The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Can Police remove a firing pin without notifying you?

**44 AMP** · December 9, 2011, 08:26 PM

I've never owned a Python, but having just looked at the schematic, it looks like you would have to drive out the rear sight pin, remove the sight, then push in on the firing pin to remove the retainer plate, allowning the firing pin and spring to come out.

And then replace the retainter plate and re-install the rear sight assembly.

While a police dept might do this, it seems really unlikely. However, very unlikely things can and sometimes do happen.

It probably isn't a law prohibiting the PD in question from turning over a working firearm to someone other than the owner, it is likely more their policy or a regulation. And someone within the dept with a punch and a screwdriver of the right size and a little bit of knowledge could have removed the pin.

Again, looking at the schematic, it looks like the pin (and spring) can only come out one way, and even if the tip is broken, the remainder of the pin and spring should be retained in the frame.

I hope you also ordered the spring as well as the pin, unless you can see it in the frame, its probably gone too...

December 9, 2011, 08:26 PM	#13
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,860	I've never owned a Python, but having just looked at the schematic, it looks like you would have to drive out the rear sight pin, remove the sight, then push in on the firing pin to remove the retainer plate, allowning the firing pin and spring to come out. And then replace the retainter plate and re-install the rear sight assembly. While a police dept might do this, it seems really unlikely. However, very unlikely things can and sometimes do happen. It probably isn't a law prohibiting the PD in question from turning over a working firearm to someone other than the owner, it is likely more their policy or a regulation. And someone within the dept with a punch and a screwdriver of the right size and a little bit of knowledge could have removed the pin. Again, looking at the schematic, it looks like the pin (and spring) can only come out one way, and even if the tip is broken, the remainder of the pin and spring should be retained in the frame. I hope you also ordered the spring as well as the pin, unless you can see it in the frame, its probably gone too... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.