I got an Undercover in last week that can’t be cocked normally (SA or DA). The cylinder stop comes up a little earlier than ideal, but not so soon that it shouldn’t work. The real problem is that the hand just doesn’t sweep in as it should. At first, I thought the trigger spring might be slipping off the shelf of the hand at a critical point, so I tried bending the part of the spring with the “hook” on it a little more to the left side of the gun so it would get a better purchase on the hand shelf. That didn’t seem to change a thing. I got in a new trigger spring over the weekend, and it makes no difference. When the gun is assembled, I can push the hand forward then let it go, hold the cylinder catch back, and pull the trigger and the hand sweeps out of the window one time. When I let off the trigger, the hand will act like the trigger spring is not pressing on it at all, and just stay back from the window.
Should I try changing the angle on the shelf of the hand by filing a few thousandths off the rear, and none off the front, or am I on the wrong track entirely?
I would first check the sing. Pull back the trigger in DA so slightly that cylinder stop clears the notches in the cylinder. Spin the cylinder in the direction of the hand, not against it, and the cylinder will turn with the hand ratcheting on the pads, making this “click-click-click” sound – the sing. You ain’t got nothin’ if you don’t got the sing; in which case, the hand is not properly sprung. -TL
Answer
Take the spring out then reassemble the gun and point it down at the floor. When you pull the hammer back does the hand sweep into the frame window? This will tell you a couple of things. If the hand does fall into the frame window and sweep forward then it isn’t binding in the slot, and it can move forward as it should. If not you can look into those things. If it does fit into the frame window, then you will know that the spring is preventing it from doing so when the spring is installed and you can adjust it as needed. Ken
Reply
Ken, thanks for the quick & useful reply. With the spring out, and only gravity to pull the hand, it comes right out of the window like it is supposed to. I already know that when the spring is in, it sits where it is supposed to in the “at rest” position. So now, I’ll try removing a little material from the back of the shelf on the hand.
When I filed on the shelf of the hand, I thought it filed too easily. But it did work, for four shots. Now again, the hand does not sweep out of the window and pick up a ratchet pad. I took it apart again, and upon looking at the edge of the hand shelf where the trigger spring is supposed to contact it, there is a small divot. I believe the hand is not hard enough to stay functional.
That would explain why the customer stated that the gun was seldom shot, and they were out so one of the family members could try it when it stopped functioning. I’ll order a new hand, and hope the new one is better quality.
Answer
New hand generally requires some fitting. When done, you may consider case hardening it to make it durable.
I did it a few times for revolvers that I had problem getting new hands. I stretched the old hand to make it longer. Refitted the shelves to have correct timing, then case hardened it. -TL
Answer
Find out what material it is made from before you harden. If it is oil hardening steel don’t case harden it. Only case harden mild steel. Ken
Reply
Ken, the new hand came in yesterday afternoon. It definitely looked like it had been heat treated. Used the new spring & new hand, and put it back together this morning. It timed up just fine with no fitting (that was a surprise). I have dry fired it at least 100 times, and shot 10 rounds through it. Dry fired another couple dozen times. No problems at all. I don’t know what the factory hand was made out of, and at this point don’t care. I will throw it in the trash. This gun is old enough that is was likely made when Charter was in financial troubles and their QA was lacking. I just hope that was the only part that should have been heat treated and wasn’t. Thanks for your help, Gary
