fireing pins

Question
are the newer revolvers with the transfer bar fireing pin superior to the older revolvers with the old fireing pins also will the ones with the older fireing pins fire if droped

Answer
Mr. George,

Transfer bars on revolvers have been used by companies like Ruger and Taurus for at least ten years, and on Colts before that, so they are not exactly new.  The frame mounted firing pin is much less prone to breakage than the hammer mounted pins.  Protocol in old revolvers was to load five and carry on an empty chamber.  This is because the pin protruded and rested on the primer, and any impact on the hammer could result in a discharge.  The S&W抯 made in the latter part of the 20th century utilized a blocking bar.  When the trigger was pulled, the pin would protrude through the aperture causing ignition, but as soon as the trigger was released, a mechanism would slide up camming the hammer back and keeping the firing pin off the primer.  You can tell if your gun has this feature by unloading the gun, and pulling the trigger.  Peer through the space between the cylinder and frame where the cartridge heads would be on a loaded gun (this through the SIDE of the gun).  You will see the pin protruding into the chamber area.  When you release the trigger, the hammer should cam back, and the pin be retracted back into the aperture.  If it does not do this, it is unsafe to carry with a round in all six chambers.  Consider this answer a preliminary one ?you should take your gun to a gun shop and let them give you a definitive answer.