Need handgun work done in East TN

[Smokeman13b]

Gents, how difficult would it be to make an affordable repair to a 1930's S&W M&P .38 that I acquired. Nothing too fancy, I'm not looking to completely restore it, but return it to firing capability. The cylinder stop has apparently been broken off so that the cylinder free spins.  Otherwise, it seems to be in workable order. 

 

Recommendations?

 

[leroy]

Smoke:_____________

 

See Bob at Predator Custom Shop.  He is their gunsmith (...and a great one at that...).  He can do whatever ya need and probably has the old parts if needed.

 

leroy

[Jonnin]

dunno about who you could take it to but you might be able to find a part for it and put it in, if you are certain that you can ID the broken part and such. 

 

The stop probably can be pushed down against a spring.  Its possible (if you have not taken it down that far) that all you need is a spring .....

 

So I would take it down & see if you can determine the issue yourself if at all possible.  If not, good luck with it, I am sure someone out that way can do the work, just can be hard to find a skilled smith in  some areas.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Smoke:_____________

 

See Bob at Predator Custom Shop.  He is their gunsmith (...and a great one at that...).  He can do whatever ya need and probably has the old parts if needed.

 

leroy

 

+1,000

 

Bob is a great guy and the owners of Predator Custom are great bunch of guys.

 

PREDATOR Custom Shop
3539 Papermill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Phone: (865) 521 - 0625

Edited January 22, 2013 by Dolomite_supafly

[graycrait]

The repair is not difficult to do yourself.  If you want to learn how to do it get a copy of Jerry Miculek's "Trigger Job" dvd. Does the gun still cycle?  If it does then the hand might be OK.  This is not a hard repair if the stop is all that is wrong.  Maybe the spring is gone that puts tension on the stop.  If you have even a  mediocre set of hollow ground screw drivers take the screw out of the front of the trigger guard.  That should come out with a spring if memory serves.  Then while you are at it take out the other 4 sideplate screws. Take off the grips.  Swing the cylinder out and pull it out f the frame.  Then take a wooden hammer or screwdriver handle, plastic is OK and with the frame in your left hand with sideplate up, tap tap tap tap with the handle on the bare steel grip until the side plate walks off.  Do not pry that thing ever.  On the bottom of the front of the grip there is a screw, take that out.  Remove the leaf spring where it connects to the hammer.  Remove the hammer block if it didn't fall out already. Pull the trigger and wiggle the hammer out.  Take a small screw driver and at the bottom of the frame you will see a rectangle sort of thing that holds a coil spring up against a vertical pin.  But your left thumb over the hole to capture the spring and pry the rear of that "rebound block" up and off the pin.  Now wiggle the trigger out off its pin. This allows you access to your cylinder stop, take it out.  The part cost is15.95 from Numrich Arms.   http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/SmithWesson-33495/Revolvers-42026/MilitaryPolice-38388.htm 

The old M&P has a plunger with spring that puts pressure on the stop, which I haven't done that many of but memory tells me this is not all that complex.

 

When you do this operation do it on a towel without small children and cats running over your work area.  I've done this on a dinner plate in a store with folks watching, which ain't that much fun, but it is doable.

 

The issue is will the stop be the only thing wrong, probably and it might even be just the stop spring on the plunger on that front of the trigger guard screw. Lots of folks have had their revolvers screwed up by someone who took out the wrong screws or put the screws in the wrong spots.  Each of the 6 screws you take out need to go back in their original holes unless someone already messed this up which is possible but still not beyond the kitchen table armorer's capabilities of getting them back in the correct spots. 

Edited January 22, 2013 by graycrait

[gjohnsoniv]

If you don't want to do the work yourself call Predator. Several of us on here can vouch for their quality and service.

[Smokeman13b]

Smoke:_____________

 

See Bob at Predator Custom Shop.  He is their gunsmith (...and a great one at that...).  He can do whatever ya need and probably has the old parts if needed.

 

leroy

Smoke Berry...

 

I'm familiar with Predator having done business with them YEARS ago when they were in the back of guns n more. I recently e-mailed them about an AR build but never received a reply. I suppose I will have to drive down there. 

 

 

 

dunno about who you could take it to but you might be able to find a part for it and put it in, if you are certain that you can ID the broken part and such. 

 

The stop probably can be pushed down against a spring.  Its possible (if you have not taken it down that far) that all you need is a spring .....

 

So I would take it down & see if you can determine the issue yourself if at all possible.  If not, good luck with it, I am sure someone out that way can do the work, just can be hard to find a skilled smith in  some areas.

I did take off the plate and check it out. The spring is in place but the machined part that is the stop is actually broken. I've looked at some of the parts places to see if I can find one, but due to the age of the gun, I'm having a hard time positively identifying the model and thus, which part to buy. So I do what I always do....refer to a subject matter expert.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Smoke Berry...

 

I'm familiar with Predator having done business with them YEARS ago when they were in the back of guns n more. I recently e-mailed them about an AR build but never received a reply. I suppose I will have to drive down there. 

 

 

 

I did take off the plate and check it out. The spring is in place but the machined part that is the stop is actually broken. I've looked at some of the parts places to see if I can find one, but due to the age of the gun, I'm having a hard time positively identifying the model and thus, which part to buy. So I do what I always do....refer to a subject matter expert.

 

I would give them a call at 865 521 0625 and talk to them. They WILL answer and they are a great bunch of people to talk to.

 

They have a list of people waiting on builds. It is like everything else going on right now, the parts are hard to come by. I don't want to quote them but you are probably looking at a wait. I was there today and they are waiting on parts to fill individual as well as bulk orders.

 

Dolomite

[Smokeman13b]

I would give them a call at 865 521 0625 and talk to them. They WILL answer and they are a great bunch of people to talk to.

 

They have a list of people waiting on builds. It is like everything else going on right now, the parts are hard to come by. I don't want to quote them but you are probably looking at a wait. I was there today and they are waiting on parts to fill individual as well as bulk orders.

 

Dolomite

Thanks. I appreciate the heads up. I will get in touch with them in the near future. 

[Jonnin]

Smoke Berry...

 

I'm familiar with Predator having done business with them YEARS ago when they were in the back of guns n more. I recently e-mailed them about an AR build but never received a reply. I suppose I will have to drive down there. 

 

 

 

I did take off the plate and check it out. The spring is in place but the machined part that is the stop is actually broken. I've looked at some of the parts places to see if I can find one, but due to the age of the gun, I'm having a hard time positively identifying the model and thus, which part to buy. So I do what I always do....refer to a subject matter expert.

 

Do you have the pieces of the part?  If so, it may be possible to measure it and make one, if the part is a simple shape?   If you simply cannot find a replacement, and it looks like we can make one, I can try to help.  Very hit or miss as to what we can, and cannot, do.