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March 23, 2026
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This is how I do it FWIW...this assumes that the gun is already in pieces and that you are having difficulty installing the trigger group and hammer.
***Use these instructions at your own risk.***
This tip only applies to the assembly of large frame Dan Wesson revolvers. (Not disassembly)
The difficulty here is that the pawl and transfer bar are both spring-loaded in opposite directions with no easy way to retain them during installation.
These steps assume that you originally installed the small cap bolt from the right side of the frame into the bottom of the hammer spring housing during disassembly to keep the hammer spring compressed while the gun was disassembled.
1. Carefully insert the trigger assembly with the pawl and transfer bar installed into the bottom of the frame. **The hammer installation is a separate step.** The pawl and transfer bar will be trying to go in opposite directions as they come up into the frame so work slowly with a headlamp using a mechanic's pick to move the pawl and transfer bar into their correct places from above looking down through the hammer opening until the trigger group can be latched into place.
2. Now remove the rear sight entirely or else you will not be able to reinstall the hammer. I use a 1/16" drill bit to drift out the roll pin. Remember roll pins always get drifted out from left to right. Only drift the roll pin just far enough to release the sight to make reinstalling easier. Note: This step is much easier with the frame clamped in an aluminum jaw vise.
3. Now pull the trigger fully to the rear so that it allows for the correct sear engagement and insert the hammer from the top of the hammer opening.
4. Install the flat-headed hammer pivot pin from right to left (again using the standard rule of operation for firearms pins and roll pins of "left to right=remove, right to left=install"). Use an awl or similar for finding alignment from the opposite side if necessary while pushing the hammer pivot pin through from the right.
5. While keeping the hammer fully cocked remove the hammer spring compression cap bolt from inside the bottom of the grip frame and stow it back in its hole on the right side of the frame.
6. Now verify that the trigger and hammer mechanism functions normally.
7. Reinstall the rear sight using the 1/16" drill bit for alignment. Take care to position the two small springs under the sight to avoid damage when the sight elevation screw is re-installed.
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