Uberti SAA hand

[PJ Hardtack]

I just received a couple of Uberti hands for the SAA. The springs were separate.

Is there a trick to installing the springs in the little notch on the hands?

[Coffinmaker]

Yes.  Normally, when I order hands from VTI, They are delivered with springs attached.  I order them the way.  Surprised you received separate parts.
You need to clamp the hand securely on a solid surface.  DO NOT have the clamp on or near the little slot for the spring.  It helps to file a tiny bevel on the off side of the spring.  Align the spring with the slot and tap it in with a hammer.  Alternate method is to use a machinist
vice, and after aligning the spring as above, close the face to drive the spring into the slot.  Peen as necessary.

Coffinmaker

[PJ Hardtack]

Thanks, Coffinmaker!

I got the parts from VTI, one new, t'other used and abused. I emailed them about it.

When I ordered, they did not have any with the spring installed. I'm on the 'wait' list.

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[PJ Hardtack]

Just heard from VTI. Another hand is on the way to me free of charge - sans spring. The complete units have not yet come in.

[Pettifogger]

Uberti hasn't used leaf springs on their SAAs for quite a while.  Your best bet for longevity is to junk the leaf spring and drill the frame for a coil and plunger.

[Fingers McGee]

Uberti hasn't used leaf springs on their SAAs for quite a while.  Your best bet for longevity is to junk the leaf spring and drill the frame for a coil and plunger.

+1. 

[Fox Creek Kid]

Uberti hasn't used leaf springs on their SAAs for quite a while.  Your best bet for longevity is to junk the leaf spring and drill the frame for a coil and plunger.

NEVER!!!!!!   

[Abilene]

I have a few Colts and 4 Uberti conversions with leaf hand springs, and each of the guns has had several thousand rounds through them without a spring issue.  However, I'm not doing a lot of dry-firing or practice with them.  The only hand spring breakage I've had has been on my 1st gen gun, and it has run a few thousand rounds after repair.   I do agree that the coil spring is the way to go for heavy usage.

One of my older Cimarrons has the coil spring and plunger in the gripframe screw hole on the left with the hollow backstrap screw.  Uberti didn't do it that way for long and I know that method has been denounced as an inferior way to do it but that particularly gun works great.