S&W Model 36
I recently bought a model 36 S&W, fully gold plated, fully engraved, with pearl grips. The gun appears to be nearly perfect. How can I learn of this gun's value? I could email numbers and photos to anyone who could help.
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Was it also made with a 4" barrel? 0 -
I own a bunch of Smith and Colt revolvers. The SA pull on the Smiths do seem to be a little lighter than the Colts. I think thats just the way they are made. If its a worry for you, take it to a gunsmith and have it tested on a trigger pull gauge. They will likely do it for free, and if you want any work done it can be done right there. 0 -
What Laredo said. Also check the hammer spring tension screw on the inside of the grip, make sure is turned all the way in. Some shade tree "gunsmiths" attempt to lighten trigger pull on S&Ws by backing that screw out. It also lessens the force with which the hammer strikes.
EDIT Let me remove foot from mouth. Y'all are correct- 36 has coil springs, the 2" model 10 I was looking at has the hammerspring tension screw. Sorry, wrong gun. Nevermind.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
What Laredo said. Also check the hammer spring tension screw on the inside of the grip, make sure is turned all the way in. Some shade tree "gunsmiths" attempt to lighten trigger pull on S&Ws by backing that screw out. It also lessens the force with which the hammer strikes.
The last I looked, there was no tension screw on a J-frame.
The single action trigger on most S&W DA revolver's are glass rod crisp, and at 2 pounds, plus or minus 1/2 pound. There is hardly any sear engagement.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsr1965 Originally posted by 11b6r
What Laredo said. Also check the hammer spring tension screw on the inside of the grip, make sure is turned all the way in. Some shade tree "gunsmiths" attempt to lighten trigger pull on S&Ws by backing that screw out. It also lessens the force with which the hammer strikes.
The last I looked, there was no tension screw on a J-frame.
RIGHT, they have coil hammer springs.
If it has been shot a lot, the single action pull might be normal.
If it is not to your liking you can get stronger rebound springs.0 -
Considering that this gun is at least in it's mid-40's and has passed through no telling how many hands, there's always the possibility a prior owner replaced the hammer and rebound springs with lighter ones - or simply clipped them. [:(!]
Any gunsmith could easily determine this and if necessary bring it back to factory specs for you.0 -
I too own a dozen or so Smith's.
If you are not pleased with the trigger pull, then get a spring set from either Wolff or Wilson Combat, and swap the main and/or rebound springs to your liking.
I personally have swapped for lighter ones on my carry guns.0 -
The early M-36 "flat-latch" Chief could have built up some residue over the years in the single action sear notch. A thorough cleaning and relubrication may put things right again. The "J" frames generally have the very nice single action let-off common to S&Ws and, as mentioned above, seem lighter than Colt's. The other suggestions re: spring replacement is well worth considering for a pistol made up to 50 years ago. 0 -
Trigger return spring on a S&W will have no effect on the single-action letoff.
I lightened [the D/A pull on] my '36 by getting a S&W approved lighter trigger spring. I left the hammer spring stock, because S&W designed the hammer spring to compensate for the less mass of the hammer. Delicate balance, as it were.
You can get 'white box' 130gr ball ammo, and it has military primers. The folks at S&W designed the hammer spring to be 'just enough' to handle any thickness primer.
You can bet your life on it! Joe0
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