Md 18-2 Round butt-What do I have here?

bravastar1 · May 26, 2012

I picked up this little gun last night from my local shop. Curits and I saw it a week ago for the first time and started to wonder what the heck it is. It is marked Md 18-2 and appears to us to be a factory round butt. We asked several collectors if they had ever seen a round butt Md 18 and all answers were no. I have looked very closely and I do not see any signs that this is an aftermarket job. The grips do not number to the gun gut they pit perfectly. The grooves on the backstrap and frontstrap look factory to me. If this is a hack job it sure is a good one. I have no doubt the hammer and trigger were done at a later date. I should be able to replace them with correct parts without much trouble. I was told by a great source that this gun was made about the time the factory was forging some K frames for the US Navy and it is possible that one was made into a Md 18. Any thoughts?

mtgianni · May 26, 2012

Nice find whoever did it. It certainly looks like a factory frame. No pics of the mod #, it would take a great forger to do an un-noticible restamp especially for no reason.

NFrameFred · May 26, 2012

Any thoughts ? Yeah . . . factory letter !

Broker50 · May 26, 2012

I've learned to never say never where S&W is concerned, but I believe that one's been round-butted by a good gunsmith. Only way to know for sure would be a letter, not worth the $ IMHO. I don't much care for round butt frames on anything other than a snub myself, but that's a nice, unique piece, any way you look at it.

Masterpiece · May 26, 2012

Jim,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you can put the $50 for a Factory Letter to better use!! It's "Not" Factory as far as I can see!! Among some other issues, the Serial Number Placement on the Butt is the main giveaway!! I think if you look closely you'll see what I mean!! I've "Never" seen S&W cut into the Letter Prefix like yours exhibits!! I think if you post another Photo of it straight-on, everyone will see what I'm referring to!! Also if you look closely at the Grooves on the Grip Frame you'll see they aren't equally spaced either!! Fact is the Outer Border on them is considerably wider on one side than the other!! At least that's what I'm seeing in the Photos!! Anyone else catch that??

I will say that whoever built the Revolver did an excellent job & seriously doubt that it was his/her intention to create something to be taken as being factory produced by S&W when they took on the project!! Kudos to the builder for creating a "Very" Unique Revolver!! Nice Work!!

fyimo · May 26, 2012

Masterpiece said:
Jim,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you can put the $50 for a Factory Letter to better use!! It's "Not" Factory as far as I can see!! Among some other issues, the Serial Number Placement on the Butt is the main giveaway!! I think if you look closely you'll see what I mean!! I've "Never" seen S&W cut into the Letter Prefix like yours exhibits!! I think if you post another Photo of it straight-on, everyone will see what I'm referring to!! Also if you look closely at the Grooves on the Grip Frame you'll see they aren't equally spaced either!! Fact is the Outer Border on them is considerably wider on one side than the other!! At least that's what I'm seeing in the Photos!! Anyone else catch that??

I will say that whoever built the Revolver did an excellent job & seriously doubt that it was his/her intention to create something to be taken as being factory produced by S&W when they took on the project!! Kudos to the builder for creating a "Very" Unique Revolver!! Nice Work!!

+1 on what he said but it's a beautiful job by who ever did it.

zonker5 · May 26, 2012

Factory or not, it's a beautiful piece to add to your collection.

Nedroe · May 26, 2012

Nicely Done.......

Someone did a pretty good job on your 18. I round butted a 17-2 a while back

Then I sleeved a 19, 2-1/2 barrel to it

Smith missed the boat, not offerin' round butts on these 22lr K frames, in my opinion.

Ned

bravastar1 · May 26, 2012

I have looked very closely and do not see that this gun has been reblued. The ejector star looks just like it should,not completely blue as many reblue jobs look. How would the back strap get rounded and the grooves get recut without a blue job. Here is a picture of the ejector and the far left serial number. Does the SN look restamped? I am perplexed.

Cooter Brown · May 26, 2012

I'm certainly not an expert but the SN does seem to be off center.

How many grooves are on the front, and how many are on the back?

One of the easy diagnostic tests for a reblue is the front of the the ejector rod. The beveled part on the end is not blued on a factory job.

In any case, it's a neat revolver. It should carry well.

bmg60 · May 26, 2012

jim
take a close look at the side plate and the frame next to it if it was we blued I think the side plate is original and also the cly. it may be just the camera and the light but the frame next to the side looks different.
I agree with the others the grooves do not look right. also the serial number is to close to the round of the frame.
but you never know. Its only 50 Dollars.
Jim
Nice taking with you at the Denver show.

cowboy45 · May 26, 2012

What you have sir is a revolver that you need to sell to me. I'm a sucker for stray dogs and stuff.

Nice looking gun. Whether factory or not, you got a nice one.

gdogs · May 26, 2012

Doesn't appear factory to me, but you just never know. Regardless, I think it is awesome. If you replace the hammer and trigger, shoot me a message... i'd be interested in them.

kdailey · May 27, 2012

Someone sure knew what they were doing.

mic214 · May 27, 2012

It's a .22lr revolver that S&W should have made! I had mine converted about 30 years ago.....It has traveled many a mile with me in the outback:

Md 18-2 Round butt-What do I have here?

bravastar1

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