I've had this Model 10 for about a million years, when I got it it was missing the mainspring, tension screw, and a frame screw, and the grips were plastic dogshit that had warped beyond usefulness. It was $50, and I've sat on it ever since, because I'm really good at procrastination.

Anyhow, the girlfriend wants me to learn her how to put holes in things over there, while we stand over here, so I figured why not fix up the olde .38 for funsies?

Ordered the $9 worth of parts that have prevented me from having a serviceable sixgun for the last decade, didn't have to buy grips as I discovered I had a set I got in a trade from darkest2000 at some point, and discovered that the strain screw is too short. That's why I titled the thread like I did, see that's how you let people know what you want.

Luckily, I have another .38 I can sort of compare parts to, though it's a much older Military & Police.

On the left is the new part, on the right is the older one.


This is what it looks like installed in the Model 10.


And this is what the M&P looks like.


Obviously the screw is too short, not putting the bend in the spring.

Now. where do I get the longer screw? I ordered this one from Brownells, and they seem to only have that one screw, no different lengths.

Numrich gun parts

Smith and Wesson themselves...

I've gotten many a part straight from them.

SW customer service can hook you up with a call.

Eta link to Numrich:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/1493330.htm

Go to Home Depot and give a #8-32 x .5" socket/hex head screw a try. I had an issue with an old 66 and at the time couldn't source a strain screw and this worked perfectly for me.

quote:

Now. where do I get the longer screw? I ordered this one from Brownells, and they seem to only have that one screw, no different lengths.

That screw appears to be for a round butt.

I'd go with the HD screw. There actually is a mod with a screw tapped from the bottom of the grip to lock the strain screw in position.

I think it's made by the same company that makes the end shake bearings.

An interim solution you can try is to take an expended small pistol primer with anvil removed and place it on top of the short screw ( sandwiched between the tip of screw and mainspring and tighten down. This may provide enough tension for reliable ignition. I had a similar situation tried the prime rib cup trick and it worked perfectly. So well in fact I never even replaced the screw

Just out of curiosity, does the too short screw have a tip that is spring loaded and retracts back into the body of the screw when you push it into something hard? Because from the pics it looks an awful lot like a yoke retaining screw, which should not be used in the place of a strain screw.

Numrich or Smith. Or the local hardware store.

The S&W part number for the round butt screw is #5035. For the square butt, use #5064

Smith and Wesson has treated me well with parts as well as service.

E mail me name and address and I can send You one...I have several...and have NEVER needed any of them. I'd be happy to help You out.

FN in MT

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
E mail me name and address and I can send You one...I have several...and have NEVER needed any of them. I'd be happy to help You out.

FN in MT

Super awesome. An email has been sent, it's from my Hotmail account, so check your spam folder. I promise it's not from a Nigerian prince, but I do have boner pills from Canada, super cheap!

No use for the boner pills. Still have lead in my pencil...NO one to write to though. But still, A nice offer.

Screw will go out in tomorrows mail.

FN in MT

The screw arrived yesterday, installed it, gun goes clickclickclickclickclick, now to go out and see if it goes bangbangbangbangbang.



(Agnes was not pleased that I placed something in her chair, especially while she was using it.)