My dad gave me his old GP100 service revolver (he was a local deputy sheriff for 30+ years) a while back and said it needed a little work. This pistol and another Colt SAA replica (well-made Italian job) were the only guns that survived in useable condition when my folks place burned down in a brush fire. Although the revolver did not suffer heat damage to its cylinder or frame and still looks serviceable, it did get hot enough to mess up some of the springs, including the crane latch spring. As I was rebuilding it and replacing all of the soft parts, I discovered that the crane latch screw is completely seized and will not budge for anything. Not sure if this is related to the fire or something else, but either way, it needs to come out. Since the spring is shot and does not securely latch the cylinder, it looks like I will have to drill the screw and re-thread the hole to replace the spring/screw. Does anyone know the size and pitch of the crane latch screw? I am hoping that once I drill the existing screw I can just use a tap to chase the existing threads because otherwise I will have to find someone who can fabricate a larger crane latch screw (it is a rather unique screw) and make the hole on the crane latch larger. I purchased a new crane latch and screw, but I don't have a scale small enough to measure the superfine thread pitch on the screw. I don't want to mess it up by using the wrong tap. Sorry I don't have any pictures to post because I am at work (and I typically don't take non-functioning firearms to work with me). Thanks to anyone who can help.
By the way, it is a .357 if that is important.
By the way, it is a .357 if that is important.