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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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Old 10-06-2013, 12:38 PM
PatBig PatBig is offline
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38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips  
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Brittany (Western France)
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Default 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips

hello, I am a new member, I live in France near Paris after many years overseas including 6 in Portland, OR, which I'll forever regret leaving. I have a few antique US guns and I shoot them regularly using either black powder or reduced loads of smokeless powder, a 32 Marlin Ballard sporting rifle circa 1878, a 1885 Winchester single shot Shutzen style rifle in 32-40, and two S&W's, the first one a 32 SA topbreak, and my new one a 38 DA model 3, serial # 234555, with a 6" barrel and unusually large grips that look original. The gun is in very good condition, near mint barrel and cylinder, but the cylinder lock was an amateur replacement job. Here is the gun

I have many hobbies besides shooting antique guns, another one is model making, and I am reasonably good at brazing and welding. So using schematics from Dave Chicoine's book, and from Numrich, I made a working cylinder stops using strips from a hacksaw blade. Here is the part, each little square is 1X1mm, sorry folks i'm metric


Now I won't say it was a breeze, it took several hours of trying it on with or without the trigger and/or sear and/or hammer and/or cylinder, and I discarded two first prototypes. I was loosing hope to be frank. Why I got started is that the part is no longer available from Numrich, I did not get any response trying to contact Dave Chicoine's web site, so my only solution was to have a go at making my own. Well after several hours of trial and error it works. I believe in sharing the solution rather than the pain so if I can make some other S&W collector's life easier it's my pleasure. It may still need some fine tuning but as is it does the job, does not require lots of tools, and if you screw it up making another one won't cost you much. The blade when tempered is a bit too strong for the sear to push is down so you'll need to carefully thin it to get the right flexibility. Just a matter of patience.
Greetings to all
Pat aka Paddy Brittany
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Old 10-06-2013, 01:17 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
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38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips 38 DA Model 3 6" barrel "target" grips  
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Pat, Welcome to the Forum ! You sound like a man after my own heart!. Lots of trial, error and perseverance and a solution that works is found. The grips on your .38DA are from a Single shot, Model of 1891. They will fit most of the top break frames of their vintage. They came in both the hard rubber and walnut version. Perhaps a prior owner desired the target shooting capability provided by these grips when paired with the 6 inch barrel. I have repaired many older firearms using old saw blades, corset stays, alarm clock springs, etc. , heating and filing to fit, until the gun worked again. Ed.
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