I'm still working on that Model 1903, 5th Change I asked about back in June. Your help pointed me in the correct direction to get some of the parts. It seems as tho the sideplate screws are some of the most difficult parts to nail down.
Can anyone tell me the specs for the screws? I've made screws in my shop for several old guns before, mostly on old double shotguns. These would be some of the smaller screws I've ever done...
I can't vouch for accuracy, but this is in my notes:
5x44 - side plate (post-1942) and grip screws (post 1942)
4x48 - upper side plate (pre- and post-war)
I haven't bought any for years, but there was some outfit in Brooklyn NY which offered many different oddball tap and die sizes, and if they didn't stock what you wanted they would make them up. But I am sure that would be very expensive.
In the S&W 5/20/1909 screw chart the small head side plate screw for the Model I frames is .122" diam and 44 TPI.
NOTE: screw sizes given in this chart are S&W proprietary sizes which are not National Standard screw dimensions until S&W standardized their sizes with national standards in the 1940’s.
So although the screw dimension is close to a standard 5 x 44, you'll notice it's slightly different.
Question on sideplate screw size/thread
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