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I have my nice shiny Ruger Old Army and it has several different sized slots on the screws holding it together.
Unfortunately standard screwdriver blades don't fit snugly enough to enable removing them without damaging the screw head or the frame of the gun.

What are your views on taking a firearm into a shop to get the right fit of screw driver?

I have "good reason" do I not?

Mark

Might be less hassle just to take the screws in? If not, I'd suggest a call first to ask if it's ok and I'd remove the cylinder if you can , or something obvious.

bigfathairybiker wrote:I have "good reason" do I not?

In my view, yes. However I suspect the bloke in the hardware shop will (a) have a different view (b) quite possibly sh*t himself and (c) call the police. On balance I can't help thinking it would be safer to measure the slot at home and buy a screwdriver the right size!

You will be wasting your time anyway. They are from the small "number" series of UNF threads. Hardware stores in the UK will only have metric (ISO Coarse) series.
Fred

I bought a Brownells set of screw drivers and bits years ago and it was one of the single best purchases I have made, screws are a bugger and a good fitting driver is essential.

I have added a few Chapman sets as well as I find the ratchet handy for screwing things in as I can only get a couple of turns the normal way before the arthritis starts playing up.

go to screwfix, buy a selection of screwdrivers, take them home find one that fits well, return the rest.

either that or buy some bits for a magnetic screwdriver.

Another fan of the Brownells set, so far never let me down in having correct size for any task, not cheap but likely to save a fortune in its lifetime.

bigfathairybiker wrote:I have my nice shiny Ruger Old Army and it has several different sized slots on the screws holding it together.
Unfortunately standard screwdriver blades don't fit snugly enough to enable removing them without damaging the screw head or the frame of the gun.

What are your views on taking a firearm into a shop to get the right fit of screw driver?

I have "good reason" do I not?

Mark

The screwdrivers sold in your local hardware shop are designed for use with woodscrews. The blades are taper ground and as you have found not a good fit. What you need are screwdrivers with hollow ground blades, the type of interchangeable tips you get with cordless screwdrivers are hollow ground. You can buy sets of gunsmiths or engineers screwdrivers, have a look on-line.

+1 for the Brownels I've got a full set had them for years. I also have some specials I've collected over the years. I would suggest you buy a proper set of gunsmiths drivers.