S &W 686 question

[Rmiked]

Is the firing pin part of the hammer? Is that small diameter piece on front of hammer what actually strikes the primer?
Also, if you drop the pistol on the hammer, can it make the gun fire?

[camsdaddy]

If your 686 has a small diameter pin on the front of it that is the firing pin. Most modern smith and Wesson revolvers have a hammer safety inside to prevent it from firing unless the trigger is pulled.

[EVP]

Not a revolver expert but I believe that the 686-4 is the last with the firing pin on the hammer

(The 4 does not signify barrel length but the design version of the model) if that what you call it

[Rmiked]

Mine was bought new in 1986 and does have the pin on the hammer. So I'm guessing it would fire if got dropped on hammer when loaded

[Malamute]

No, it will not. The hammer block is between the frame and hammer lower down inside, below the firing pin. They changed to the current hammer block in the 1940s. The hammer block has nothing to do with where the firing pin is, either in the hammer nose, or in the frame, it operates the same either way.

[Rmiked]

Thanks, good to know. I could feel resistance to forward movement but w/o disassembly I couldn't tell

[Lon]

There's a good animation of the internal workings of a Smith revolver here:

http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Interactive-Revolver

[Rex G]

Mine was bought new in 1986 and does have the pin on the hammer. So I'm guessing it would fire if got dropped on hammer when loaded

No, there is a gadget inside the frame that prevents it. All S&W revolvers since about WWII have been drop-safe.

[1986s4]

No, there is a gadget inside the frame that prevents it. All S&W revolvers since about WWII have been drop-safe.

You can check for yourself. EMPTY GUN. Look at the revolver from the side so you can see the FP show through the frame after you lower the hammer while keeping the trigger held back. You should see it sticking out. Then let the trigger forward easy, the FP will retract. After it has disappeared push on the hammer spur, it should feel physically blocked.

[Malamute]

I believe the rebound slide is what pulls the hammer back after firing and trigger release, and holds the hammer at rebound position. The hammer block is sort of idling all the time unless the hammer is somehow forced past where tis at rest on the rebound slide. In effect, it shouldn't ever be stressed (or broken) unless the gun was dropped on the hammer or it was struck hard somehow.

That's a contrast to the transfer bar type safeties most know of (but is commonly misunderstood, and sometimes believed Smith "went to transfer bars"), the transfer bar is impacted/stressed every time the gun fires. They do break now and then, especially with much dry fire. Ive broken 3 in Ruger single actions. The point of this is I feel the Smith hammer block is morally superior, as its not ever impacted or stressed unless it stopped an accidental firing from impact.

[Rmiked]

You are correct. With gun empty and trigger pulled I can see firing pin from side. After releasing trigger forward until reset, the hammer (and pin since connected) pulls back into frame. That was very helpful.

[Jim Watson]

Early Smith & Wesson Hand Ejectors (and late top breaks) depended entirely on the rebounding hammer. At the time that was thought safe enough for fully loaded carry.
The Colt Positive Safety action of about 1908 was the first revolver with a hammer block internal safety in addition to the rebound.

Smith followed suit with what is known as the "flag" hammer block. It worked well when in good condition but could get stuck disengaged. This is thought to be what happened in WWII when a Navy issue revolver was dropped on a steel deck and fired, killing a sailor who had the misfortune to be in the wrong place. Smith & Wesson hastily designed a new transfer bar cammed up and down instead of spring loaded in and out. They installed it on all new guns 1945 to date and retrofitted all the military revolvers they could get back in.
I have not heard of any program to update commercial guns in private hands, you have the rebound only or flag safety as manufactured. S&W board experts will recommend you treat a pre-1945 Smith like a SAA and keep an empty chamber under the hammer. No degree of care and maintenance is considered adequate to ensure 21st century safety standards.

In the low end of the market, Iver Johnson came out with the transfer bar and the famous "Hammer the Hammer" advertisement. H&R adopted the design and so did Ruger and Colt. Hopkins & Allen had an ingenious design with the hammer on an eccentric, resting against the frame until the trigger was pulled. Safe, but not sturdy and it did not compete well against transfer bar guns.

[Malamute]

Good post, though id mention that
Smith & Wesson hastily designed a new transfer bar isnt technically correct. The hammer block doesnt function like a transfer bar. Transfer bars fill in a gap between the hammer and firing pin to transmit or transfer the hammer blow to the firing pin. Hammer blocks do not do that, or serve any function in firing, only block the hammer from moving forward when at rest.

Not a big deal, only mentioning it for possible future reference when next time someone says "Smith went to transfer bars......" because they read it on the net, when it was likely a brain glitch in writing.

[Rmiked]

So does my 1986 SW 686 use a hammer block that is effective against firing if dropped? Or should I treat my pistol with an empty chamber under the hammer? I verified after resetting the trigger, the hammer does resist forward movement.

I am a little confused now reading (from Mr Watson):

you have the rebound only or flag safety as manufactured. S&W board experts will recommend you treat a pre-1945 Smith like a SAA and keep an empty chamber under the hammer. No degree of care and maintenance is considered adequate to ensure 21st century safety standards.

[Jim Watson]

Sorry, Malemute, my keyboard and thoughts were out of phase. The Navy accident led to a redesigned hammer block.

Sorry Rmiked, my comments apply only to pre-1945 guns. Your 1986 is as safe from being dropped as a revolver can be made.