I never thought I would want, or own, a Frankengun. All my S&W revolvers are shooters but, other than grips, they are all pretty stock.

I picked up this modified Model 28 on Gun Broker. I had my first chance to shoot it today.

I'm certainly not bragging about my shooting, but the revolver did it's job.

Jim

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Wow that thing is awesome and is sort of a 25-2 with 4 inch barrel on a model 28 frame -- Cool.

very cool nice grab on broker

A Frankengun is made of mismatched parts that don't work together, like a target barrel on fixed sight frame and the top doesn't meet. Your gun is a nicely done conversion.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Thanks guys. I've owned 25-2s in the past and they are awesome; but I wanted a blued, 4", 45ACP. I found it.

You're right. It's not really a Frankengun. It looks and feels like it was designed this way.

Jim

It's a gun that S&W SHOULD have made... Nice work. Who's the artist?

I watched that one, thought you made a good buy. Plenty of quality 28 conversions out there. My dad has a nice 5" full underlug .44 built on one. I won't lie, I've got a 28-2 in the safe right now that I've thought about converting to .41 Mag, and may still.

That's what I think. I like the 25-2 and the 625 but neither is exactly what I wanted. This revolver SHOULD have been offered by S&W.

I don't know who the artist is but would like to know. I would consider commissioning him to build another almost the same.

I bought the gun from Jim Vanmiddlesworth in Chapin, SC but I suspect the conversion was done a long time ago.

It's probably hard to see in the pictures, but the square butt has been converted to a RB

Jim

look pretty much like a blued version of my
625-6 mountain gun but with a hammer mounted
firing pin.Great gun.I agree S&W should have made it!

Nice classic conversion.
Well done & a handy revolver.

I like 'em like that.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

A friend converted three .357s to .45 Colt in the 1970s with NOS 1950 barrels on two, a 1955 on the other. Contour of that last did not match but it was a fine shooter. Cylinders rechambered by Bob Snapp.

He loaded the Keith .45 AR SWC to keep OAL in the short .357 cylinders.

good shootin', too. Here's a Bowen conversion of a 28-2 to basically a 26, 45acp, with a 5" barrel




Frankenstein's? Not hardly. Maybe we should breed 'em. Keep tellin' the wife that's what they do in the safe.

Ned

A couple of nice guns shown here. I like 'em.

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NHI, 10-8.

What he said. Nice gun and good shooting.

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SWCA #2421

Them N frames jest cry out to be something startin with a .4


And yes, I do cobble one up for myself every once in awhile.


The one I'm packin today....


Former .357, now a handy .45 Long Colt with a modified King front and my rough duty rear sight.


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

4" skinny barrel N Frame 45 ACP blued with Adjustable sights, Smith are you listening out there? Great new addition to the Mtn Gun line for all us guys who are mechanically challenged or financially light. Can't afford a Bowen but could buy a factory model easy enough.

Mr. Keith 44

Excellent!!!!

Those are real nice fella's.
Nothing wrong with making something you want if the company
does'nt offer it that way. Or even if it does.
Have fun with your shooters. There's enough collectables out there
that will remain "stock".

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

That, Sir, is outstanding!!!!



Ned

I was watching that one myself, really liked it, but I've made too many purchases this month. Glad you're happy with it.

One of my first posts here was of a converted M-28-2, rechambered to .45 Colt. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...5-12-pics.html

I love it. They make a four inch blue 45 ACP but I don't think they were too popular. Mine is one of the smoothest best handling gun I have with an excellent trigger and fixed sights.
It's like a model 10 on steriods.
Thunder Ranch 22-4

*
Any chance you could be persuaded to start a new string somewhere about that sight? I'm interested in learning more about it.

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NHI, 10-8.

I have several ACP revs. All are neat. Also have a 3844 and hard chromed 28 project gun waiting for a smith/parts to convert to 45. Looking for shooters, not safe queens.

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Tommy

S&W did make one, but in stainless, not blue. It's the model 625-6 .45 ACP Mountain Gun. It's a little newer than this section of the forum (built around 2000), but it fits the bill, and still has no lock! It even has a round butt, just like the O.P.'s gun! I feel very lucky to have found this one, ANIB. Around 1000 or so made, according to estimates told to me on this forum:

Considering the barrel only:

If someone wanted to make a Model 28 to .45 ACP conversion what barrel should he buy to shorten which would best match the 28 frame?

Model 1950 Target? Model 25-2?

Jim

Don't forget that the barrel can be re-bored. That might be a better choice for certain purposes.

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NHI, 10-8.

Jim,

The 1950 style barrel with the narrow rib mates up to the contour of the 28 frame & looks the the best overall.

The wide full rib of 1955 doesn't look right, due to the it stickin out where the model 28 or 27s are fluted at the barrel joint. IMO


Su Amigo,
Dave

__________________
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Thank you Dave,

Since I've had this pistol I've put a little over 400 rounds through it.

It has two pretty significant pits in the barrel. One smack dab in the middle of a land and one about 90 degrees away in a groove. I can't detect any effect on accuracy at my skill level.

Since the outside looks so good I suspect the barrel was installed in this condition and then refinished some years ago.

Right now I plan to maintain it the best I can and shoot it often. If the pitting becomes more than an irritant I'll re-barrel the weapon.

I think I'll start searching for a Model 1950 target barrel.

Thanks again

Jim

Does anyone know whether Bob Snapp is still working? I read in at least one thread that he was retiring, but it looked like he might just be slowing down. Does anyone know for sure??

Froggie

I had to look in the gun box to make sure my 45 ACP M28-2 was still there. I built mine in the late 70s having the barrel rebored and rifled by Dick Nickel (deceased) and installing a NOS cylinder for a 25-2. I also installed a frame lug for the 25-2 to keep the cylinder from slamming back to far. And I rounded the grip frame. It became my American Express revolver and I still use it daily. Modified a pair of S&W grips to better fit my hand. The only thing I would change after nearly 4 decades is I wish I had not rounded the grip frame. It really is a great package for the 45 ACP and I would imagine a similar revolver in 45 long Colt would be as suitable.

Thanks,

Anyone still around that would rebore and rifle a 28-2 barrel?

I still see NOS 25-2 cylinders around at good prices from time to time.

Jim

First, not all M28-2 barrels can be enlarged to 45 caliber. Some really are too thin at the muzzle. Having said that, check with Dan Peterson,

Classic Barrel Works

or Andy Horvath

c/o Diagonal Rd. Gun Shop
14131 Diagonal Rd.
LaGrange, Ohio 44050

Andy is a specialist in conversions to 44 Special but may be able to handle a similar job for the ACP cartridge. Or he would know someone who can.

Thanks StrawHat,

I just measured the 1950 barrel on my modified Model 28 and it's .632inches at the barrel tip. My 6 inch Model 28 is about .604 at the tip. If I measure the 6 inch Model 28 barrel at the 4 inch point is ~.632 (same as the 4 inch 45 barrel.)

Since I suspect the barrel taper for both the 4 inch and the 6 inch is a constant, I should be able to buy a 4 inch Model 28 barrel and have Delta, or someone else, rebore it.

Nelson Ford's shop is about 20 miles from me so I'll also check with him.

On an interesting note: I went shooting with my modified 28 (I'm not going to call it a Frankengun any more) and it shoots great. I didn't take any pictures of the target today but it was fine.

I've never owned a weapon with pits in the barrel before and there's just something about it that bugs me. My wife says I should just shoot it and fix it only if accuracy drops off. She's a smart woman.

Jim

No problem, always willing to share what I know.


Keep us in the loop, anytime I can add a gunsmith to the list of reborers and reliners it is a good day!


Your last line says it all. Just wait until she claims the 44 Special!