I have a Model 29-2 that a previous owner electro-penciled some numbers in the side plate. this is covered by the grip but it irritates me that it is there. I have another side plate on the way and I am wondering if this part will drop in or if it will need to be fitted. I have woked on lots of Garands and they are no way near as precise as an S&W revolver. This may be above my pay grade.

First off, welcome to the S&W Forum.

I cannot say from first hand experience but according to much conventional wisdom at this forum the side plate of that vintage may need some hand fitting. Hopefully you'll get lucky or someone with more experience will refute this answer. Best of luck.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Thank you for the kind welcome. I stumbled in here looking for someone to repair a presentation box liner and I'm hooked....lol

g8rb8 is probably correct. Before CNC machining there was a lot of hand work and fitting on S&W revolvers. In my experience, I bought a model 19 side plate to fit my early 80s model 19. The fit wasn't close at all. I suspect that you will find it the same with your model 29.

The sideplate at best will require fitting and polishing at the back of the frame where the hammer is. The sideplate is fitted to the revolver before final finishing. S&W's are individually polished, and so dimensions vary. A side plate from the same vintage is more likely to be close. Frankly, your best bet would be to send the revolver to S&W and have it re-blued.

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S&WCA 1729

Thanks all for the observations. Overall the gun finish is very good so a refinish is not warranted. My "new" plan is see what I end up with when the replacement plate arrives. If it "drops in" I'll head out and buy a lottery ticket while my luck is on fire. If not I'll toss the new plate in the parts bin for a rainy day and live with the graffiti I can't see unless I remove the grips.....

I ordered a replacement side plate for a J frame, 50's era, several years ago, and when it came it was so far off fitting my gun there was no way I would have attempted it. Side plates are individually fitted. If yours comes any where close to fitting would be a 1 in a million chance.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

To update.

My new plate arrived and the color is fine but it will absolutely not fit without smithing and it may be too low on the top rear corner of the frame after getting it to drop in.

It is now in the spare parts bin for a rainy day and I will not look at the existing plate when I remove the grips...Problem (that I should have figured out in the first place didn't really exist) solved...

You could send your gun off to a firm like Fords and they can restore the sidelpate, replace the logo, and probably be able to match the bluing on the rest of your gun as well. Worst case is that they would have to re-blue the gun. The question is how much would you pay for peace of mind?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

If the gun was rough I'd do that. The overall finish is very nice and the electropencil-ed "graffiti" is covered by the grip. So, unless I drop it or otherwise damage the finish I'll leave the sleeping dog alone for now. It was a 60 dollar learning experience....

You're lucky. I've got a Colt Commander that the original owner electro-penciled his drivers license # on the frame under the left grip. Blood pressure spikes every time I remove the grips. But, fantastic piece otherwise.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I know exactly what you mean....

If you can't see the defect, leave it alone. You may decide to sell or trade the gun and will never recover the price of buying and fitting the new side plate and oh yes, if you don't refinish the gun the sideplate and rest of frame will not match if it's a blue or nickel gun. If it's stainless you might get lucky.

As a parting note Here is what it looks like if you leave the grips on..

Attached Images

IMGP2940.jpg (87.1 KB, 89 views)

UNLESS you are willing to go through a great expense, just leave the grips on and forgetaboutit! Fitting a new side-plate is something I've never seen happen successfully without a lot of work, AND even with much work, it probably will still not fit correctly - unless it was still in it's original "oversized / unused" state. IMHO fitting a side-plate that was on another gun is sort of futile.

"If yours comes any where close to fitting would be a 1 in a million chance."

I guess I should have bought a lottery ticket a few years ago.

I had a couple of 1917 barreled frames and a bunch of parts. One of the frames had no side plate. The one I had was a so-so fit, so my old buddy tennexplorer sent me one that he had. It dropped right in, though it wasn't an exact fit. I was able to get both up and running.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

A man of land cruisers and firearms!


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