Help with a S&W Regulation Police .38 S&W

[Johnny Reno]

Hi,

I've got a S&W Regulation Police .38 S&W I frame revolver. It's in great working order and can't find any serious faults with it. It appears to be from the mid-30s and has been a safe queen for a while.

My issue is what I believe to be the cylinder latch screw which holds the cylinder latch plunger & spring in place in the front lower part of the frame is the wrong one for the gun. It sticks out a little too far and was apparently lost by the prior owner and replaced with this one.

Can any one tell me if the screw from any I frame like a .22 or .32 would fit this frame and if there are any ideas where to look for one? I found a used screw on Numrich for a .32 hand ejector and think this could be it.

Any input from the crowd, especially on an alternative?

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I'm far from an S&W expert, but AFAIK an I frame is an I frame. I'd go ahead and order that screw from Numrich. If it turns out "no joy," they'll take it back. All you'd lose then is the postage.

 

[BBBBill]

^^^^ What he said. The thing that would concern me most is whether the current screw is the correct thread diameter & pitch. If not and the previous owner re-drilled/re-tapped or forced it in, then your repair will be a bit more complicated.

 

[Johnny Reno]

^^^^ What he said. The thing that would concern me most is whether the current screw is the correct thread diameter & pitch. If not and the previous owner re-drilled/re-tapped or forced it in, then your repair will be a bit more complicated.

I found my screw gauge last night and tested the one in the gun and it's a #6-48 and I tried another new known #6-48 and it fit perfectly. Thinking about it, what I really need is a shoulder-less plug screw or a positive stop plug.

My local hardware store has a large variety of stuff like this and it dawned on me I could likely fix this for under 50 cents. The pictures look like the same thing so I'm going to give it a go.

Thanks for the help.