I had posted this on another forum and thought I would share it with the Smith Forum as well....I am fascinated by the concept of "truck guns" and this model 18-2 had been underneath the seat of a farmers truck in southern Indiana since 1964...He passed away and his grandson traded it in to a local shop for a deer rifle...

She was filthy dirty and rough but the timing was good...A buddy of mine was a Smith and Wesson armorer in Kentucky back in the 70's and totally stripped her down for me and cleaned the 50 years worth of grime, both inside and out, and cleaned up the cylinder notches where she was sticking a bit...

I had an old Tyler T grip and some vintage fake ivory grips so I put them on her...They were a little too white so I aged them last night...I have put about 2000-3000 rounds through her and she shoots like a champ and I wear her around the farm when doing chores...I have nicer model 17's and 18's but I wanted one I didn't have to worry about that was basically a tool....I think I may have found it........



After I aged the grips last night.....

Nice snag. That one's purt near broke in.

Enjoy it.

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Eccentric old coot

I LIKE IT !

Just curious...how did you age the grips?

looks like the perfect around the farm gun.......

I think I know......... but how did you age the grips????/

I used leather dye...Dark brown and yellow...I scuffed the grips up with two different grades sandpaper to mimic grain and then applied the dye...After that I buffed them out with two grades of steel wool and it left them with a nice mellow yellow look...

Thanks for the kind words everyone....

Here is a closer pic of the grips....



I used my knife to scratch in the darker age cracks.......

I was thinking you'd soaked them in tea..........

It won't work on poly fake Ivory...I wished it would have because I had the tea!!!!

I am fortunate in that our local flea market has a leather booth in it...

That is one good old looking lady. Back for more service. I would put it in my truck, but on the seat. She deserves that much. Good find.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

fine revolver. even more impressive is that you had an extra 2000-3000 rounds of .22LR to burn thru it. 6 at a time thats a lotta of shooting.

I have a soft spot for just such revolvers in condition such as yours, mine is a similar pre. Model that just seems to thrive on being used instead of sleeping in a safe all the time. Only thing I have learned concerning these is that the price doesn't seem go down just because its already been trained. You found a good one, enjoy!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

150-250 per (most) weekends since the end of March....I was guesstimating but 2000-3000 seemed about right....

neat gun,but what you did to the grips is amazing,I think you may have started something,there will be a run on leather dye !!

That's a right fine Truck gun sir. I'll bet it could quickly dispatch a
Crow, Opossum, Skunk, or Coyote if ya' get close enough.
I would be proud to own one like it to carry around the farm.
Not everyone knows what a truck gun is. I am also from rural
Indiana and have carried a well used Remington model 7 in .243
as my truck gun for years now. I keep it oiled and in an unzipped
soft case behind the front seat for quick access. My eyes ain't
what they used to be so i have a 4 power Weaver on top.
Great little rifle for varmints.
Congrats on reviving that model 18.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Heck, that would qualify as a Bar-B-Que gun for the class of guys I hang around! Love those "aged" ivory stocks. At 150-250 rounds a weekend for the last seven months, you are now familiar enough with it to where it will shoot where you want without a whole lot of conscious effort. I'd say you have a perfect sidekick for life! Good on ya.

Froggie

I too grew up on a Indiana farm along the Eel river just North of Highway 46. I had several Uncles who farmed as well, and hunted and trapped. Their guns were "implements", just as a hoe or shovel. Tools to be used for a specific purpose. All of them (the uncles) are gone now, but I am fortunate to have several of their old "farm guns". All of them have the same finish as the model 18, but are still quite functional. I still carry them afield occasionally to reconnect with fond memories of men and times long past.

One caveat guys...If you are using leather dye LISTEN to your wife and put on those goofy rubber gloves she does the dishes with...Just trust me on this...Remember, YOUR skin is leather that is not dead yet...

Saves you from going to the "tanning booth" i bet....



Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

No need to wipe the finger prints off that one.

This is exactly what a ranch-farm revolver should be.

Heh. Are you saying that now you can do the hand closeups for a "Grapes of Wrath" remake?