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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 05-09-2009, 11:06 AM
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Greetings to all... This is my first post here at the S&W forum. I have looked through the previous posts for information on this, but have found that my situation is not addressed.

A little background so that you can understand where I am coming from on this: I am a firearms instructor, which means that in today's society, most everything I do for my students means teaching with a semi-automatic pistol, since that is what they are using. When you teach with a semi-automatic all of the time, you look for something different to do when you are not "on duty" so to speak. After years of hearing "this semi is better than that semi" I was getting nostalgic... I went to the vault and looked around for something to do on my time off and decided that I was going to get out the revolvers and have a little fun. This re-ignited a fire that I had not had in me for years. I was having a great time again with shooting - it was not just a job. I was having more fun with my old 6" barreled 629 than anything else, getting into some long range handgunning. I even went back an re-read a lot of Elmer Keith, some Skeeter Skelton, some Bill Jordan, and some John Taffin. Then, maybe because of what has been occurring since the elections and because it is just a good read, I went back and read Unintended Consequenses by John Ross. Well, that pretty much did it. I wanted to carry a big bore revolver again for defensive purposes. I didn't want to carry that big 6" model 629 - I felt is was just a bit too much to conceal, especially during the summer months.

So, I found a practically new (front of cylinder not even stained - still nice and bright, with no top strap erosion) model 629-5 in a 4" variant. A very nice, tight revolver. I took it home for less than $560, and bought a new can of 2400 at the same time so I could get in some cheaper practice.

It is the round butted version. I want to dress it up a bit for carry in a Bianchi 111 Cyclone set up in crossdraw configuration. I have buffed it (very carefully) so that it now has an almost nickel plate appearance. I have now set about looking for the perfect (for me) set of grips to compliment this rig. I want to go with the square butt conversion grips in the old traditional big target stock shape. I am trying to find something in a very antique ivory look.

So far, I have corresponded with Eagle Grips, Ajax Grips, Don Collins Grips... Each of them offers the style but not in an antique ivory. Don has a ivory corian available, but is out of the antique ivory micarta and the western sun corian. I do not see anything on the BluMagnum website in an ivory (polymer or otherwise). The story is the same with Keith Brown.

I use a Hogue Monogrip on the 6" model, for that is more of a workhorse/fun gun than it is a carry piece. I have never had any problem with traditional large target stocks and used them for years. For this 4" revolver, I just want to add that special "old classic" look of antique ivory.

If anyone knows of a source of "round to square butt conversion" grips in a large target style produced in an antique ivory color, please let me know. I've spent about 4 days on the 'net trying to find them and have run out of places to look.

Thanks in advance for your time and input!
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Old 05-09-2009, 11:59 AM
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A big welcome to the forum and keep posting.

I'm a little curious though, why do you want antique "aged looking" ivory on a modern stainless steel gun. I would think it would look much better on a 50 year old blue 29. Reason I say that is, I have had ivorex type grips on stainless and it didn't go very well together for me. Kinda looks out of place. But good luck on your search. Have you tried altamont?
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Old 05-09-2009, 12:19 PM
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Thanks for the reply diamonback68...

To answer your question regarding wanting the antique ivory look: Well, I guess it comes down to just what I have seen done in the past - people just have different tastes when it comes to fancied up handguns. As a little boy, I would marvel at the ivory stocks on nickel plated S&Ws when I went to the gun shows with my father. Part of the attraction may have also been the real ivory stocks my dad had on his old nickel Colt SAAs, of which he was quite a collector. (My brother and I now hold these old single actions in our own collections, having inherited them in 1993. As my brother has no children, we will both pass these on to my son when the time comes so that they can stay in the family - and off paper as well!)

Like I said in the original post, I've buffed this stainless to a near nickel plate look. (I've done it all by hand, no power equipment, being careful of the stamps and the cylinder stop notches, as well as making sure not to round off any sharp edges.) Now... I'm with you when it comes to today's ivorex (the really white ones) on stainless steel. I think it is too white for a nickel or stainless handgun - just my opinion. I use the light colored, off-white ones on a deep mirror finished blue Colt 1911 and they look great. But for me, a deeply yellowed, aged set of ivory stocks looks good on a nickel (or mirror finished stainless) revolver as long as the grips are what I call "old school" style.

With the finish I now have on this 629-5, it will, at first glance, pass as a much older nickel plated model 29 (as long as you ignore the floating firing pin and the MIM hammer and trigger, which are polished now as well.) Thank the Lord I was able to find a nice used revolver without the internal lock!

I am going to check out Altamont right now... Again, I appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mike
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Old 05-09-2009, 12:45 PM
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Aha, now I see.
Another trick you may want to try if you can't find what you are looking for. If you take a nice set of ivorex, not corian (too hard), I've seen some soaked in strong tea and they come out yellowed and aged looking.
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Old 05-09-2009, 12:58 PM
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Mike, welcome to the forum, glad to see you have been rekindled with the dark side of the revolver addiction. may I suggest a litttle different approach that will not cost a fortune but will give you an ivory look and make people turn heads. There is a man here named Partrick Grashorn. He does Stag horn work he can do a set of grips for you with no bark in them so they look like ivory. He is amazing and does outstanding work. He is also very very nice and pleasant to deal with he is worried about pleasing his customers. There are a-lot of people on here that have amazing grips from him and they are very very comfortable to shoot with. here is a picture of the set he did for me. below that is a link for his ad on the forum here.




http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...200103904/m/83410488
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Old 05-09-2009, 01:04 PM
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truivory.com
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Old 05-09-2009, 01:27 PM
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Panamajack310: Thanks! I hadn't thought about Stag being cut down below the bark level before. That sounds like a good alternative. I'll have to check that out.

Camster: I forgot to list TruIvory as one of the companies with whom I had already corresponded. They advised that they were not yet making the "large" grips, but were considering it for the future. They advised that they would keep my e-mail and let me know when they had taken on the manufacture of the large "classic target" size grips in tru-ivory. Their "ultra antique" color is exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks to you both!
Mike
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Old 05-09-2009, 02:05 PM
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Raven6-
Welcome to the forum!
Grashorn does outstanding work, but he doesn't do target size stocks. I have contacted him a couple of times asking for them. He said that he may offer them in the future, but right now they're not an option. JFYI
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Old 05-09-2009, 02:06 PM
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Welcome to the forum Mike

In talking with our own Keith Brown, he has told me that Holly wood has a similar color to aged ivory. This discussion came up as I was considering doing the same thing you are talking about with a 5" 29 I have.

KB's screen name is bis45 or you can contact him through his website. It may take a while for him to get back to you as the man stays busy, but he is a heluva nice guy, and I couldnt think of anyone else I'd have make a set of grips for me.
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Old 05-09-2009, 04:10 PM
Wyatt Burp Wyatt Burp is offline
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I just got these cocobolo's from "Kurac". He's got an ad in the classified. These are squarebutt and don't know if he does conversions. Rather thick palm swells that I like on my heavy 6" 25-5. Extremely pretty with a perfect fit. $110.
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Old 05-09-2009, 05:27 PM
Mo Lasses Mo Lasses is offline
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This is just to show what Holly wood looks like in a grip.

http://www.klamathriverwoodwor...0028.jpg&&ID2=fCDPAq
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Old 05-09-2009, 05:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mo Lasses:
This is just to show what Holly wood looks like in a grip.

http://www.klamathriverwoodwor...0028.jpg&&ID2=fCDPAq
KB was right...they DO look like ivory
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Old 05-09-2009, 07:09 PM
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These guys make aged "ivory" grips.

http://www.ajaxgrips.com/ajax/ajax

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Old 05-09-2009, 07:20 PM
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Wow... I'm thankful to all of you for the information received thus far. The idea of going with holly wood is interesting... With wood that light in color, I wonder if it yellows as it ages. I would bet that if it doesn't, it could be stained to achieve the color that I need.

I am going to have to do some thinking on how to get this rig finished up as soon as possible, as looking at an old set of Pach's (a 20+ year old set of Pach Presentations from my big "never get rid of anything gun related, you might use it again someday" box, the gun had Pach compacts on it when I brought it home) on this otherwise ready-to-go model 29 is making me really antsy.

I have to tell all of you, I've not been made to feel this welcome on a forum in years... This is kind of like walking into a gun shop 35 years ago, back when everyone was still willing to help you get what you wanted and was willing to help, instead of just trying to sell you what they have, as is often the case nowadays. I may just have to set up an old computer out at the reloading bench just so I can watch what goes on as I am there pulling on the lever. The only thing missing from this forum compared to the old days is the sweet smell of Hoppe's #9 wafting through the shop, mixed in with the smell of some good pipe tobacco or a good cigar, and a fine cup of coffee.

Thanks guys...
Mike
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Old 05-09-2009, 07:28 PM
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tomhenry,

That is the color I seek, but I was told by a rep that they do not offer the old large "classic" target grip in a conversion (round to square butt) grip.

But that is exactly the color I am trying to put on this revolver...

Thanks,
Mike
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Old 05-09-2009, 07:35 PM
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Raven

I have felt the same way from the moment I joined. On one of my first WTB posts I was looking for some 45/90 brass for a recent Sharps purchase. Another forum member sent me a handful for free!!!

I believe I speak for others when I say the passion for the hobby is what helps drive this forum and everyone's eagerness to step in and help.

BTW here's a pic of my project 29. It's my rendition of Skeeter Skelton's dream gun 5" bbl and all. After seeing the holly in the link I may rethink my grip options

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Old 05-09-2009, 08:16 PM
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Hey Curtis,

Is that a Weigand front sight base on your 5" project model 29?

I just posted on another thread about possible POI versus POA corrections that could be made to a 629-1 (integral front sight blade, machined into the ramp.) The poster has the rear sight bottomed out and the revolver is still shooting high with 240gr rounds. I advised to modify the rear sight first, maybe cutting the notch slightly deeper (there is only about 1/16th to 1/32nd to work with) and then maybe take a little off of the top of the blade. There is no way to know how much that will help, though. Still, it is cheaper to replace a rear sight and/or blade than it is to replace a messed up barrel with an integral front sight.

BUT, if you HAVE to raise the front sight on the 629-1, the front sight base is going to have to be milled off and another base installed (allowing the use of interchangable blades, OR the front sight milled off and then another blade installed into a freshly cut dovetail. I've seen both done, but I think the Weigand front sight base looks cleaner on a S&W than a dovetailed front.

If that isn't a Weigand, it sure is a nice job, whatever it is.

Regards,
Mike
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Old 05-09-2009, 08:50 PM
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Mike
Actually its an Ed Brown patridge I installed. The rear sight is a Millett that had a fairly tall blade. I had problems with this sight combo shooting high and ended up filing the rear sight down, with it adjusted to the middle of its travel (I could have ordered a shorter one from Millett, but wanted to adjust it to a load), so your advice on the other thread (I read it) was solid.

I have had this gun for 25+ years. It was a first in several ways; my first Smith, 1st 44 mag, and very 1st new gun. This gun has seen over 30K rounds through it, and is still as good today as it was when I bought it. When they cremate me this gun will melt into my ashes.
I was in the same grip dilemma as you, as the grips on it are a modified set of Herrett Shooting Stars that I wanted duplicated out of ivory micarta or similar material as I plan on having the gun engraved and needed appropriate stocks. FWIW I contacted Don Collins about my project and he refused to be helpful...guess he has enough business. Keith Brown on the other hand has been more than helpful and it is he who will get my business. I am still leaning towards some of his Roper style carved fancy walnut grips...probably with ivory inlays, but the holly has me thinking again.

BTW after reading your reply on the sight post I believe you are just the type of member we need more of...I like you already and once again...Welcome to the forum
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Old 05-10-2009, 06:08 AM
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Nothing like a set of Patrick Grashorn's elk stag grips (Executioner) for a Smith N-frame.

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Old 05-10-2009, 06:50 AM
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Thanks, tomhenry...

There are a few sights in that list I didn't know about.

Regards,
Mike
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Old 05-11-2009, 08:29 PM
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Kurac also does Maple both Spalted and Birdseye. In my experience with maple furniture finishing you would have no problem getting it to look the same color as old ivory.
I think Kurac has some Maple grips for sale now in the classified section. He does special orders and I think his turnaround time is not too long.
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1911, 629, bianchi, cocobolo, colt, crossdraw, engraved, executioner, herrett, hogue, jordan, keith brown grips, lock, micarta, model 29, n-frame, nill, pachmayr, polymer, ruger, skeeter, skelton, stag

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