please help. filler screws for holes in s&w model 41

M

mellow_c

New member
I might have a chance to buy a nice s&w model 41 (.22lr semi auto).

The pistol is in great shape for its age except that it had two large holes drilled in to the top of the barrel so that a scope mount could be installed.

I would prefer to shoot it with iron sights, and the drilled holes really detract from the collectability and the and the asthetics in my opinion.

If i were able to fill the holes with some screws that don't stick out, like what you find on top of most 10-22's and many other rifles and pistols... Then i would feel like the modification would be tolerable in that it still would remain a useful option and less of an eye sore.

I wouldn't know the first place to look for something like that though. Could i find something like that somewhere, or is it something that would have to be made by modifying a longer screw? Id have to figure out what the threads are before anything i suppose.

Whether or not I buy this pistol might depend on if i think this can be achieved without too much trouble so I'm turning to the experts here for opinions.

I'd attach a couple pictures but they are too big of files and im not real good with figuring out that sort of stuff.

Thanks!
 
Most gun screws like that have finer threads than standard and are sometimes the less common #5 wire diameter. You see 4-48 and 5-40 or 5-44 and 6-40 instead of the common 4-40 and 6-32.

About the only way I know to check is to try running screws of these different sizes into the holes. Most thread gauges won't fit inside and are, instead, meant to measure male threads on screws. If you can't get the male screws to gauge, any gunsmith is likely to have some screws to try and may have a kit of plug screws like the one Brownell's sells.
 
Find screws that fit. File as close to the barrel as possible. Then slowly peen them over. Express Blue or old fashion rust blue (sweat box).
 
I don't think you want to be making a Model 41 barrel to peen a screw over.

Brownells should have tiny slot screws for that purpose once you establish the size.
 
I think this will work. I edited the pictures by cropping them so they are showing much less but the file size is smaller

Here are pictures of one of the screw holes and one of the screws holding the sight base in place. Just so you all can see what id be working with.

This would be an online purchase though, so no way for me to know anything more about the screws and holes until i would purchase it and actually have it in my possession.
 

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I'm going to go out on a limb, roll the dice, and say they are likely 6-48 threads. Could be wrong, have been before, but that is probably the most common thread for mounting bases.
 
Yes.
The most common sight or scope base screw is 6-48, next is 8-40.
Not a usual hardware store size but Brownells and maybe Midway has them.
Even better, maybe somebody here saved the plug screws after putting on a scope and would karma you a couple.
 
An excellent fix is to buy some Dome Head Positive Stop plug screws from Brownell's.

These are plug screws with a domed head. The head prevents the screw from going in too far, and prevents the screw from backing out.
The rounded head gives a much more "finished" look then an ordinary plug screw and looks like it belongs there.
These are available in blued and stainless.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ware/metal-screws/plug-screw-kit-prod792.aspx
 
Not a lot of information to go on... I had Maynard Bueller out of Orinda, CA put a mount and set of rings on my 41 back in the mid 1980s.

I pulled up this on a thread asking what screws he used...


"I had the same problem and could not source a screw. What I can tell you is that the screw thread is a number 3 A.N.C thread and is .099 of an inch thick with a 48 TPI pitch. So get one made or re-tap the thread to a screw you can buy."

Does this screw sound like what you need?
 
Ace hardware stocks a lot of oddball small screws including some 'gunsmith" screws. I have found and bought several there over the years. Might be worth a try if one is in your area.
 
Pick up a couple 6x48's at a gun shop and likely your problem will be solved. If they go in a little too far, just put a little blue Loctite on them and set at the depth you want. I've made a bunch of those plug screws over the years from regular screws using a thin cut off wheel on a Dremel and a craytex wheel to polish the tops.
 
Probably a 6-48 if it held a scope. A good hardware store might just have 4 or 6-48 allen "plug" set screws.
Amazon has a 12 Pack Blued Plug Screw 6-48 For Receiver Barrel Scope Sight Base Set
 
Well everyone, thanks for all the advice and recommendations, however, I decided to pass on the pistol. It was a beauty, and might have been a great buy, but i just want feeling it in the end and decided to go a different route. Now that the auction has passed and I'm not worried about advertising the pistol to more potential buyers ;) I'll go ahead and let you all see the gun for yourselves.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/774872626

Like i said... I decided to pass on it. And only one other person ended up bidding on it. So they won it for $895 + shipping and background check. I would think they probably got themselves a decent deal. Any opinions on the pistol one way or the other?
 
Looks a little overpriced to me....especially with alterations done to it. There has to be others out there somewhere unaltered....and possibly at a better price.
 
Pheweee, nice gun. I have on unaltered and its not that nice.

Long term dream is to get a barrel that is drilled for a scope or Dot Site.

I cannot see or shoot pistol iron sites for a hoot and that would be the Cats meow.

They don't make them like that anymore. That is like about 1980

If I was in the market I would have gone $1000 for it. Get a second one in that date range, beat up or? with a good barrel and swap em. Yea I know that is not honest, as long as its in the right date range, a barrel is a barrel.

It is a shame that it was altered as the box and papers are keepers.

But the value in those is the workmanship as opposed to antique collector (at least now)

Price a new one that is not as quality as those old ones and......

New ones go for $1200 or a bit better and they are not as good.
 
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RC20,

I sure like the older ones... They have beautiful bluing... The newer ones don't look as nice in my opinion (the ones from the 90's on up). The newer ones also appear to have laminate grips instead of regular wood stocks/grips like i see on the older ones, is that correct? Do you think the newer ones are of any lesser quality aside from just not looking as nice? I have extremely limited experience with these pistols so I don't have an opinion beyond what I can see with my eyes.

I'm curious about how all the different years compare. I've also heard that some of them from the 80's can be more problematic than the older or newer ones... ?
 
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