New S&W 629. Question about the hammer and trigger.

[priv8ter]

So, I recently purchased a 'lifetime' subscription to Washington Fishing and Hunting news for $600. Part of the deal was you also got a S&W 629 for your $600. Now, I didn't really NEED a .44, but then again I didn't NEED a lifetime subscription to a local hunting and fishing magazine. Being a sucker, I jumped at the deal though.

Well, the gun came in yesterday, and what a BEAST. Did I mention I had never even held a 629 prior to signing up for this deal. I have done some dry firing, and the trigger seems nice.

My question is this: As far as the frame, barrel and cylinder go, the revolver is in great shape, I mean...it's new. But...the trigger and hammer seem to be very stained and discollored. I pulled out my S&W 686, and saw that it too had some slight discolloration on the hammer and trigger, but not as bad as the new gun did.

Just kind of curious about this...obviously, the metal of the hammer and trigger are different than the material that the frame is made out of...but is this discolloration normal?

greg

 

[priv8ter]

oops!

I realize I violated the THR Bylaws by not posting a picture of my new gun. Here it is with my 686 and Taurus 731 UL

 

[EddieCoyle]

I pulled out my S&W 686, and saw that it too had some slight discolloration on the hammer and trigger, but not as bad as the new gun did.

Greg, that's not bad, it's good. What you're describing are (desirable) color case hardened parts. Some of the other new Smith revolvers (like my .500) feature Metal Injection Molded (MIM) hammers and triggers. These are a uniform bright silver color.

Many people greatly prefer color case hardened parts to MIM. MIM doesn't bother me at all (mainly because I have first hand knowledge of the current composition, manufacturing process, and quality of the MIM parts that S&W now uses).

With that said, I like the way the color case hardened parts look.

 

[priv8ter]

Cool Beans!

Well, perhaps I shouldn't have used the term 'bad.' I should have stated that the discolloration was more severe.

Thanks for the info on color case hardened material. Makes me feel a little better about the gun. Can't wait to go do some shooting with it. I bought some S&B .44 Mag and some Hunting Shack .44 Special to try in it. Man, do I need to start reloading.

greg

 

[huntershooter]

priv8ter; If your 629 is new (which I would assume), the hammer/trigger are MIM parts with a chemical discoloration that is supposed to look like "case color". My mod. 22 and 629 have these parts and I think they look like crap. Apparantly the "powers that be" at S&W disagree with my opinion.

 

[priv8ter]

Now see...

huntershooter, you are bringing me down and just in general killing my buzz, because...I agree with you...I think the hammer and trigger look like poopy-kaka(how's that for a technical discription).

My 686 is a pre-internal lock, and the coloring on the hammer is not nearly so drastic, and more than that, it LOOKS like it's part of the metal. For real...it look like there is a big ol' stain on the side of the hammer of my new 629. Ick. Plain silver easily identifiable as MIM would be preferable to this stain. I wonder if their is a way to get it off.

greg

 

[Jim K]

Actually, S&W is coloring their MIM parts, so the color does not mean the parts are not MIM. I am not sure it is true color case hardening, because the MIM parts are already darn hard, unlike the old S&W hammer and trigger, but the intent is to preserve the "S&W look" and also retain the use of color on the hammer and trigger as an S&W trademark.

Incidentally, for those who mourn the old S&W "forged" hammer and trigger - they have not been forged for many decades. They were cold punched out of steel plate.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

The older hammers and triggers were made out of a steel alloy that could be color case-hardened. At one time S&W's management was so proud of those colors they tried to patent them. It didn't work.

The current parts don't color worth a hoot. Another manufacturer with a similar problem flash-chrome plated the parts for better appearance, especially with stainless steel revolvers. I disagree with Eddie, and much prefer the older lockwork.

 

[BluesBear]

+1

Old Fuff said it all.

 

[Master Blaster]

Dont worry those ugly stains will wear off as you shoot and handle it. the hammer and trigger on my 686 are now a uniform butt ugly grey.

IMHO smith and wesson should flash chrome all of these mim parts rather than putting the ugly stain on them.

I like the flash chromed parts on my 629-2, and 66.

 

[YodaVader]

Just enjoy shooting that 44 regardless of MIM , cold punched or forged triggers and hammers. I have a 629 Classic , made in 2000. It is an extremely accurate revolver for me. The MIM action is actually smoother than my older 686 with the hammer mounted firing pin.

This thread reminds me that it is time to reload some 44 Mag ammo!

 

[EddieCoyle]

I disagree with Eddie, and much prefer the older lockwork.

Now let's not start that debate up again!


Just for the record, I too prefer the older lockwork.

 

[Old Fuff]

I'll go sit in the corner with my teddy bear...

Anyway, they could flash-chrome the bloody stuff...

 

[EddieCoyle]

Anyway, they could flash-chrome the bloody stuff...

Check out the .500 and .460; they did something different with those. Bright silver as opposed to "case" colored.

 

[Jackal]

You can always do wat i did. Get out the Dremel with the poofy abrasive wheel and polish those parts up. I did, and mine looks great.

 

[huntershooter]

I was a bit shocked at how hard the MIM hammer/trigger are in my 629-5. I too polished the "stain" off these parts with crocus cloth. Took a while though.