S&W Cyl release thumbpiece removal

[popeye]

Hi I'm Jim and I have something to admit. In the 40+ years I've owned S&W revolvers I've never had the need to remove a sideplate. I'm ashamed and disgusted to admit that fact. With that admission out of the way, I now ask: I've got a 620 with that funny hole above the cyl. release. I wish to polish the gun sans thumbpiece. If I remove the screw and thumbpiece, will whatever the screw, threads into (as in threaded piece inside) fall into the gun so I have to remove the sideplate to reassemble the thumbpiece to the gun? OH THE SHAME

 

[Jim K]

No. The thumbpiece is attached to what S&W calls the bolt, which is the part that pushes forward on the cylinder center pin so the cylinder can be swung out. The bolt cannot be removed without removing the sideplate and the hammer, so just removing the thumbpiece is no problem.

(There are two different types of attachment. The older type is a hollow, cap-like nut that fits over the male threads on the bolt. The newer is just a screw that threads into the bolt. From a disassembly point of view there is no difference.)

Jim

 

[popeye]

Thankyou Mr. Keenan

 

[Virginian]

Stand tall man, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Having to take the gun in pieces in a shoebox to a gunsmith to get it put back together is something to be ashamed of. I have a friend who's done that twice. With the same gun.