Uberti's S&W Model 3 Russian - engineering question

[blackpowder]

Hi all around !

I posted this question in the Italian Clones section and was told it fits better here. So thanks and here is the problem again:

I have a 2020 issue S&W model 3 Russian by Uberti. I know Uberti reengineered some of the guns mechanics in order to avoid patent violations and also to comply with modern safety standards. Alterations, which, in my opinion do not detract much from the Weapons historical accuracy. However, on my gun, I can rotate the cylinder counterclockwise when the hammer is in the down position. With the hammer completely down, the cylinder should lock up and not move. By lightly wiggling the cylinder back and forth, applying only very light pressure, the wheel unlocks and can be moved. This should not happen. Does anyone have the same issue an/or knows what causes this? In the hammer-down-position the cylinder can be "wiggled" free.

I have no idea what causes this. Can anyone help? 

THANKS Pards !

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy BP,

I embarrassed to admit that I'm not real familiar with the internal lockwork of the S&W's even though I shoot them often.
It does sound tome that something is not allowing the cylinder locking bolt to rise fully. But others here are probably way more knowledgeable than I am and may well chime in with better diagnostics.

Rev. Chase

[Coffinmaker]

  Blackpowder 

I posted an educated guess (sort of) in the "Clones" thread (Oh how I hate that term).  So take a peak there.

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[blackpowder]

@Coffinmaker
Thanks, I just saw the reply over at "clones". I think, together we are getting at the root of the problem. The bolt spring pushing the bolt up may have been carelessly re-installed. As you can see on the photograph, the trigger-guard-spur, that you find on the Russian models, is missing. Its missing because I removed it so the gun would fit in my holsters - for one thing - and because I don't really use it to rest my middle finger on. To do this, after removing the entire lock-work, I had to remove the trigger guard unit, which has a small curved leaf-spring installed on the top surface. This spring applies a little pressure to push the bolt upwards and is hidden from view when the trigger guard is installed back into the frame. I may have "insulted" this delicate spring a bit when grinding off the spur and/or reinstalling the unit after case-hardening again. When I let the hammer down it pushes the bolt far enough into the slots on the cylinder, locking it. However, just a little wiggle will free the Cylinder and it can be moved.

The problem does not really interfere with the guns operation, I found out at the range yesterday. Anyway, looks like I have to open her up again and see if I can adjust or bend this spring a little. I just dread disassembling again, as the lockwork is a bit complicated.       

[Coffinmaker]

   Blackpowder 

Ah So.  So whilst you have it apart again, first insure the Bolt rises FULLY into the Cylinder Slots.  If you see shiny spots at the top edges of the Cylinder Slots, the Bolt is just sitting on top, allowing movement regardless of the spring.

Now, also, "adjusting" a spring by "bending" is only a temporary "fix" as the spring will tend to return to its original shape/position.  Replace the spring with OEM.