Colt dilemma

  • Thread starter The Swamp Fox
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The Swamp Fox

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One thing I've always wanted to add to my collection has been a Colt revolver but the price tag always prevented me from making the purchase. Until I walked into a small little gun shop and they had a Colt Detective Special on sale for $340. Timing and lockup was tight, the bore wasn't shot out and the trigger was everything I expected it to be. The guy behind the counter said it was cheap because it was ugly and nobody would want to buy it. As you can see in the photo it definitely has some heavy finish wear. I don't know about the rest of you but to me Glocks are ugly, on a Colt some wear is just character. I've already made up my own history of this gun for my own amusement. Maybe I'll write a short story about it some day.

Anyway onto my dilemma, the medallions in the grips had rotated over time so I decided to remove the grips and try to rotate them back. Now I cannot get the grip screw to go back in. The threads do not grip each other and screw just freely slides through the hole on the other side. I know the easiest answer is buy new grips but I like these worn ones, it's part of the guns character. Does anyone have any ideas how to save these grips?

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You might have to find a replacement grip screw. I had a similar scenario many years ago with an S&W revolver. The grip screw was damaged, so I had to replace it.
 
Sounds like the little brass nut fell out of the grip, is what happened?
 
First, that's a nice old Colt. The guy that sold it to you is right, it's not black, plastic, and will not hold a box of ammo, no one will want that. You recognized it for what it is and bought it. Good for you.

Second, is your problem the threads on the screw or the threaded insert in the grip? Either can be replaced.
 
The brass nut is still there and the screw does not look damaged. It seems like the brass nut is just a hair too big or the screw is a hair too small. It seemed just fine until I unscrewed it. I wonder if some loctite would hold it in place?
 
And then a follow up question where would I begin to look for a replacement screw and or nut for this thing?
 
The brass nut is still there and the screw does not look damaged. It seems like the brass nut is just a hair too big or the screw is a hair too small. It seemed just fine until I unscrewed it. I wonder if some loctite would hold it in place?

I would try a small length of fine solder wire in the hole for a little interference fit. Kind of like the matchstick and wood screw trick.
 
Take the grips off the gun, take the screw out of the grip. Try to screw the screw into the grip with the brass nut from the inside. If it goes in one turn and then can't be pulled out gently then the problem is probably not with those parts.
 
Take the grips off the gun, take the screw out of the grip. Try to screw the screw into the grip with the brass nut from the inside. If it goes in one turn and then can't be pulled out gently then the problem is probably not with those parts.
Yeah I tried that and it doesn't stay that way either.
 
....The guy behind the counter said it was cheap because it was ugly and nobody would want to buy it.

I don't know how to fix your grip / medallion problem but can say sincerely that it's a really good looking gun. It's got personality. That looks like honest carry wear and not abuse. I'd buy shrouded ejector rod Colt D frames all day at that price and in that cosmetic condition if mechanically sound.

I carried a 1975 Detective Special all day today.
 
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