Serendipity.......

[Bob Wright]

I had stopped at a nearby Ace Hardware store to pick up a pair of hinges, and was sort of browsing around when I passed that display of screws, nuts, and bolts. One box caught my eye "Gun Screws" it said on the trays, of which there were three.

Idly I looked into one box, where the screw sizes are shown on the lid, and saw a section marked "Gun Screw Gauge." It was a little bar, maybe 3/8" wide x 3" long, about 3/16" thick. It was blued, or blackened, with 8-32, 6-48, and 6-40 threads. For $1.99 it came home with me.


Bob Wright

 

[Slenk]

Thanks Bob
Looks like I need to stop at Ace Hardware tomorrow.
Didn't know they carried gun screws.

 

[loiblb]

I have known about it for about a year. They come in handy.

 

[CGDustDevil]

We have a couple Ace Hardware stores around... One (Here in Casa Grande) is more or less typically stocked. The one over in Coolidge however is like a hardware supermarket! If I can't find it anywhere else, Ace will usually have it between the two local stores!

 

[SAJohn]

Thanks Bob, I visit my local Ace at least once a week. Guess what I will be looking for.

What I really enjoy is poking through old fashion non-chain hardware stores with good stuff stacked everywhere. A few years ago I scored on a gasoline powered Turner blowtorch. It was brand new and must have been in that store maybe 40 years. Brass and steel!

 

[Kevin]

Back in Illinois the hardware store close to my house was Zimmer Harware, downtown Palatine. Just went to their website, since 1883. I think the wood floor might be original

What a great store! Prices weren't much more than Home Depot so they saw a lot of my business. Not sure if they had this part Bob is talking about but I love old creaky, wooden floored, dusty hardware stores. Sadly, I don't know of any here in Dallas...

 

[hdxr750]

That's a good tip. Thanks Bob

 

[CGDustDevil]

Back in Illinois the hardware store close to my house was Zimmer Harware, downtown Palatine. Just went to their website, since 1883. I think the wood floor might be original

What a great store! Prices weren't much more than Home Depot so they saw a lot of my business. Not sure if they had this part Bob is talking about but I love old creaky, wooden floored, dusty hardware stores. Sadly, I don't know of any here in Dallas...

Not many of those left Kevin! But I too am a great fan of creaky hardwood floors, especially in hardware stores! Used to be a great one in San Diego... Named (of course) San Diego Hardware Store! What a gorgeous old store. Been there since 1892. I understand they moved and are all 'glossy' now up in Kearny Mesa some good years ago. :? What a wonderful old store it was. Haven't been there in 40 years but I sure wish I'd taken photos!

 

[737tdi]

Back in Illinois the hardware store close to my house was Zimmer Harware, downtown Palatine. Just went to their website, since 1883. I think the wood floor might be original

What a great store! Prices weren't much more than Home Depot so they saw a lot of my business. Not sure if they had this part Bob is talking about but I love old creaky, wooden floored, dusty hardware stores. Sadly, I don't know of any here in Dallas...

Well Kevin: You are just a couple of years to late. There used to be an Elliots Hardware down by where I work (plus there were some smaller ones around). This store had everything. The most important thing about the store was the "older gentlemen" who worked there. If you could describe what you wanted they knew exactly where it was. It was about the size of Home Depot without the lumber. Every piece of hardware know to man. Metric, SAE, British, you name it they had it.

Unfortunately it is all about price and no longer about service and knowledge. Now you can buy it all on the Net with zero customer service or employees.


Karl

 

[Kevin]

Elliots Hrsware is up in Plano too. Great store, but not hardwood floors. In fact they moved across the street there (Coit and Parker...or...Park?) Anyway, great store your right, Karl. And yeah, too much emphasis on price, not on service.

 

[737tdi]

Elliots Hrsware is up in Plano too. Great store, but not hardwood floors. In fact they moved across the street there (Coit and Parker...or...Park?) Anyway, great store your right, Karl. And yeah, too much emphasis on price, not on service.

Yes, they do have other outlets but the original is gone forever. I am surprised that one is still open. The one in Garland and Mesquite both closed up. The original (I think) was down on Maple, by Maple and Motor burger joint. This is the one I shopped most. They had thousands of bins of hardware. Grade 8 in coarse, fine, machine etc..


Karl

 

[graygun]

Back in Illinois the hardware store close to my house was Zimmer Harware, downtown Palatine. Just went to their website, since 1883. I think the wood floor might be original

What a great store! Prices weren't much more than Home Depot so they saw a lot of my business. Not sure if they had this part Bob is talking about but I love old creaky, wooden floored, dusty hardware stores. Sadly, I don't know of any here in Dallas...

There's one in Marion,Tx between SA and Seguin on FM 78. They have a large maintenace shop in the rear. I got a chain sharpened last week for $5. It's not air conditioned.

 

[blume357]

As far as I can tell, all the Ace's around here are pretty much packed with cheap chinese stuff... we have one up the street that is hanging in there (Homo Despot) is just down the road, and I go in when ever I can and buy a little something.

 

[contender]

I understand about the small town, well stocked, family run hardware store. The big box ones just can't compete in service & stock. Locally, we had one just like those described above, called "Louis Williams" after the man who founded it. The 3rd generation (grandson) sold it to another company, they moved it, & don't carry as much stuff. The 3rd Gen grandson still works there, and it's still called Louis Williams, but it's a bit different now. When I asked about it,,,, Danny told me his sons had ZERO interest in doing the same thing he did & work in the family business. Danny's Dad is still alive & drops in from time to time,,, even though he's in his 90's now. I grew up going to their store, Sammy knew everything, & his son Danny learned by working there as well. Too bad things like this are slowly disappearing.

Same way with gun shops.