My Model 18-4 again.....
 

Hi,

I posted long ago (2006) when I purchased this long time favorite, but it's been so long that I have lost contact with my original posts.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...lsterbox-1.jpg

Anyway, I'm back into shooting again after house renovation, travel and kids and wondered if someone can tell me (again) the year my model 18 was made. The S/N is 23K9180.

I do take it to the range sometimes but it's much more enjoyable to take it to our cabin in the mountains and shoot tin cans ect.!

cheers and thanks in advance,

-John H.

Well, I don't think I have seen that before but, that is just a gorgeous revlover !! I am sure it is much more fun out "plinking" with it than taking it to the range

Congrats on a very nice revolver.

Catalog says 1977.

Thanks guys,

1977 sounds right. It is a nice revolver, it only cost me 1800 norwegian kroner ($322) in 2006, the grips were a gift from my brother in S.F..

It's something I have wanted ever since I took to reading my uncles 'american rifleman' and 'guns & ammo' when I visited him as a kid.

I also have a Walther P88 (not compact), number 24 off the production line (only 10,000 made), a top quality pistol and very accurate (I don't do it justice the way I shoot!).

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7.../P88page-1.jpg

cheers,

-John

John, that is a beautiful revolver you have and I am sure very accurate also. Could you tell me what the brand of the holster is you are showing in the picture? Thanks, Bob

Hi Bob,

the holster is a Bianchi #5BHL, it's a great holster with chamois lineing (the blue rubs off anyway on some contact points). It's made for .38/.357 but fits the Mod.18 perfectly (fits all 4" K frames).
I try not to worry about the holster rubbing the blue off (takes the fun out of shooting), they were made to be used!

I have a matching set of boxes for both my handguns, lucky S&W is the US agent for Walther, my brother sent me Walther & S&W boxes and I fitted them with closed cell foam.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...oxfoam01-1.jpg

cheers,

-John

I love mine
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../Model18-4.jpg

Nice Model 18-4 fyimo!

I have been looking for a set of grips sized between the standard grips the revolver comes with (little small for my hands) and the target size (a little big for my hands).

Do you know of any?

cheers,

-John

Ahrends make a traditional S&W grip that I believe is thinner. I don't currently have a set so I can't measure them but maybe another member can. Their finger grip is thinner but deeper because of the finger grooves.

Thanks mate,

I'll have a look around,

cheers,

-John

On my 18-4 I really like the Tyler Grip Adapter.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/13974504.jpg

Model 18-3
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...s/000_0995.jpg

Very nice 18-4. Mine's seen a lot more use, but is an absolute joy to shoot. Just cannot do well with the S&W "target" stocks, so I treated it to Ahrends stocks.
Liked them so much that all my "shooter" Smiths are now shod the same:

http://www.hverovhe.com/18-4.jpg

I also have an 18-3 with a set of Kurac Coco Bolo grips.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...3RightSide.jpg

I think I'll look into combat grips simular to your's krehmkej, I guess either Ahrends or S&W combat grips will be a good choice.

There's plenty on ebay but they are all 'US sale only', my brother is in CA so I'll get him to look around locally or bid for me.

cheers & thanks again!

-John

As you're already in Europe, Nills might be another option for your revolver. From what I have seen, there are as nice or nicer than anything else available.

Nill Griffe - Revolver Grips

Thanks for the link krehmkej,

I'll look into it, they look pretty expensive though, I'll ask at my local gunshop where I bought my model 18, he's an Olympic bronze medal winner and multiple european champion.

cheers,

-John

I thought I would share a pic of my model 18. It is a no-dash and shoots great also. I know you must enjoy yours. I took off the factory full size grips and put on the smaller ones with an adapter. Feels good in the hand. I used to it qualify recently, I was the only guy with a revolver. The instructor limited everyone to a .22 rimfire.

We were at our cabin over the weekend and I took along the model 18, my son and his friend had a great time shooting golf balls, they make great targets!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...n/Image021.jpg

cheers,

-John

(I know, I forgot to bring ear protection....)

Eye Protection
 

One should always be using Eye and Ear protection even when "just shooting a .22".
Respectfully.
SM1357

That's correct, I'll get extra ear muffs and glasses and leave them at the cabin.

cheers,

-John

When a K-22 is around no empty can is safe:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/DSCI0009.jpg


http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSCI0002-1.jpg

I've ordered my Ahrends grips!
 

Hi,

I finally ordered these Ahrends Tactical grips..........

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...ticalGrips.jpg

I'll post some photos when they arrive and have been fitted to my Model 18........ really looking forward to fitting them and trying them out!

cheers,

-John

John,

What are the specs on those new Ahrends? What kind of wood is that? Can't wait to see what they look like on the Model 18!! They look fabulous!

Also, can't help but reiterate the importance of ear (and even more importantly) eye protection ESPECIALLY when shooting at hard objects such as golf balls that will most certainly induce ricochets in any and all directions. Having been hit in the face by bullet fragments myself, it really reaffirms that glasses can make the difference between a minor cut and permanent blindness.

IC

John,

Great looking stocks. Look like cordia, if I'm not mistaken. Did you get them from Terri?

Hi IC,

the wood is Cordia. Yes, I'm really looking forward to fitting them and feeling the grip in my hands. I'll post some photos as soon as they are fitted!

We were at the cabin last weekend, all with ear and eye protection.

cheers,

-John

Yep, cordia, and yes, I did get them from Terri, great service, they will be on there way to me monday,

cheers,

-John

Norway must be an exception to the typical European government's hostility to handguns. I know the Norse and Swedes are big on hunting what they call moose (not the same species as North American moose) and must have access to long guns for that purpose, but have I always assumed that for all practical purposes even Scandinavians are virtually banned from possessing handguns like so many other Euros are. I don't mean a total handgun ban like the UK has, but just so many bureaucratic high hurdles to jump in order to get a license that it discourages most people from even attempting to get their hands on one. And for the few who do manage to get a handgun there are so many restrictions on using it that it's not much use for home or personal defense. Apparently I was wrong about Norway's handgun policy, and in this case I'm very glad to be wrong

I was shooting mine this morning. Ahrends cocbolo retro combat

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...o/DSCN0088.jpg

Hi 3rd,

there are many pistol clubs in Norway, they are regulated by the norwegian shooting association.

To own a handgun I must first be a member of a pistol club for six month (shooting regularly). I must have a police background check and pass a three day shooting/safety course and then be reccomended by the club instructors/leadership.

I then have a competition card that shows what types of competitions I might be in, this determines the types of handguns I can own. Each handgun is registered and a permit for each is carried. The handguns must be kept in an aproved safe.

Shooting away from the range (e.g. at the cabin) is permitted with the permission of the landowner (me).

By the way, there are shooting comps here in Norway that are shown all day on national TV (not just the winter ski-shooting but 7.62mm long range shooting during summer).

I think the moose we have here are the same as in the US and Canada, we don't have elk though.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...moose-bull.jpg

Handguns are not usually needed for home or personal defense here in Norway, it's pretty quiet here.

(Nice grips robctwo)

cheers,

-John

Hi,

the grips arrived today, they are very nice, fitted perfectly and feel good.
Here they are fitted to the model 18.....

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...P6210203-1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...l/P6210201.jpg

Can't wait to try them out!

cheers,

-John

I also own an older Model 18-4, but the cylinders have a hard time ejecting casings after about 18 rounds. I have used various ammos including CCI stingers, but with the same results. I have also soaked and cleaned the cylinders with SW gel and a nylon bristle bore brush.

Any recomendations on cleaning it any better?

VERY NICE!!!!!!!

IC

Hi,

I did some shooting with the new grips on the Model 18 up at our cabin last week... a good fit for my hand & fast 'on target' aiming (due to the flat surfaces of the cutouts).

Much easier to use than the S&W target grips or the smaller original grips the M18 came with.

cheers,

-John

Beautiful Model 18, sir. I can identify with you on your love for shooting it. I just purchased a 1958 Model 18 no dash with box and tools from a friend. I absolutely love shooting it. I don't carry it in a holster and am very careful about handling it, as it is about 98%, but as one of the forum members told me, you don't wear out a gun shooting it. So I too have declared war on tin cans. Enjoy, you have a fantastic piece there. Congrats.

Seems to be common with the 18s. I had trouble until I switched to Federal 550 bulk loads, or Winchester 333s. No problems with those. Remington on the other hand almost had to be hammered out. Hope this helps.

I've been useing CCI standard velocity ammo on tin cans for a while, no problems ejecting, some older Winchester LR loads at the cabin were a bit of a problem though (used up the Winchester ammo now though).

cheers,

-John

Those are really sweet looking grips and I have had a set on my 686 for quite a while now in the same wood.

Beautiful set of pistols you have. I love my Model 18's and will take the opportunity here to post a quick picture of it. I can imagine many hours of enjoyment coming from shooting yours at your cabin and I am just a little bit jealous of that!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...R/PB280004.jpg