Interesting find inside Older S&W Revolver

[deltaenterprizes]

I am restoring my collection that was in a flood and the last two were pinned and recessed Model 29 and 28.
What I found was a pin inside the rebound spring that causes the trigger to return.
I have done trigger work on plenty of Smiths and never ran across anything like this.
My thinking is it is supposed to stop the spring from binding like the full length recoil spring guide rods in semiauto pistol.

Anyone else run into this?

[schutzen-jager]

no i have not in any K or N frames i have seen - was it purchased new ? - my Kuhnhausen S&W shop manual book does not show any in the parts lists , except in l newer model N frames - it is shown on page # 43 + is called a trigger stop pin -

[36g]

Is it some type of trigger overtravel limiter pin?

[gunther]

Pretty sure it is a trigger stop. Found one in a 28. Tried the same trick in a 98 Mauser. It worked there, too. Ruger Old Army's will respond well to a modification of this fix.

[Mk42gunner]

Is it some type of trigger overtravel limiter pin?

That is what it was intended to be.

Right off the top of my head, I don't remember ever actually seeing one of them. However, IIRC the instructor when I went to a Law Enforcement Armorer's calss recommended taking them out and throwing them away.

He did come from a duty gun environment, and his attitude was anything extra inside a gun that can break, will, at the worst possible time. I do believe he was familiar with Saint Murphy.

Robert

[G W Wade]

I remember the pins inside the rebound spring but can not think of what S&W it was. Did have a 28 and 58, it's probably a good guess GW

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Your theory about why the pin is there, to keep the spring from binding is a good one. I think I related this story awhile back, so I'll give the abbreviated version. In my gunsmithing/dealer days I sold an Astra .357 mag. revolver (he ordered it new) to a fellow who returned it because the cylinder began to not lock up. The locking bolt wasn't rising to lock into the cylinder notch. I took it apart and found that the spring that powered the locking bolt was just floating around loose inside the frame. There was a nub on the locking bolt part that was meant to engage the spring's top, but the other end just rested inside the frame and was held there by spring tension. I replaced it its original position, but he returned with the same problem. This time I noted that a very nice high-quality revolver somewhat based on the S&W design lacked the screw at the top of the trigger guard bow that holds the S&W spring in place. I drilled and tapped a hole in the appropriate location, and installed a long screw with the threads removed from the bottom 1/2 of its length. This acted as a pin through about half of the length of the spring and solved the problem. Yes, springs can move, bend, or kink without internal support. As to the 1911 and similar types, the elongated guide rod makes sense, and I've used them, but if of maximum length they make disassembly such a chore that I discontinued their use and have come to the conclusion that they're really unnecessary, another gimmick.

DG

[schutzen-jager]

from shop manual - definitely a trigger stop, limiter pin - magnify image for description -

[HWooldridge]

IIRC, my 29 has a pin - but I haven’t stripped it that far in a long time. Might have to pull it out and look.

[almar]

when you buy a powers custom trigger kit it comes with those stop pins. You have to "trial and error" shorten them for your specific revolver. My S&W 500 also had one when i bought it, i did buy it used however. None of my "vintage" s&W had them though.