Swapping hammer and trigger on identical S&W 19-3. Good idea??

dubsRedhawk · March 14, 2018, 06:06 PM

I have 2 identical Smith 19-3 guns. One is really nice and the other is MINT. I don't have the boxes to either so originality is not a huge concern. The really nice one has an awesome target hammer and trigger. The mint one has the standard setup. I want to put the target H&T into the mint one. Any concerns? Did S&W hand fit these? Will they drop right in? Thanks for any help.

Dub

mete · March 14, 2018, 07:37 PM

Assume fitting necessary ! If you're going to shoot them, probably trigger jobs [over and above fitting ] would be the proper job ! Enjoy !

**4V50 Gary** · March 15, 2018, 12:06 AM

You might luck out, but they should be fitted.

Old Stony · March 15, 2018, 04:00 AM

Fitting comes into play occasionally on those type revolvers, but as a rule the old S&W's will accept a swap like that with no problem. I have replaced a bunch of hammers and triggers on them over the years and very seldom need to do any fitting. It certainly won't hurt to try swapping them around without any major gunsmithing.

jaguarxk120 · March 15, 2018, 07:13 AM

Since triggers and hammers are fitted to each other, a swap should be possible and no trigger job needed.

T. O'Heir · March 15, 2018, 12:23 PM

"...Did S&W hand fit these?..." Nope. That's why they were not a $1,000 when they were new.
The difference between a target trigger/hammer is the width. Same thing otherwise. Lots of people have 'em put in. The springs might be different.
However, there's really no advantage one way or the other to a target trigger and hammer. The perception with the trigger is a lighter pull due to the increased width.
'Mint' means sealed in it's original box and unfired. Mind you, Smith 19's are not collector pieces anyway.

straightshooterjake · March 15, 2018, 01:13 PM

It is my understanding that these parts were "sort of" hand fitted in two ways. First, the double action sear, which is the little lever on the front of the hammer, was actually fitted. Both length and shape of the double action sear are pretty sensitive. Second, the hammer and trigger may not have been hand fitted, but the assemblers had bins full of each, and if they did not like the way two parts fit together, they would swap one or the other. Since overall dimensions on these parts had a few thousandths of variation, swapping parts could result in a very good overall fitting. Of course, some assemblers were better at this process than others, and we can still feel the results of that when we handle older guns.

Regarding swapping parts between guns, it might work out fine, and if you are well experienced working on revolvers, it would not hurt to try. Since you will be keeping the same hammers and triggers paired up, there is a good chance that the double action sears will be fine. I would suggest keeping the hands in their original guns. This will require removing the hand from each trigger and installing it in the other trigger.

If you do try swapping parts, and things don't feel right, then I would recommend putting everything back or talking to an experience gunsmith. If fitting is required, it takes some real experience to do it right.

March 14, 2018, 06:06 PM	#1
dubsRedhawk Member Join Date: March 15, 2016 Posts: 46	Swapping hammer and trigger on identical S&W 19-3. Good idea?? I have 2 identical Smith 19-3 guns. One is really nice and the other is MINT. I don't have the boxes to either so originality is not a huge concern. The really nice one has an awesome target hammer and trigger. The mint one has the standard setup. I want to put the target H&T into the mint one. Any concerns? Did S&W hand fit these? Will they drop right in? Thanks for any help. Dub

March 14, 2018, 07:37 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Assume fitting necessary ! If you're going to shoot them, probably trigger jobs [over and above fitting ] would be the proper job ! Enjoy ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

March 15, 2018, 12:06 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,840	You might luck out, but they should be fitted. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 15, 2018, 12:23 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...Did S&W hand fit these?..." Nope. That's why they were not a $1,000 when they were new. The difference between a target trigger/hammer is the width. Same thing otherwise. Lots of people have 'em put in. The springs might be different. However, there's really no advantage one way or the other to a target trigger and hammer. The perception with the trigger is a lighter pull due to the increased width. 'Mint' means sealed in it's original box and unfired. Mind you, Smith 19's are not collector pieces anyway. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 15, 2018, 01:13 PM	#7
straightshooterjake Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2016 Posts: 122	It is my understanding that these parts were "sort of" hand fitted in two ways. First, the double action sear, which is the little lever on the front of the hammer, was actually fitted. Both length and shape of the double action sear are pretty sensitive. Second, the hammer and trigger may not have been hand fitted, but the assemblers had bins full of each, and if they did not like the way two parts fit together, they would swap one or the other. Since overall dimensions on these parts had a few thousandths of variation, swapping parts could result in a very good overall fitting. Of course, some assemblers were better at this process than others, and we can still feel the results of that when we handle older guns. Regarding swapping parts between guns, it might work out fine, and if you are well experienced working on revolvers, it would not hurt to try. Since you will be keeping the same hammers and triggers paired up, there is a good chance that the double action sears will be fine. I would suggest keeping the hands in their original guns. This will require removing the hand from each trigger and installing it in the other trigger. If you do try swapping parts, and things don't feel right, then I would recommend putting everything back or talking to an experience gunsmith. If fitting is required, it takes some real experience to do it right. __________________ My blog: http://straightshooterjake.blogspot.com/

March 15, 2018, 04:00 AM	#4
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	Fitting comes into play occasionally on those type revolvers, but as a rule the old S&W's will accept a swap like that with no problem. I have replaced a bunch of hammers and triggers on them over the years and very seldom need to do any fitting. It certainly won't hurt to try swapping them around without any major gunsmithing.

March 15, 2018, 07:13 AM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Since triggers and hammers are fitted to each other, a swap should be possible and no trigger job needed.