New-to-me S&W 29-2 .44RemMag with a coil spring hammer spring?

Hi all, I recently purchased a used 29-2 4" 44RemMag recently, and upon looking it over, it appears to have a coil spring, Ruger Redhawk style, hammer spring installed in it. There is a steel bracket, stamped "TLS Redding, CA", and it resembles a physically larger J Frame coil mainspring set-up.

While I never met the owner (as far as I can tell), I purchased it from his estate for a very good price (under a used Glock in my area). Different shooting friends that I know of his have related to me that this was a relatively common and available conversion during the late 70s-early 80s, and a few of them have had S&W revolvers sent to this particular gunsmith in California for their revolvers to be adapted to use this hammer spring set-up. It has the hammer spring stirrup removed from the hammer, and a ball mill cut into the hammer to allow the spring to drive the hammer.

The gun is a 29-2, it has been refinished prior to me owning it with satin hard chrome/metalife by Mahovsky's Metalife. The prior owner either himself attempted to reduce the grip frame to a K frame size, convert the frame from square butt to round butt, and then checkered the front and back strap; or the prior owner had a gunsmith do it. Either way, different K Frame grips that I have tried won't fit it due to the curvature near the triggerguard not being 100%, so I'm pretty much restricted to a slip-on style grip, such as rubber Hogues (not much of a fan of), or the current K frame Pachmayr that was pretty much pressed on. Bummer, as I was planning on a set of square butt to round butt VZ G10 grips.

I am wondering if it is in fact a Ruger Redhawk spring of the same weight and dimensions, or if it is a spring for another model firearm that was adapted to this specific use. I do not have a Redhawk to compare the spring with, nor do I know anyone in my area that would have one that I could see.

Does anyone have any information relating to this conversion that would be of use? I know that there is a company out there currently offering coil spring conversions that are more competition-oriented, however this revolver is gonna mainly be a woods-walking or hanging out at the range shooting .44 special-level loads.

Thanks all!

This should be a link to pictures of the spring set-up, if I did everything correct on my end:
https://imgur.com/a/58QZMjV

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2238945

Hi all, I recently purchased a used 29-2 4" 44RemMag recently, and upon looking it over, it appears to have a coil spring, Ruger Redhawk style, hammer spring installed in it. There is a steel bracket, stamped "TLS Redding, CA", and it resembles a physically larger J Frame coil mainspring set-up.

While I never met the owner (as far as I can tell), I purchased it from his estate for a very good price (under a used Glock in my area). Different shooting friends that I know of his have related to me that this was a relatively common and available conversion during the late 70s-early 80s, and a few of them have had S&W revolvers sent to this particular gunsmith in California for their revolvers to be adapted to use this hammer spring set-up. It has the hammer spring stirrup removed from the hammer, and a ball mill cut into the hammer to allow the spring to drive the hammer.

The gun is a 29-2, it has been refinished prior to me owning it with satin hard chrome/metalife by Mahovsky's Metalife. The prior owner either himself attempted to reduce the grip frame to a K frame size, convert the frame from square butt to round butt, and then checkered the front and back strap; or the prior owner had a gunsmith do it. Either way, different K Frame grips that I have tried won't fit it due to the curvature near the triggerguard not being 100%, so I'm pretty much restricted to a slip-on style grip, such as rubber Hogues (not much of a fan of), or the current K frame Pachmayr that was pretty much pressed on. Bummer, as I was planning on a set of square butt to round butt VZ G10 grips.

I am wondering if it is in fact a Ruger Redhawk spring of the same weight and dimensions, or if it is a spring for another model firearm that was adapted to this specific use. I do not have a Redhawk to compare the spring with, nor do I know anyone in my area that would have one that I could see.

Does anyone have any information relating to this conversion that would be of use? I know that there is a company out there currently offering coil spring conversions that are more competition-oriented, however this revolver is gonna mainly be a woods-walking or hanging out at the range shooting .44 special-level loads.

Thanks all!

This should be a link to pictures of the spring set-up, if I did everything correct on my end:
https://imgur.com/a/58QZMjV

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See. http://tkcustom.com

A similar device is sold on this website. Your gun has a simplified version.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by willie

See. http://tkcustom.com

A similar device is sold on this website. Your gun has a simplified version.

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I know about the TK Customs one, although that looks to me to be more competition-oriented.

My main concern is figuring out exactly which kind of spring my 29 is using. Is it a Redhawk spring, or possibly a 1911 or Beretta mainspring? With not having any Redhawks around for me to compare it to, I figured I'd probe the heads of the members of this forum as there is some super knowledgeable people on here.

I would try to contact Daryl Bolke.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2238945

I know about the TK Customs one, although that looks to me to be more competition-oriented.

My main concern is figuring out exactly which kind of spring my 29 is using. Is it a Redhawk spring, or possibly a 1911 or Beretta mainspring? With not having any Redhawks around for me to compare it to, I figured I'd probe the heads of the members of this forum as there is some super knowledgeable people on here.

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Why not go to the horse's mouth--Wolff Gun Springs? They can suggest choices based on the large number they make.

That's true, I didn't think about them. Thank You!

Also I sent a PM to Daryl Bolke, I know there's a way to @ them and they'll get a notification, but i'm not sure exactly how to do that. With the stuff that he knows about revolver history, hopefully he'll recall something about the specific set-up I have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2238945

That's true, I didn't think about them. Thank You!

Also I sent a PM to Daryl Bolke, I know there's a way to @ them and they'll get a notification, but i'm not sure exactly how to do that. With the stuff that he knows about revolver history, hopefully he'll recall something about the specific set-up I have.

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Yep. He probably has a couple in his shirt pocket.;)

MAS is a member and very likely has seen your spring set-up.

When you learn how to @ somebody, tell me. I missed that boat too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by willie

Yep. He probably has a couple in his shirt pocket.;)

MAS is a member and very likely has seen your spring set-up.

When you learn how to @ somebody, tell me. I missed that boat too.

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@willie

That is all. @ then type the name

@03RN

Like that? Thanks

Edit: Yep super easy, just like that, seems like it worked. Thank you.

@2238945

It works. Thanks O3RN