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February 17, 2013
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I finally got a chance to inspect the W12. It's not in bad shape but has a major internal issue. It's missing the firing pin connector and hand spring. I think everything else is there.
(The owner bought it to carry as bear protection but never tried to fire it!!)
I lowered the price substantially and bought it anyway
Any ideas about parts would be appreciated. Hopefully some has a connector they could part with. I have hand springs.
I'm on the road to look at 2 more. I'll post better pictures late tonight.
Thanks, bobak.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I am not greatly experienced or knowledgable about these things, but I just opened up my 12 and fixed a broken hand spring. The firing pin connector on a 15-2 has been improved by the addition of a small hole for the hand spring to go through instead of wrapping around. Much easier to install. I think both parts from a 15-2 will work on a 12. EWK has the hand springs. DW should have both parts. A member may have a spare connector. You are very lucky. That is a fine looking 12 and the repair minor. You may have to trim the ends of the spring but do not trim too much or it won't engage the hand. Good luck, Old Dog
March 25, 2008
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it also looks to be missing the transfer bar, or am I missing something. or do we have two names for the same part?
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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My bad, it be the transfer bar.
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February 17, 2013
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It's labeled "firing pin connector" on the W12 schematic and part #155820 "connector" on the Model 9,14,15 schematic.
But it is the "transfer bar". That term's just not used on the schematics.
PM me if you have a spare.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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From what I can tell from the photo, you are missing a few things. 
And in it's current condition, this gun will not fire, nor will it rotate the cylinder.
Missing is;
The firing pin connector
The "transfer bar"
The Strut & the strut plunger & strut plunger spring
Here's a couple shots of the action of an (as of today unfired) W12...
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February 17, 2013
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Here's few more pictures. The strut , plunger and spring are ok. My schematic shows a "firing pin connector" but no transfer bar. I assumed they were the same thing.
The schematic is located here:
http://dwcollectors.org/dwca-content/articles/1970_w12_article.PDF
Looks like a firing pin issue also?
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February 17, 2013
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Well I decided to see if I could answer my own question. I took the "firing pin connector" out of a 15-2 and put it in the W12. There is only one part here and from what I've read some folks call it a "transfer bar" and some a "connector". My 3 15-2's all look the same with one connector. Charger Fan's 12 definitely looks different with what looks like a doubled connector. Anyway here's the result. It looks the same as the setup in my 15-2 and appears to work fine.
Here's the connector when cocked.
I was concerned about the firing pin being flat on top. They are round in the 15-2, but I have an old N.E.F. revolver (Gardner,MA.) with a firing pin that that is identical so I assume this is the design.
With the sideplate back on the cylinder rotates fine and lockup is good.
I won't dry fire it but lowering the hammer while holding the trigger shows the "connector" contacting the firing pin correctly. I
I'll try it in the back 40 in the morning.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I noticed what seemed like an extra part on charger fans's gun. My 12 looks like yours. Glad the 15-2 transfer bar works. It looks the same except for the hole for the hand spring to go through. That hole makes it a lot easier. Dry firing is ok I think. I would love to hear pros and cons about dry firing from people with more experience than me. Assume there already is a cylinder ring. The lock work of a dan seems pretty simple and reliable. I think the hand spring breaking from fatigue might be fairly common on a 12. I wonder how your gun lost the parts in the first place. Maybe someone with small kids in the home. Good thing the former owner didn't run into a bear. I would feel better with a .44 mag for protection from bears.
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February 17, 2013
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Results are in.
Six shots single action, everything's fine. 6 shots DA, 3 FTF's (light strikes). All strikes are dead center in the primer. I'll call DW today for a "connector".
I'd like a .44. Doesn't have to be pretty. Anyone willing to part with one.....?
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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BobAk, you might want to try a different brand off ammo. Some people complain about Winchester white having FTF for example.
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February 17, 2013
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I dont think it's the ammo. The primer is definitely not indented as much on the FTF's that ocurred in DA. A good cleaning and new springs will be next.
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DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Bob,
Interesting info that you successfully used a part from a 15-2 in your model 12. Looking at your pics I can't see any reason it will not work out. Yes I would say with your light DA strikes a good cleaning should be next, and also be sure your grip screw is not threading in too far, and interfering with hammer spring travel. The grip screw should not really be threaded in more than 6 turns. Could be your double action troubles.
If the cleaning and grip screw don't help, then a new hammer spring would be next on my list.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Bob, there are lots of threads if you search "fail to fire" under gunsmithing. Lonwolf is right on about our beloved grip screw.The price of being able to dress your gun up for any occasion. We all learn the grip screw lesson. Options include washers, shorter version of screw, and never tighten anything more than snug. I think the transfer bar / connector will not be the problem. At any event it is unlikely you will be able to get a model12 connector from DW/CZ. Or anywhere. You WILL get it to work. The brainpower of all these DW mavens (not me) is fantastic. Old Dog.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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February 17, 2013
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Ordered the connector and factory mainspring from DW Norwich today.
Here's a bit more info for 12 owners. While cleaning I got curious about the procedure to capture the main spring using a sideplate screw. The works as it does in the 15-2, however the sideplate screws are different (larger diameter) than the 15-2. This means the mainspring guide, while it looks the same as the 15-2 guide, has a different thread internally for capturing the spring when you're tearing it down.
While I have the 12 and 15-2 apart I'll try to take some time and make a list of parts that are interchangeable for future reference.
Bob
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Looking forward to your results. Might have to keep an eye out for model 12 or 11 beater for parts. Check to see if the side plate from a 15 fits. The connector on a 12 has no hole for the hand spring which wraps around the connector and is held in place? by the case. That does not happen on a 15. Maybe an upgrade? made by DW because of metal fatigue. I bought the small parts kit and wolff springs but we don't get many rainy, cold days in Ocala so I haven't done an average joe tuneup yet.
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