442 grip screw. What the....

[Stu1205]

I picked up a LNIB 442 this weekend from a gent walking past
my table at the gun show I was at. I wasn't in the market for
or needing another J Frame Airweight, but this one was in the
box with all the papers, and NO IL. The price was too good to pass up,
so I figured, "what the heck", and I bought it.
When I got home, I went to change the stocks from the rubber
ones that it comes with to some nice wood ones to see how it
would look, and I noticed that the grip screw is no longer
slotted, but some kind of allen or hex screw.
When did Smith & Wesson start doing this?
More important, is WHY did they change it?
Was there an issue, or just another example of fixing something
that isn't broken?
Just wondering?

Stu

 

[leeshearer]

Don't know about the screw but how did the wood grips look?

 

[Electraclyde]

The allen head screws have been in use for a long time now. They are faster/eaiser to install on the production line.

 

[Stu1205]

Don't know about the screw but how did the wood grips look?

Don't know. I can't find an allen wrench that size to change them.
Time to a trip to the hardware store.

 

[ridgewalker]

It's 3/32nds.

 

[Stu1205]

It's 3/32nds.

Thank you.