This Is a Great Forum Site

[Citiboy289]

After spending many years in the Colt Auto Phase , I began to get an interest in S&W revolvers of the same era. The amount of info I have gotten from this site and members comments and opinions has been the best.
I was looking at a piece advertised as a Model 36 , It has seen better days but I like basket cases. So anyway it has a problem with it in double action only fires in single and will only cylinder rotate in single.
I ask in the smithing section and then notice a missing screw on the right side . MMMMMMMMMMMMM I think more issues. I look it up on gunparts corp to see what the screw will cost , Their diagram shows no such screw on a j frame .
I come back here and run some searches and discover through past posts that it is a BABY CHIEF , I read on the serial numbers fall within the range , it has the screw that is missing and assorted other pieces of information THAT without this site I would never have known .
Guess I am adopting another basket case Thanks

[H Richard]

Adopting basket cases can be fun. There are numerous youtube video's on disassembly of a S&W, and the Jerry Miculek video is one of the best. The Kunhausen shop manual is indespensible in tearing down and working on S&W's.

I can't figure out why any missing side plate screw would have anything to do with how it may cycle. Sounds more like the double action sear is stuck, possibly caked up with dirt? Maybe just a good cleaning might do wonders? Good luck, keep us posted.

[Onomea]

Folowing up in H. Richard's cleaning thought, if you are leery of taking it apart, maybe just get some Brākleen and spray it up into the mechanism and see if that gets a bunch of old gunk out.