Careless GS and screws

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RA40

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Last Thursday took some revolvers by the gunsmith to have him evaluate the selling values. I've not been to him before though the Yelp reviews paint him as 5 star. He asked to take the side plate off to inspect the previous gunsmith's work on this one, said ok. Our overall interaction was pleasant. Came home put the toys away and went on to other things. Without the contacts on today I spotted he'd F'd up the screw heads by using the wrong sized screwdriver.

I've not had to remove the side plate and the GS that performed the work sends out immaculate pieces so this is new damage. How he even managed to not take the time to check blade fit is SMH. There is also a faint scratch on the side plate where the screwdriver slipped. Super careless.
Moral, this is like car mechanics and doctors. Plenty around but not all are good.

I can fix this but it takes my time away from other stuff. The issue I'll have is not being able to match the original GS's glass bead blast as my media is of different mesh size. I won't touch the side plate scratch. Like coming out to the parking lotto see some careless driver has left a door ding. frown.gif sw-sideplate-screws-January 11, 2022-4096.jpg sw-sideplate-screws-January 11, 2022-4095.jpg
 
Just another jerkoff gunsmith. Looks like he used a prybar to get the sideplate off. Probably used a multitool. Sheesh.
 
I do not trust Yelp reviews unless there are dozens of them and then I toss 10% of the high ones and 10% of the low ones before I decide if I will believe what is left.

I have had similar experiences. I recommend a scathing review with photos. If he has any honor he’ll try and make good on his screw up.

I would be hard pressed to drop the negative review though.
 
Thanks for the sentiments. That screwdriver size bulge was compliments of the first owner. I wasn't aware of it till much later, it does bug me yet thankfully the grips cover it. Looks like this GS did pry on the inside hammer spring opening. The normally flat inside hard edge is rolled and shiny from whatever was used to pry or if a punch was used. :mad: Definitely not happy to see the new scratches on the side plate by the yoke screw either. The yoke screw is the worst, I'd turned it down a bit but it needs about .01" off.

If I inflict damage through use that is part of it. When somebody else does it, that's more frustrating.

Additiona: Agree about Yelp reviews. Next time any of mine see GS it will be one that has a well earned reputation.
 
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The screws can probably be repaired with some needle files by a competent gunsmith. I have repaired buggered screws around the house out of boredom that looked like they were taken out by a file and pliers so it isn't too hard to do yourself either. With the current supply issues, finding a replacement side plate wouldn't be easy compared to a few years ago. Being under grips I wouldn't worry about it much and vy for a repair/replacement later once things have returned to something like normal.
 
He ruined the sideplate of that revolver. Really sad to see an old Smith worked on by a fool.
Sideplate is not ruined, it still fits, but yeah, it's damaged, and that is covered by the stocks. It isn't difficult to get a side plate off, I can't imagine anyone calling themselves a gunsmith that would bugger a screw or pry on a side plate.. The gun isn't all that "old", looks like a MIM trigger, and a newer style finish than the vintage guns had. I also cannot imagine needing to remove the side plate anyway, as long as the gun was functioning correctly. Value can be reasonably assessed without disassembly. The discoloring on the side plate and grip frame looks like it has rubber grips, which should be removed routinely for cleaning, else they hold moisture and contribute to corrosion, which appears to be happening along the grip frame. The screws can be replaced, it's easier and cheaper than trying to repair and refinish them.
 
Take the side plate for an appraisal? I have never had my lgs who is also a smith take a firearm apart for appraisal. Just like upgrades on cars and bikes they add very little to the value if any. A little peening with the proper tools and know how would fix that side plate and as mentioned needle files for the screws.
 
Thanks guys! A lesson for me to not allow this to happen again. We all can make boo-boo's so owning up when damaging another person's property is the right thing to do. He could have been honest to say he F'd up and will replace the screws. That would have spoken well of him.

Went by Midway's site and these yoke screws are back ordered. I may call a few local shops to see if any are available. Meanwhile this one will go into the drill press to see if it can be turned a bit more to clean that rolled edge. I don't have glass beads in my cabinet though a light CFM flow I may be able to lightly frost the screw heads to get close. (Have wanted a lathe for decades, haven't had the urgency to add one, this would be useful now.) A lot more work-time than necessary yet it is practice at fixing stuff which is a useful experience to have.

Thanks for the tip on cleaning under the grips. I haven't shot this in about 2 years so it has been sitting. Bought this 686-3 in '93 or so. Back then the GS was showing one of his stainless PPC built 686 revolvers at the gun store when I came in. Liked that glass bead finish so when I commissioned work on this 686, this was one of the work order lines.
 
That's the answer to my wife question, why I have hundreds of screw drivers.
RA40 sorry to see that neglecting act, take it as an opportunity to fond even more with your firearm.
 
So out of the group of revolvers taken in for evaluation, this gunsmith wants to take off the side plate on one gun to checkout the work of the previous gunsmith? What led him to believe there was internal work done on that one revolver out of the others?

Plus, the side plate pry mark seen in the photo was from the prior owner? Is that mark what made the gunsmith want to take off the side plate for inspection?

Interesting how the screw dings are from tightening, not loosening. Usually I see it happen the other way around.
 
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Next time you want values on your guns use the gunbroker advanced search feature and see what guns similar to yours sold for. Not the wishful thinking prices you see with no bids guns but what the final price was for the item. That will give you an idea of what they should bring.
 
Nothing about this makes sense to me. Taking guns to a gunsmith to ascertain resale values? Taking the sideplate off a S&W when it's not absolutely necessary?? It's a 30yr old 686, I wouldn't worry about it. Cheap lesson learned.
 
I'm a little mystified here. The gun is a somewhat older Smith (hardchromed, forged action parts). Was it purchased new or used? What doofus previously pried the sideplate? Was it like that when purchased? I'd lose more sleep over that then the screws.
The screws don't look that bad; they are dirty as much as anything. The flat headed one is the worst, and a careful cleaning will make the screw heads look better.
As regards bodged screws, an 'Irish lathe' will fix them; tape the threads, chuck it in an electric drill, hold a fine file against it. But, the flat head perhaps excepted, I'd leave those alone.
Please, due respect, but it feels like we're not getting the whole story here.
Moon
 
The gun garage online store sells brand new screws for the older S&W revolvers, they are well made and nicely finished. I have replaced a good number of old revolver screws that had been chewed up by previous owners, and pseudo gunsmiths. It seems that removing a screw without destroying it is an extremely rare skill in general. :uhoh:https://gungaragestore.com/

That side plate damage stinks, was he literally prying it off? :eek: Fortunately it is covered by the grip though... out of sight and out of mind. So long as nothing else is damaged or bent.
 
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Was examining this more and form what I conclude the cam out was that he was unable to seat the side plate so he seated it by torquing down the screws. That's a poor technique just as I had learned in wrenching the car that if some mating surface does not slide in right, check that it is mating up straight, DO NOT USE A FASTENER TO APPLY FORCE THAT WAY!

It works fine just a side story to this minor cosmetic F-up. Ordered a new yoke screw and other than the scratches on the side plate, life goes on.
 
Around there this is called a “Bubbasmith” and he bubbasmithed your gun. Fortunately the damage was minor. Can’t afford and does not know how to make a properly fitting screwdriver and/or has no idea how to correctly remove screws that are stuck by old gun oil or minor corrosion, both very common.
 
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