Upper side plate screw

[Mike McLellan]

Occasionally, I read threads where posters are desperately searching for the short, large head upper side plate screw for a K frame. I just bought 4 of them on Ebay, and the seller has several more @ 3 something each. They're for the Victory (parkerised), and until I get them, I won't know for certain if they're the correct thread or not, and I can't imagine ever needing 4 of them, but at times, they seem impossible to find. I just thought I'd pass-on their availability to those in need.

 

[wraco]

I believe the uppeer sideplate screw for the Victory Models will not fit the post war models. . One of my early post war K-22's, the head of the upper S/P screw had broke in half on the screw slot. . I tried using one from a Victory model, and if memory is correct, the thread size was a tad too large. . eventually found one at a gun show. .

Rod

 

[DWalt]

There was a change made in the sideplate bug screw thread size, I think sometime in the mid-1940s. Numrich/Gun Parts Corp. may still carry the older bug screw, under parts for the S&W M1917. One of the members here had some and provided me with one at a very reasonable price. I seem to remember the older bug screw as being possibly a .100-48, but I am not sure about that (at least the -48 part).

 

[Hondo44]

DWalt,

That's right .100-48 for the older. Mid to late war S&W screws were standardized to NF and the bug screw became the #4-48.
APRIL 19, 1943 K bug screws were shortened to .181" because the earlier screw protruded beyond the inside of the frame.