I have a pair of rubber grips on my 66-4 that are one piece and held on by a screw from the right side, looking at it from the rear, into an insert on the left side. I just bought a Hogue Bantam grip to see if I'd like it better but can't get the screw out of the old grips to try. When you turn the screw to loosen the insert going round and round. I can't loosen or tighten. Without destroying the grips so I can get a set of pliers on the insert to hold it, I'm not having any luck otherwise. I tried inserting a small jewelers screwdriver on the side of the insert into the rubber to hold it more but no luck. Any suggestions?

Is there some slight chance that a set of Channelocks (Navy called them waterpumps) with proper protection applied to the jaws might allow you to squeeze the nut and the opposite side of the grip (near the screw)?

BTW, I suspect that the screw goes in from the left, looking at it from the rear, and the insert goes on the right, and this may have some relation to the present problem. But maybe not.

If the nut is rotating with the screw, try using 2 or three toothpicks wedged between the nut & grip material. They must fit tight enough to hold the nut - loosen screw CC. See prior post - screw may be reversed from original location. Use round toothpicks.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

You might try a little super glue if you can pry the rubber away from the brass threaded insert and not get any on the threads. Jeff

I'll try the toothpicks. The screw goes in from the right side(rear view) and insert on left. That's the way it was when I got it. I'm not sure what kind of grips they are there's no name on them.

The toothpicks didn't get it. I put two jeweler's screwdrivers on opposite sides of the insert and it still turns. At least I discovered what sort of grips these are-Butler Creek which you can't usually find anywhere.

Yes, those are Uncle Mike's/Butler Creek. If you've got a ratchet wrench/socket set, see if you can find one of the smaller sockets that'll fit around the escutcheon and hold it. No idea if this will work, just thought of it. You might have to push it pretty hard to get it on but the rubber should give a little. Might get lucky and the right socket will grip the knurling enough to break the screw free.

Try a pair of needlenose pliers. The narrow ends should get down between the rubber and the threaded insert, and give you enough grip to remove the screw. I have the same style, and my screw is on the left panel threaded insert on the right. I looked again, I have two pairs, one screw on left, one screw on right.

I have two possible solutions to your problem. Years ago I ran into a set of grips that had been installed with loctite and it was a challenge. First possibility is to use your Dremel tool and cut a slot in the nut so you can hold it with a screwdriver. I have a couple of screwdrivers that I have modified to that the blade has no center, just an edge on each side. The other possibility is to apply heat to the nut. I have a really big soldering gun that would do the job but you could do the same thing by getting a piece of drill rod really hot and then holding it onto the nut. When the nut gets hot you should be able to unscrew things. Those screws are expendable - very easy to get replacements from Brownells and others. Wish you luck.

I tried in vain using a 1/4" socket and no way to get a grip on that insert. The needle nose didn't work either. This thing is in there. I may have to just live with these grips it seems or destroy the rubber around the insert so I c an get a better grip on it then I might be sorry I did that since these grips are like finding hens teeth if at all. My cutting wheel on the dremel would destroy the grips too since it would cut into the rubber. I wish I had a pencil torch.

Here you go, I found a fix- a plastic ink pen body. Strip a throwaway pen to get the hollow plastic body. It takes some pushing but you can get an end over the escutcheon and it grips it pretty tightly.

Drill the head off the screw and remove the grips. You should be able to get at the estuchen better once off the gun. As mentioned, the screws aren't that hard to replace.

Col,

did you try a drop of solvent like WD40 or Kroil on the insert? Put a drop on, let it sit a few hours, try tapping it a bit.
Could just be rusted on.

That's a great idea. I'll have to look around to see if I've got one on hand.

Another good one. I'll try both these ideas.

I did use Kroil oil but maybe I didn't let it sit long enough-perhaps overnight. These are all good ideas and thanks for giving me some insight as to getting that screw out. I think the socket would have worked but it's just was too tight to get even a small one in there that would fit around the insert.

The pen body is a lot thinner than a socket and should slip between the nut and the rubber. Like I said, it'll take some pushing but you should be able to get it on there.

If you use the pin idea you might try chucking it in a drill press to get a straight down pressure on it to press it on the escutheon and turn the screw out, otherwise I would drill the head off.

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JAKE BRAKE
[curt]

Find a cold chisel, not one made for wood, that is the same width as the escutcheon, place the grips on a firm surface. Tap the chisel until you have a groove for a screwdriver, or the brass splits. Let me know if this doesn't work. Speaking from experience. Good luck!
DLB
Merry Christmas

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Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27

Need is the Mother of invention..........

Well done!

A buddy of mine had an M637 that he carried in an ankle holster as a backup. The screw got rusted in place and the only way I was able to free it was to use an X-acto knife to cut the rubber away from the brass insert. After I cut enough rubber away I was able to get a tight grip on the insert with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Bottom line was, I hit the screw out but had to sacrifice one grip from a pair of Uncle Mikes boot grips. And then when I started searching for a replacement I learned that they were no longer made! Thankfully a nice fellow here on the Forum sold me S
an extra set he had. :-)

I sure am curious. Please let us know if you get it out, and how. Good luck.

This thread is so old I forgot about it. I've been out of town for awhile and didn't know there was still interest in it. I don't recall how the screw was taken out but all my efforts were in vain so, I took it to my local, friendly smith and he got it out without damage but I still replaced the grips so, all is well.