Smith and Wesson Model 36 Side Plate

[SullyVols]

Just got a model 36 today. Don't know what the (-X) is but its a pinned barrel without recessed cylinders and is nickel plated.

It was pretty gunked up so I took off the side plate, cleaned out the gunk with rem-oil, dryed it out and then rubbed down each piece with clp. After reassembling it I gave the side plate a strike and it seated up nicely. I gave it a few more whacks with the butt of my hammer but no matter how many times or how hard i whacked the side plate the rear corner (the part the grip covers) won't seat all the way up. The sideplate sticks off a few thousands and won't seat all the way. I took it apart to make sure all the pin slots were cleaned and even cleaned out the screw threads but still had the same issue. Everything seams right but it just won't go all the way in.

To be honest I didn't check the way it was before I disassembled it so it may have been this way when I took it apart.

*Also - I've done this at least once with all my revolvers. The gun does feel much better dry-firing after cleaning it out.

Any ideas?

 

[lowercase]

The sideplate sticks off a few thousands and won't seat all the way.

Did you pry the sideplate off when disassembling the gun?

 

[SullyVols]

Did you pry the sideplate off when disassembling the gun?

Nope, just smacked it with the wooden handle of a hammer. I've done this before a few times with my other revolvers.

 

[rcmodel]

Did you pry it off with a screwdriver by chance?
If so, you sprung it.

If you popped it off by inertia by whacking the grip with a hammer handle or something, probably didn't spring it.
But that doesn't mean somebody else didn't before you got it.

Make sure the hammer block is pushed all the way to the top of the slot with the end between hammer & frame before putting the side-plate back on.

Will it seat when all the screws are back in & tightened?
Will it seat with all the internal parts out of the gun?

BTW: No .38 Spl of any age had recessed chambers.
That was only used in Magnum caliber guns & .22 RF's.

rc

 

[SullyVols]

I just re-re-checked it. The middle screw is sort of difficult to get down but not more so really than my newer S&W revolvers. It's no more really than the width of a hair so maybe I'm being OCD. The gun seems to function fine and is in time. I don't suppose I'm in danger if the sideplate isn't 100% flush?

 

[rcmodel]

No danger, but it was perfectly flush when S&W polished it & blued it I betcha, as they did all the poishing with the side-plate on.

I'd look again for a tiny burr sticking up on one of the threaded holes in the frame, or a speck of dirt still under the hammer, trigger, or rebound slide on the off-side holding it up slightly.

Also, with the side-plate off, lay a steel straight-edge on it and see if you can detect a slight warp or 'sprung' condition.

rc