That moment when.....

[Nickjc]

......you realize that the pistol you bought online - is not what it appears to be.

Forget the pushoff that was created by a bubba trigger job....and someone think in parts just drop in....

You then find this too - how in heavens name do you strip a strain screw on a 19-3?

Threads aren't buggered in the frame thank God.



Make you rethink buying a pistol online without handling it.

Good thing I had a NOS hammer to fit to the pistol and that the trigger is fine. .. BUT, gotta buy a strain screw as I do not bhai a spare.

 

[just plain joe]

Short answer: Kitchen-table gun-smithing. It appears that someone used an incorrect screwdriver and tried to "adjust" the strain screw.

That is one of the problems when you buy on-line. Ask me how I know.

Hope that you get it back to near original condition and proper working order.

Recently I obtained replaced screws for my Model 27 that had been "buggered" by the previous owner. I've had good luck with Numrich Gun Parts in New York.

JPJ

 

[geeollie]

Does sorta sour you.
Jack First gunshop is a good place to check for S&W parts.
Best wishes in getting it all back.

 

[Tyrod]

In a perverse sort of way, I feel that's the fun of it all. My aha moment came when I bought a pre model 37 with a cracked frame. I ended up to the good by parting it out, but my heart still sank when I found it. The seller offered to take it back, but I would have gone into the red over shipping costs.

I think the key to my way of buying used revolvers is to able to effectively evaluate the real issues with revolvers. Figure out what you can do yourself and what you may have to farm out. Factor in parts costs including what you may have on hand (even your old parts have some value). Deduct these costs including a healthy fudge factor for unexpected repairs (like your unseen strain screw) and make an offer. In my experience, a gun dealer, either online or in person worth a salt will prolly know about these issues as well and will have paid accordingly for the gun.

I'm a tinkerer by nature. I enjoy fixing things, especially guns. I would have become a gunsmith if it weren't for 2 things. #1 not enough money in it. I've made a lot more money making cell phone and hard drive chips than I ever could have made as a gunsmith. Plus, I would never have to deal with an irate idiotic customer. #2 bad deal with the devil. I got my first gunsmith application from the ATF back in the 70s. I didn't like the idea of becoming a 3rd class citizen just because I wanted to work on other folks guns.

I don't claim to be an expert on guns or gunsmithing, but I have bought my share of beaters. Some of the cream of the crop, I still have. I never sold a gun I had repaired that I wasn't proud of.

 

[spdguns]

Man, that's a ***** screw!

 

[chief38]

In all my years in this Hobby I confess I've NEVER seen a Strain Screw like that one! You would have to go out of your way to come up with that! Lucky they are readily available.

 

[Jdavis]

I don't see how that screw would be secure enough for the action to work. It is surprising that the frame threads wern't damaged also. Your experience reminds me of the revolver I bought on line with the broken hammer stud. Bubba did a pretty good job with J-B Weld.

 

[Nickjc]

In all my years in this Hobby I confess I've NEVER seen a Strain Screw like that one! You would have to go out of your way to come up with that! Lucky they are readily available.

I was able to source one from Numrich and still waiting on it

However someone I know had a spare blue one that is in it's place for now.

 

[Nickjc]

I don't see how that screw would be secure enough for the action to work. It is surprising that the frame threads wern't damaged also. Your experience reminds me of the revolver I bought on line with the broken hammer stud. Bubba did a pretty good job with J-B Weld.

Imagine when I removed it to see the condition - upon further examination of the frame and the threads - it appears some sort of loctite was used.

My heart sank when I saw it as I then felt I would have to do through a tougher job to make a repair. Luckily after cleaning the hole out and looking at the threads with a magnifier, you could see gunk int he threads but they looked sound.

Some time with just that part in some heated cleaning solution I was able to work it all out and they seem fine.

Honestly, I am not sure what my next step would have been if the threads were that bugged whereby chasing them would not fix it.... drill a new hole and size up?

The original hammer, being the SA notch was filed to far for safe, use I removed it all together and bobbed the hammer and it is in the parts bin with a bag labeled for this pistol.