Does anyone know who makes the clear plastic inspection sideplates for Smith and Wesson revolvers? or who might have one for sale? Been searching my notes but no find, and I just talked with them a couple months ago. Thanks rs

I donno, but that's a great idea.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Last time I saw them, they were being sold by Brownell's.
They warned that they were not suitable to be used while firing the gun.

Keep your receipt. The one I have is worthless. It's plastic, but anything but "clear".

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

When a Revolver is used for instructional purposes, the Side Plate can be popped off in a minute and as long as the hammer is held from dropping at full force (with thumb) the Revolver may be safely operated slowly for demonstration purposes. Since it should not be fired with the plastic Side Plate anyway and it quickly turns milky, it's sort of a useless item IMO.

I have not seen them for sale for many years now.
I have had this one for more than two decades now

It was called Clear-Vu

One just sold in the classifieds recently

SOLD, PLEASE CLOSE Smith & Wesson Grips, Several Sets...

Very interesting thread, I have a good general knowledge of all kinds of firearms, but up till now never heard about the S&W clear side plate.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

One purpose of the Clear Vu sideplate was in fine tuning Smith and Wesson revolvers by visually watching the interaction of the mechanism. The ability to carefully observe the friction or lack of between related parts is very helpful. When a revolver has a specific resistance point during the cycling of the action it can be difficult to determine the exact cause by feel alone. Thus the visual sideplate helps in locating the hitch or hang spot. Can save a lot of chasing blind assumptions. Thank You for the additional information. sr

What riversalmon said. Watching the action for engagement/problems/tuning. The transparent plate kept the pins from flexing and giving an inaccurate reading on parts function or lifting/flying off while checking the action. A good tool when they were in production. The hazing was a result of the plastic plate being used so much and the rubbing clouded the view.

I have one of those.

I am FACINATED, watching the parts interact, and find it very instructive, in understanding how they work.

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NRA Instructor

We have a dewat S&W .38 Special with a clear sideplate that we use for instruction purposes in our NRA Basic Pistol Class. Pat Grashorn was kind enough to make a plexiglas stock panel for it, so all the "works" are visible. I think our sideplate came from Brownells.

I never before heard of a transparent side plate. Something new to me.

has anyone tried cutting one from a piece of plexiglass?

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my short signature.

I'd like to buy one for my 625-8. I did see a video a while back from MidwayUSA that they were using a clear side plate on. I had figured they had it custom made. Never knew they used to be sold to the public.