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I recently had to detail strip my Gen 3 Colt SAA for the first time to remove some flood-damage rust from the ejector rod and spring. I got lucky that that was the only area that rusted. Anywho, I purchased the Wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver set and made damn sure that the tips I was using fit the screw slots exactly, etc.
but what I didn't do was double check that the shoulders of the bits were clearing the top of the grip frame when I was removing the backstrap screws. Sure enough, I gouged shallow but definite marks through the pristine bluing in the wide-round part of the grip frame. It makes me ill to look at them.
So: check your screwdriver's fit in the slots, and CHECK THE CLEARANCE of the bit/shaft with the rest of the gun.
I also learned that Colt has recently started using those red plastic washer things on all their SAA screws, so I'll need to get a fresh set of them for next time. I'd like to have it stocked in Ivory and the grip frame refinished, but from what I can learn it's not legal to deal in any ivory across state lines anymore, even if it's "certified" vintage sourced before the cutoff or whatever. So... not sure what I'll do.
Here's the first video I posted when I got this revolver for any interested.
but what I didn't do was double check that the shoulders of the bits were clearing the top of the grip frame when I was removing the backstrap screws. Sure enough, I gouged shallow but definite marks through the pristine bluing in the wide-round part of the grip frame. It makes me ill to look at them.
So: check your screwdriver's fit in the slots, and CHECK THE CLEARANCE of the bit/shaft with the rest of the gun.
I also learned that Colt has recently started using those red plastic washer things on all their SAA screws, so I'll need to get a fresh set of them for next time. I'd like to have it stocked in Ivory and the grip frame refinished, but from what I can learn it's not legal to deal in any ivory across state lines anymore, even if it's "certified" vintage sourced before the cutoff or whatever. So... not sure what I'll do.
Here's the first video I posted when I got this revolver for any interested.