Fallon Kid Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Hey just wanted to pass on tip for maybe future problem. I was working on a Lemat and a hand spring broke. This is the do-dad that pushes the cylinder and has a leaf type spring to push forward. (I’ve attached pics and if you have ever disassembled a revolver the part is familiar. If not, might be best off seeing a gun smith)This type of operating principle is used in almost every revolver ever made. As you well know supplies and parts are not available. I know this and my heart was 8 beats away from turning on water valves in eyes. I looked for spring steel on web and not so available. I keep everything so I found a blank frame in which the front insert sights had been punched. It’s made of blue spring steel. I cut a section and kinda looked at force deflection of the material. Seemed to be light enough but strong enough to push the hand spring and hold in cylinder. I measured the thickness at .018 which is about a nominal size for this type application. I removed old spring and installed new spring leaving enough length to cut to fit by actual operating. I won’t detail process to remove old spring and install new one. Most guns the spring is held by a compression fit. This is a great opportunity to make a broke gun more broker. I don’t want to be part of that. I can screw up enough on my own. Anyway, I plan on using till factory parts available but appears to working fine. I hope this knowledge nugget may come in handy as it made my day blessed. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 I have used old strapping bands like on larger crates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallon Kid Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 Thanks good to know. The good of this fix was just cut to length. No trimming or filing. But I appreciate the info. Fallon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Over the years I've heard of people using bobby pins. Seems awfully thick. The only time I had to replace one was in an Uberti cap gun and I had the factory replacement part but like you said, getting the old one out and the new one in was the fun part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Good info! I was faced with a similar problem. A spring for the ejector in an old Marlin 1894. I used a spring that forces a two-piece firing pin down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 I have used a bobby pin and thinned it out a bit. Worked like a champ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancy Shot, SASS #67163 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 said: I have used a bobby pin and thinned it out a bit. Worked like a champ! I didn't even thin it down. Worked Chancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 J-Bar had a couple of methods to install a spring wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 It has been several years since I posted this video to YouTube. My later versions still use spring wire but not as much work. Instead of making a full loop around the bottom of the hand, just epoxy the wire into the hole, then shape it into an “S” shape. None of the spring wire hands I have installed have ever broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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