ACE HARDWARE

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rct269

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This may be old news to some, but it got my attention. Some/Many/All/??? ACE stores now carry an assortment of gun screws. One screw in particular stopped me dead in my tracks!! It's a 1-72 X 1/2. For you non-screw folks, that's a tiny little thing---which is even tinier in our world, where two of them hold the blade retention plate in place on the first target sight S&W ever made---and the only target sight they made from 1878 to 1909 for a variety of top-breaks. Again for you non-screw folks, this is a size 1 machine screw (not very big around) with 72 threads per inch, and it's a half inch long. In our world, it's still a size 1, but it's only 1/8" long (overall), and has a smaller head----which is to say the ACE version needs some whittling-----which is child's play. Now I don't know about you, but I don't know where I can go buy a screw for 65 cents that hasn't been in use for 110 years (as far as I know) that would probably cost $65 to have made. And as near as I can tell from the picture I was sent, they have maybe as many as 45-50 different sizes.

Color me impressed!!

Ralph Tremaine
 
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I'd heard that last year, but don't see any at my stores, nor do they show on their web site. Must be a real secret in some places.
 
The Evidence

Here is the pix I sent Ralph.

This is my local Ace Hardware in Palatine IL.

I am indeed using a screw from here temporarily as a rear sight adjusting screw for my Model 1899 .38 Special Target. The head is far larger and needs to be removed.

Anyone have a correct screw for me?
 

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THIS THREAD IS JUST AMAZING ! ! !

I MUST ASSUME THAT VERY FEW OF THE FIREARMS COMMUNITY WOULD CONSIDER ACE HARDWARE TO BE A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF GUN SCREWS---AT LEAST I NEVER DID......

FINDING OUT THAT THEY ARE, LEARNING OF THEIR EXTENSIVE INVENTORY, AND VIEWING THEIR ATTRACTIVE PACKAGING, HAS IMPRESSED ME A GREAT DEAL.........
 
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Careful....

Some special interest groups will be protesting this outside their doors until they are forced to remove them!:eek:
 
Next time I'm at my Ace, I'll check and see if they do. It's possible that is up the franchise owner, if so all I have to do is ask and they will get that selection in.

Guns aren't the only things that use fine/super fine machine screws, they could have them under a different name too. (cameras come to mind)

Ivan
 
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At our Ace, I just noticed that they have a pretty good selection of gun screws. Took me by surprise!
 
Keep in mind that Ace stores are not owned by Ace. They are independents although some are small chainstores. Not all will carry the same assortment. One of the Ace stores I frequent sells ammunition. They have the gun screw assortment as well. Another Ace in a nearby town is an FFL.
 
To make one of these work, you will need to cut the head off, then use a very small jeweler's saw to cut a correct slot. I bought a few 1x72 screws on Ebay a few years back. I also have a tap and die.
 
=Another thing that is in those ACE gun screw boxes is a small hardened plate with all the thread sizes. Works well to ID your thread size AND if you need to cut a screw down in length run it into test plate tight, cut it off with file or dremel what ever then clean up the tip and round it
slightly and when you remove it from test plate you it will make sure the end threads are clean. Hard to do by hand on little screws. I am sure it would work to chase the threads on a screw with slightly messed up threads too. If you wanted to rework a screw head the plate would make a good holder for the screw while you worked it. I bought one and keep it with my gun tools. Handy.
 
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I never heard this before but I will be by our local Ace today and will certainly ask . It's good to hear any business that supports our sport and interests even in a small way so kudos to Ace Hardware.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I'll check our local Ace as well. Owner is a good guy, I'm sure that he would be happy to add these if he is not already carrying them.

Best Regards, Les
 
I will be doing some shopping at Ace today.
Walt
 
Not all...

.....stores will have these screws.

I have many real hardware stores to choose from in my area, and only the Ace pictured above carries these screws.
 
Roselle??? Lets see, there was Botterman's Market, Dairy Queen, Safeway, Rexall's Drug, a family owned hardware store and the train station. Population 2800; and I think they counted every chicken and cow to arrive at that number. The Fire Department was volunteer and there was one 4-way flashing stoplight in town. The Elementary School was on split-secession; I went 12:30 to 5:30 pm and walked home in the dark (Oh, the horror!!). The High School was in Medina; eight miles down the two-lane road. And O'Hare airport was in a field to the left of the 4-way stop sign. Shamburg (now, 'Estates') was a cow pasture with a pond that we ice skated on during the winter. I didn't marry Carol, my flame, but I still have fond memories of living in Roselle. Thanks for my memory lane; I know it has nothing to do with ACE Hardware.
 
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