| The absolute
fastest way you can decrease the value of any good
firearm is to scratch the finish or bugger up the
screws. Both of these are frequent consequences of
using a screwdriver that doesn't fit the screw slot.
And while caution
should be exercised while working on any firearm, the
venerable Colt Single-Action may be the most prone to
screwdriver dings. There are three different screw
sizes on the Peacemaker and unless you've got a
screw-driver that truly fits the slots, the
possibility of damage is real. Hardware store
screwdrivers won't do.
Enter Bill Laughridge
of Cylinder & Slide Shop. Handgunner readers know
him as a custom gunsmith, but his operation also
offers quite a few specialty parts. It turns out that
Laughridge performs a lot of work on the old
single-actions, so his specialized screwdrivers are
based on practical experience.
The squarish wooden
handles provide a good grip and the bits are hollow
ground, just so.
The set of three
screwdrivers could be called small, medium and large,
but more importantly, they are dead-on fits for each
Colt size screw. The large size fits only the big
hammer screw on the left side. The middle size fits
the other two, as well as the one on the bottom of the
frame. In my experience, that one needs snugging up
now and then.
The small one is the
best of all. It fits the most easily buggered little
screws on the backstrap and the three that hold the
trigger guard to the receiver. All of those need
checking occasionally and if you work on the innards
of the old Colt, the C&S screwdrivers are
mandatory.
For more information
contact Cylinder & Slide Inc., 245 E 4th St., Dept
AH, Fremont, NE 68025; phone: (800) 448-1713. www.
cylinder-slide. com |
