J-Frame Crane Screws

ImDrRich

ImDrRich

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Are there different crane screws for the various years that the model 36 was made?

I understand the crane screw secures the cylinder, etc., to the frame, but there must be more to know - can someone educate me? Thank you.
 
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The "yoke" (Smith & Wesson) screw (not crane--a Colt term) was hand fit to length because of its job. I have taken a few off Chiefs, Model 36s, and Model 37s, but I can't say they were different from one era to the next. Maybe one of our gunsmith or armorer pals will be able to shed more light on the topic.
 
I own four different model j-frames, only one 36, a no-dash. The yoke screws all look identical. I had them all apart at the same time for a marathon cleaning after a range visit, and accidentally swapped a stainless for a nickel screw, and it worked. I expect all are the same,
 
Had a very tight yoke on my 36. Found that whoever owned it before me thought you needed to torque them to 50 in/lb! Put it back in snug and everything works fine. As others said they were not hand fitted.
 
Of the three side plate screws found on a 1961 - 1980 S&W revolver, the front and middle screws are almost identical. The front screw retains the crane, and its length can be critical. If the front and middle screws are exchanged, the sometimes longer middle screw can bind the crane and interfere with smoothly opening the cylinder. Should that happen, switching them back again will make things right.

This is kinda good to know when you encounter a S&W revolver with a crane so loosely held that it flops around. Swapping the left and middle screws can sometimes cure it, though it may require lightly filing the end of the middle screw slightly to achieve perfect crane function.
 
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