Carry revolver safety question ?

[TM7]

Asking the GBO experts.....

I have a S & W model 60 snubbie in 38 spcl.
It is one of the first stainless model 60 made, in fact it a highly polished example.

It has a firing pin attached to the hammer. No transfer bar system, but the hammer is rebounding and I can't see how the firing pin could ever reach the back of a primer unless the trigger is pulled.

My local gun store guy says to only carry this revolver with an empty chamber under the hammer. But I prefer carrying fully load with 5 shots, not 4 shots.

What is the safe and correct way to carry this revolver- - 4 shot with an empty chamber; or as a fully loaded 5 shooter?

Thx.
.

[Dee]

If the pistol has never been "tinkered with", IT DOES HAVE  a safety transfer bar.
Here is how to check to make sure it hasn't  been removed.

Get two pencils with erasers.
Unload the revolver, shut the cylinder, and cock the hammer.

Now with the eraser end first, drop the pencil down the barrel with the pistol pointed straight up.

Pull the trigger, and the pencil will jump almost out of the barrel.

Next repeat the process, but instead of pulling the trigger, tap the trigger repeatedly with the other pencil until the hammer falls.
May have to use some force, but keep rapping the trigger until the hammer falls.
This will not work if the trigger is pulled.

The pencil in the barrel shouldn't move. That shows the internal transfer bar is working.

Then it is absolutely safe to carry fully loaded.

I've been working on, and carry Smith and Wesson revolvers for decades.
This is an easy test, without opening the side plate.

[Graybeard]

My old Model 60, a 3" with fully adjustable rear sight and chambered to .357 Magnum has always been carried with 5 in the cylinder. Before I got the .357 I had the identical gun in .38 Special and it too was always carried with 5 in the cylinder. I consider it perfectly safe.

I have always carried both in a leather holster with a strap to retain the gun in the holster. They've traveled many a mile with me like that.

[Dee]

Same here Bill, I have had Smiths brought to me that someone hat taken the internal hammer block out, but not very often.
I started carrying Smith revolvers back in 1976. I carry one every day, fully loaded.

[Dee]

TM, I've come to realize that very few car salesmen know where the battery is.

The test I gave you is pretty foolproof if you do it right. I've been fixin'em and slickin'em for decades, and I'm thinking yours is gonna be fine.

[bluecow]

Start by suggesting to your " local gun store guy" to stop smoking his breakfast, drinking his lunch, and snorting his dinner.  Then get another gun store.  For years people carried (and still do) D/A revolvers that had/have the firing pin on the hammer, with rebounding hammer, fully loaded, with nary a problem.  Unless your pounding on the guns hammer with a framing hammer your all set.

[Dee]

Yeah, he's actually an antique specialist and militaria expert. He's got a collection of rare guns, machine guns, and all kinds of collectible firearms.  Buys and auctions off collections. He also knows and has lots of S&W. Dunno why he steered me wrong on my model 60. But he did offer me 700 bucks for it. But I'll bust his nut on this topic when I get a chance.
.

Did you try what I suggested to test it?

[ironglow]

.
   He's also a salesman...maybe he just wants to sell another gun..  Or get the one TM has..

[ulav8r]

Many people that think they know a lot, have some weird ideas about what is fact or fiction.

[billy_56081]

Many people that think they know a lot, have some weird ideas about what is fact or fiction.

Exactly,  he might be an expert who knows very little.  Smiths have been drop safe since the early 1900s. My 1917 has a drop safety.

[Anduril]

the problem with experts is a lot of what they know just isn't so
..

[Graybeard]

the problem with experts is a lot of what they know just isn't so
..

Ain't that the truth.

[Eddie Southgate]

 Load 5 and find a new gun shop .