WHICH SCREWDRIVER FOR S&W SIDEPLATE

[H47]

Excellent idea. Good tools give service and pleasure for a long time, and are never a waste of money.....

 

[GCF]

I do not know exactly what your intentions are and which era guns and models you intend on working on. In short, the Grace Screwdriver set is good and the Brownell's Bits are better - IMO.

S&W HAS changed their screws over the years and so different era guns will have a little different sized slots.I find the older vintage examples tend to have thinner slots and they have also used different suppliers over the years so screw slots do vary.

The Brownell's Bits run only a few bucks each - so if you need to properly fit one to a specific screw it's no big deal. Why grind up a Grace fixed blade screwdriver that costs 3 timed that and then you will have to buy a new one?? The Brownell's Bits are also better tempered (IMO) and guaranteed against breakage and twisting for life. You don't even need to return said Bit - just a quick call and Brownell's will send a new one out.

Brownell's has a much larger size variety and IMO are more finely ground and more precise. Now as far as the Non-Magnetic feature, if that is what you want Brownell's sells Non Magnetic handles. Personally I like the Magnetic "Law Enforcement Modlel" but that is my personal choice. It's convenient to be able to just use the Screwdriver as a handy "picker-upper" when grabbing small screws off the bench.

Last but not least, The Brownell's set is so much more compact to store. One handle and a box of many many Bits take up very little space in a tool box or gun bag. The Grace set takes up a lot of space as each one has a handle. Ultimately = your choice of course.

Well, all good points to be considered. Thanks to you (& everyone else, as well) for the valuable input.

My criteria:
1. Quality American made - preferably.
2. Proper fitment - blade length x width / hollow ground / parallel
sides.
3. Correctly tempered.
4. Precise tolerances - IMHO, bits that wiggle in a loose magnetic handle, are another accident waiting to happen.

For the record, & without listing the entire herd, my primary interest is 70's - 90's vintage J, K, L, & N frames. Sole exception is an M&P340.

 

[jhnttrpp]

You guys have got to stop this kind of talk. I ended up going online to Brownells and order a 50 + dollar set of screw drivers. I new I needed them. Had to have them. Is there no end.

 

[gwpercle]

Use the bit that fits best. You will have to "try" the ones you have. Old screws may have had slots dressed with a Swiss needle file and be wider than normal. Replacement screws may have different width slots...screws are "like a box of chocolates" . There have been times when no driver fits perfectly, then you grind a new tip to fit that slot.
Don't try to use a bit that is too small....then you get to bugger a screw head and have to learn how to fix them...trust me I have experienced all this and learned the " Hard Way ".
The upside is I can now repair buggered screw heads like a champ !

Is there no end....of course not....you will get to know the meaning of the term "Money Pit" , but it's a fun hobby.
Gary

 

[TruckGun]

I was in the same quandry, and wanted enough bits to work on my Smiths, amongst others. I asked the fine folks here, and ended up ordering a large set of Magna Tips from Brownells. The price stung at first, but that pain is now forgotten. However, the joy of seeing and using them whenever I open that kit hasn't gotten old. Buy once, cry once, and all that....

 

[Mercury]

Chapman is still in business and sells screwdriver bits that should work for you.
Chapman MFG 5589 Ultimate Gunsmith Slotted + Star/Torx Screwdriver Set – Chapman Manufacturing

 

[2152hq]

I personally never cared for the interchangable bit screwdriver sets. I have always used just plain old 'screwdrivers' and have a bench full of them.

If anything it shows the need for a lot of options as they say today!.
Wether you use one of the interchangeable bit sets (or two) or a cluster of mismatched old drivers like I do,,one thing is for sure is that you'll need them all and then some.

Save the cheap soft ones for opening cans, spreading solder flux and digging dandellions from the lawn. They'll do more damage than good work for you on screws.
,,and don't be shy about reshaping a good one to fit a specific screw slot when you need to.

Don't overheat if you grind them to shape. You should be able to file them too. The best should be just spring temper and a sharp file will still cut it.
I file shape most of mine when I need to.
Grinding I avoid but when I do I use a belt grinder w/a coarse belt instead of a grinding wheel, Runs cooler, cuts quick and has much less chance of burning/overheating.
Everyone has their own way of doing things,,good results and undamaged screw slots are what matter.

Demagnitize any of them by passing it into and back out of a common soldering gun loop,,with the trigger pulled of course!.