4-screw K-frame question

redlevel42 · August 3, 2013, 08:32 AM

I rescued an old 4-screw pre Model 10 earlier this week. It has been sitting in a pawn-shop display for 6 months or so, and I finally felt so sorry for it that I took it home. I have it details stripped now, getting what looks like gunked-up burnt motor oil out of the innards.

The gun has a hole through the bottom of the grip frame. I have seen pictures of this before (I think), but I have never seen it on one of my guns. Can someone tell me what the functional purpose of this might be? Just curious. I am thinking about drilling a matching hole in an old set of k-frame magnas I have and running a rawhide or para-cord loop through it to attach to a lanyard.

oldgunsmith · August 3, 2013, 01:40 PM

Is there a small screw in front of and just above the trigger guard? I can't tell for sure from the photos, but it looks like what was known as a 5-screw (4 sideplate screws and the cyl. stop spring & plunger screw).

redlevel42 · August 3, 2013, 02:24 PM

It's a 4-screw. It has no upper side plate screw. S&W dropped the upper sideplate screw but retained the trigger guard screw for a few years, thus a "4-screw" gun. I once had a Model 10 no-dash with 4 screws. I think they dropped the fourth sideplate screw but kept the trigger guard screw only for a few years before they went to three screws, all in the side plate.

BigJimP · August 5, 2013, 06:48 PM

The landyard ring ...was fastened to the bottom of the butt of the frame ...on my Victory model....and on everything I see in the catalog.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1372438565

I don't see any purpose for that hole in the frame.../ I know my Victory model ( pre model 10 ) does not have it.... ???

James K · August 6, 2013, 07:58 PM

The lanyard loop was set in a hole in the bottom of the grip, and held in by the stock pin. I have no idea what that hole is for except possibly a very slight weight reduction measure.

Jim

PetahW · August 8, 2013, 10:54 AM

.

I would WAG that the hole's for a locator pin, which would stabilize the frame for a broaching op (like the internal cutout for the MS and/or the cylinder opening) during the manufacture of that particular model.

.

**4V50 Gary** · August 8, 2013, 05:37 PM

What James K says. The lanyard loop ring hole was drilled into the bottom of the grip, not the side. A retaining pin hole was drilled into the side. I milled out the plug in my Victory and put a lanyard loop into it.

SaxonPig · August 8, 2013, 10:38 PM

I have a Colt with a similar hole. No idea what it was for. The old Magna Trigger conversion, maybe? Some sort of custom stocks required it?

August 3, 2013, 08:32 AM	#1
redlevel42 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2007 Location: South Georgia Posts: 310	4-screw K-frame question I rescued an old 4-screw pre Model 10 earlier this week. It has been sitting in a pawn-shop display for 6 months or so, and I finally felt so sorry for it that I took it home. I have it details stripped now, getting what looks like gunked-up burnt motor oil out of the innards. The gun has a hole through the bottom of the grip frame. I have seen pictures of this before (I think), but I have never seen it on one of my guns. Can someone tell me what the functional purpose of this might be? Just curious. I am thinking about drilling a matching hole in an old set of k-frame magnas I have and running a rawhide or para-cord loop through it to attach to a lanyard. __________________ Georgia on My Mind

August 3, 2013, 02:24 PM	#3
redlevel42 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2007 Location: South Georgia Posts: 310	It's a 4-screw. It has no upper side plate screw. S&W dropped the upper sideplate screw but retained the trigger guard screw for a few years, thus a "4-screw" gun. I once had a Model 10 no-dash with 4 screws. I think they dropped the fourth sideplate screw but kept the trigger guard screw only for a few years before they went to three screws, all in the side plate. __________________ Georgia on My Mind

August 8, 2013, 05:37 PM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	What James K says. The lanyard loop ring hole was drilled into the bottom of the grip, not the side. A retaining pin hole was drilled into the side. I milled out the plug in my Victory and put a lanyard loop into it. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

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August 3, 2013, 01:40 PM	#2
oldgunsmith Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 278	Is there a small screw in front of and just above the trigger guard? I can't tell for sure from the photos, but it looks like what was known as a 5-screw (4 sideplate screws and the cyl. stop spring & plunger screw).

August 5, 2013, 06:48 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The landyard ring ...was fastened to the bottom of the butt of the frame ...on my Victory model....and on everything I see in the catalog. http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1372438565 I don't see any purpose for that hole in the frame.../ I know my Victory model ( pre model 10 ) does not have it.... ???

August 6, 2013, 07:58 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The lanyard loop was set in a hole in the bottom of the grip, and held in by the stock pin. I have no idea what that hole is for except possibly a very slight weight reduction measure. Jim

August 8, 2013, 10:54 AM	#6
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. I would WAG that the hole's for a locator pin, which would stabilize the frame for a broaching op (like the internal cutout for the MS and/or the cylinder opening) during the manufacture of that particular model. .

August 8, 2013, 10:38 PM	#8
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	I have a Colt with a similar hole. No idea what it was for. The old Magna Trigger conversion, maybe? Some sort of custom stocks required it?