "right" in your hand to see the "wrong" An actual smith might have noticed the problem right off)
 
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