Side Plate Removal

clayshooter · Mar 6, 2010

Looking for suggestions on how to remove the sideplate from a S&W. I've looked through some of the previous maintenance posts but could find nada. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Thunderball · Mar 6, 2010

Take off the grips and all the side plate screws. DO NOT PRY. Take a small hammer with a rubber face and tap, tap, tap ,tap the frame. It should pop up loose.

m1gunner · Mar 6, 2010

Or, hold the revolver (sans side plate screws and grips) in one hand with the side plate facing up.

Rap on the grip area with the handle of a plastic handled screw driver (craftsman screwdriver handles seem just right).

The side plate will pop right off.

DeadAye · Mar 6, 2010

Remove the grips. Obviously - remove the screws.
I hold the revolver in my left hand with a finger over the side plate so that it can't go anywhere.
The book says to use a wooden hammer handle, but I use a nylon faced hammer, to give the frame - where the right grip was - a sharp rap. One rap or sometimes two and the side plate is off. Hit the frame, not the side plate.
DO NOT PRY THE PLATE OFF! Don't even try it!! The damage you do will be permanent...

If you really want to do some good once you're in there get a copy of The S&W Revolver - A Shop Manual by Jerry Kuhnjausen.

500 Magnum Nut · Mar 6, 2010

faq sticky

SW CQB 45 · Mar 6, 2010

FFW to min 7 for sideplate removal

YouTube - SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10 SERVICE REVOLVER PART 1

Side Plate Removal

clayshooter

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Thunderball

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m1gunner

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DeadAye

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500 Magnum Nut

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SW CQB 45

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