I saw a Dan Wesson from Lord knows when at a gun show in Timonium Maryland. It came with three interchangeable barrels: a snub nose, a 4 inch, and a 6 or 8 inch (don't remember).

What other Smiths have interchangeable barrels, if any?

Do any of you guys have a barrel collection?

I don't believe Smith&Wesson has ever made a replaceable barrel revolver. Never heard of one anyway, at least from a standard production aspect anyway.

Dean Grennell, the now-retired handgun and handloading editor of GUN WORLD magazine, had a gunsmith build him one using a S&W Model 28 and Dan Wesson barrels and shrouds. It worked just like the Dan Wesson when he got it done. This was in the late 1970's, I believe.

The two piece shrouded barrel on S&W revolvers is made for easy installation and B/C adjustment at the factory using a special tool. It was never intended to be an interchangable barrel system like the Dan Wessons.

S&W doesn't make interchangeble barrel revolvers, although they do make a few two piece barrel guns. The S&W two piece barrels are set up hard.

The Dan Wessons have from the beginning had interchangable barrels. I have a DW744 stainless .44 that I used for silhouette competition. It worked well, but I had to set the barrel with red loctite to keep it from coming loose at an inappropriate time.

I think Weigand Combat made a switch type barrel for the L frame for a short time...

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What other Smiths have interchangeable barrels, if any?

Not harboring any bad impressions but you do know the Dan Wesson is not a Smith and Wesson?

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Originally posted by BUFF:
Dean Grennell, the now-retired handgun and handloading editor of GUN WORLD magazine, had a gunsmith build him one using a S&W Model 28 and Dan Wesson barrels and shrouds. It worked just like the Dan Wesson when he got it done. This was in the late 1970's, I believe.

Actually I believe it's the now deceased Dean Grennell and I think you're right about the concept, but I thought it was Jim Cirrillo who got things moving on a few prototypes.

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Originally posted by sailing1801:

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Originally posted by BUFF:
Dean Grennell, the now-retired handgun and handloading editor of GUN WORLD magazine, had a gunsmith build him one using a S&W Model 28 and Dan Wesson barrels and shrouds. It worked just like the Dan Wesson when he got it done. This was in the late 1970's, I believe.

Actually I believe it's the now deceased Dean Grennell and I think you're right about the concept, but I thought it was Jim Cirrillo who got things moving on a few prototypes.

I didn't know Grennell had passed on. I used to enjoy his writing style, light, good-natured, didn't take himself too seriously.

I don't know who came up with the idea, but I do remember Grennell's gun and written article.

Many who read him were please to find out that one of Dean's favorite guns was a S&W 4 inch 1950 Target .44 Special. He bought and carried it as a part-time police reserve officer when he was younger.

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Originally posted by BUFF:

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Originally posted by sailing1801:

quote:

Originally posted by BUFF:
Dean Grennell, the now-retired handgun and handloading editor of GUN WORLD magazine, had a gunsmith build him one using a S&W Model 28 and Dan Wesson barrels and shrouds. It worked just like the Dan Wesson when he got it done. This was in the late 1970's, I believe.

Actually I believe it's the now deceased Dean Grennell and I think you're right about the concept, but I thought it was Jim Cirrillo who got things moving on a few prototypes.

I didn't know Grennell had passed on. I used to enjoy his writing style, light, good-natured, didn't take himself too seriously.
I don't know who came up with the idea, but I do remember Grennell's gun and written article.

Many who read him were please to find out that one of Dean's favorite guns was a S&W 4 inch 1950 Target .44 Special. He bought and carried it as a part-time police reserve officer when he was younger.

Same here, in fact he wrote a funny story about attending some sort of award ceremony.

As he was walking into the festivities he found himself behind Col Charles Askins. The doorman looked on his list, read off "Charles Askins" ommitting his rank at which time Askins rather imperiously corrected him - "That's COLONEL Charles Askins". When Grennel's name was called next by the same fellow he jokingly corrected him with "That's Corporal Dean Grennel, thank you" evidently peeving Askins enough to never really like him after that event.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sparkyshooter:


What other Smiths have interchangeable barrels, if any?

None of which I am aware. You are aware that Dan Wesson was a different company?