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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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  #51  
Old 01-03-2009, 10:08 AM
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Here's one of my favorites. It hasn't had any custom work done to it, but it is one of my favorite carry guns.


10-8 2 1/2"


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  #52  
Old 01-03-2009, 08:18 PM
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Flop-shank, your Colt is a perfect gun for conversion. You could not hurt the value by cleaning it up and "combat" customizing it.
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  #53  
Old 01-03-2009, 09:08 PM
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Quote:
keith44spl
-depends what you will be using it for. If on the hip, outdoors, hard usage-hard chrome. If more casual usage-blue. Personally, with those nice grips, blue would set them off nicely.
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  #54  
Old 01-03-2009, 09:10 PM
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I like it right now. I say one of those semi-matte hard chromes.
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  #55  
Old 01-03-2009, 09:10 PM
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Dave, blue it.
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  #56  
Old 01-03-2009, 09:52 PM
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Blue it . . . nice work.
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  #57  
Old 01-04-2009, 12:31 AM
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A high polish blue would look nice on that one.
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  #58  
Old 01-04-2009, 07:00 AM
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My 1980 custom revolver, a long barreled 25-2 in .45ACP. I second I saw it in a gun shop about 13 years ago I knew it was going home with me.

The work was done in Savannah back "in the day" by a gunsmith in Savannah who did this sort of stuff.

It has a truly amazing double action pull and a single action pull that breaks clean as glass at less than two pounds . . . both almost TOO light!

I wish I knew the name of the guy. He did a great job!

I later narrowed the super-wide, groove target trigger to smoothed, rounded and quite narrow for fast, double action use in tactical and bowling pin matches. I've won quite a few matches with this nimble, fast-from-the-holster wheelgun.

I also put on the new style cylinder latch. I HATE looking at it on that gun, but I'm left-handed and it greatly helped with fast reloading in matches.



Tom
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  #59  
Old 02-04-2009, 06:27 PM
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btt
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  #60  
Old 02-04-2009, 09:38 PM
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I've posted this before, but here it is again.

I acquired this 1917 Colt within the past year. It was owned by Dean Grennell's brother Ralph. The gun appears in two of Grennell's books from the early and late 1970's..."Book of the 45" and "Pistol and Revolver Digest."

In those books, it is stated that the custom work was done by John B Williams Gunsmithing in Fullerton California.











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  #61  
Old 02-05-2009, 04:49 AM
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Beautiful. Is that a hard chrome?
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  #62  
Old 02-05-2009, 04:56 AM
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Yes Sir
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  #63  
Old 02-05-2009, 05:01 AM
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Nice, just plain niiiiiiiice.
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  #64  
Old 02-05-2009, 06:14 AM
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Another Magnaport Predator. Not old school though.



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  #65  
Old 02-05-2009, 07:35 AM
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Quote:
I acquired this 1917 Colt within the past year. It was owned by Dean Grennell's brother Ralph. The gun appears in two of Grennell's books from the early and late 1970's..."Book of the 45" and "Pistol and Revolver Digest."

In those books, it is stated that the custom work was done by John B Williams Gunsmithing in Fullerton California.
C&L
Thanks for posting those great pictures. That exact gun poluted my young mind with gun lust. I still have my copy of Pistol and Revolver Digest. I was about 12 when I got it. It's still a dream gun after all these years. Enjoy it.
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  #66  
Old 02-05-2009, 07:46 PM
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These don't need much in the way of customizing. A little spring adjustment and a hammer bob and it's ready to go to work.
Hard to believe it's 35 years old already.
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  #67  
Old 02-21-2009, 11:25 AM
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I've got a real yen for tuned-up revolvers, and I've managed to acquire some nice ones over the years.

First one is a model 58 .41 Magnum that once belonged to a San Francisco PD officer who had the barrel chopped to 2.5 inches, roundbutted, hammer spur bobbed, trigger-guard thinned, and a beautiful action job done; then the whole thing was hard-chromed.



Second one is a model 28-2 Highway Patrolman that had the barrel chopped to 2.5", frame round butted, and then it was converted from .357 to .44 Special.

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  #68  
Old 02-22-2009, 07:44 PM
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Far as I know fitzpatrick a colt exibition shooter is given the most credit for it. Supposedly its faster as your finger dont hit the guard in front. Personaly I dont buy it. But who am I?
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  #69  
Old 02-22-2009, 07:44 PM
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Keith44special, your revolver is way "cool". I also like your Avatar, Frank Hamer is one of my personal Ranger Heroes.
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  #70  
Old 02-23-2009, 06:23 PM
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Got a story for that one, BuzzardBilly??
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  #71  
Old 02-23-2009, 10:39 PM
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Hi Joe. Saw your request for info on Matthews custom revolvers. I am a LEO in Downey CA and have known the Matthews family for the 20+ years I have been there. Unfortunately, Mr. Matthews died several years ago and his son kept the business going until about four years ago when they finally closed shop. I wasn't all that interested in revolvers until lately, even though I started my career with one, but did have the chance to see some of Matthews' work on those revolvers. They were real nice. His son never continued his dad's custom revolver work. I had only seen examples that Mr. Matthews had shown me. I just thought you might like to know what happened to the shop.
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  #72  
Old 02-24-2009, 06:09 AM
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Another Mag-Na-Port Custom....686 2.5"....Zebulon





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  #73  
Old 02-24-2009, 02:09 PM
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Sjstill,
Details added to my picture post above per your request.
BB
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  #74  
Old 02-24-2009, 02:47 PM
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Zebulon;
Nice gun, great....what is that, a coaster??
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  #75  
Old 02-24-2009, 05:23 PM
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Tactical Emergency Light (Candle) Base.......Zeb
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  #76  
Old 02-24-2009, 05:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by gunkook:
Hi Joe. Saw your request for info on Matthews custom revolvers. I am a LEO in Downey CA and have known the Matthews family for the 20+ years I have been there. Unfortunately, Mr. Matthews died several years ago and his son kept the business going until about four years ago when they finally closed shop. I wasn't all that interested in revolvers until lately, even though I started my career with one, but did have the chance to see some of Matthews' work on those revolvers. They were real nice. His son never continued his dad's custom revolver work. I had only seen examples that Mr. Matthews had shown me. I just thought you might like to know what happened to the shop.
Thanks, from "Me and Joe."

Do old Mathews modified revolver show up in the used market in the area? We've never found one for sale, even on the 'net.
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  #77  
Old 02-24-2009, 07:32 PM
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gunkook, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your post. I have been searching for info on Matthews for a long time. Thanks again and best regards, Joe.
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  #78  
Old 02-24-2009, 07:51 PM
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Cherry River: May I ask who made the grips for your Colt Agent?
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  #79  
Old 02-24-2009, 08:39 PM
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You are welcome Joe. You guys got my interest going on these Matthews modified guns now. I'm going to do some asking around. I haven't seen any come up for sale in the area. Matthews was the only real gun shop in Downey and when they closed, I'm not sure where their customer base went. If I find anything out I will post it here. Thanks, Jeff.
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Old 02-24-2009, 08:47 PM
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Here I have known the family for all these years and I still spell the last name wrong. I can never remember if it's one or two t's. I'm a slow learner.
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  #81  
Old 02-25-2009, 03:40 AM
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Gunkook,thanks again,both SG-688 and myself look forward to hearing from you again. All my best, Joe.
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  #82  
Old 02-25-2009, 07:15 PM
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Bronco45-
Those stocks on my Agent are Eagle Secret Service in rosewood.
I did open up some relief for the Safariland speedloaders I prefer.
Eagle can do that for you if you ask, I think.
I have Hogue rosewoods on my simliar Detective Special, and I can't say I prefer one over the other. They look different but work about the same.
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  #83  
Old 03-02-2009, 06:36 PM
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tipoc, it most certainly passes my "neatness" threshold as do your other "combat" revolvers. As always , thanks for posting. All my best , Joe.
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  #84  
Old 03-11-2009, 06:00 PM
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I cajoled a friend of ours into sending me a picture of his Colt New Service, a .455 rechambered to .45 Colt. Bought it in patina condition in 1975 and then in about 1978 had S&W sights and ramp front added by Richard Heinie, who was then the local guy who would do about anything.

Stocks in the Farrant-Hurst-Stark-Blackford style are by another local guy.



Additional info from the owner: The serial number is in the 83100's and according to Sutherland, it was manufactured in 1915.
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  #85  
Old 03-13-2009, 06:40 AM
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Neat posting SSG 688 ,always good to see an old friend's custom hardware.
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  #86  
Old 03-13-2009, 04:26 PM
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Nice gun, nice stocks SSG.

tipoc
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  #87  
Old 03-15-2009, 08:12 AM
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You might have it refinished and re-blued, but that would decrease the value - why you want to convert it to a round butt is unclear, and the 4 inch barrel is very desirable. I'd leave it alone.
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  #88  
Old 03-15-2009, 08:43 AM
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Nanook 450
The value of the firearm is sort of irrelevent
because I will not sell or trade it on a wim.
after re reading my longer response which i did not post You are right I will just shoot it and
keep it clean.
Thanks
Carl
I will find a 13 or 65 rb 3" in time.
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  #89  
Old 04-12-2009, 06:46 AM
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Two additional articles about George Mathews by Wiley Clapp have been brought to our attention.

Txshooter found one featuring a 2 inch M&P in the 2000 edition of Custom Combat Handguns.

John Taffin pointed out a chapter in the Digest book Handguns '89.

That one has much information about the why and the how of the guns that were intended as plain clothes and off-duty guns for LA cops in the post-WWII era when new handguns were not available.

So, Wiley Clapp has filled in the blanks about Mathews and his guns. The question of where they've all gone remains.

I'd still like to know - who was Walter Rickell?
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  #90  
Old 04-12-2009, 09:27 AM
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It's urban combat maybe?

S&W 1917 cut to 3 1/2" and nickeled. Shoots great with the right load!

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  #91  
Old 04-12-2009, 10:48 AM
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Please, somebody buy this before I weaken!!

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/V...m.asp?Item=126303908
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  #92  
Old 04-12-2009, 11:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by baird:
Please, somebody buy this before I weaken!!

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/V...m.asp?Item=126303908
Holy ****!! That is cool and worth the price. Wish I had the cash.
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  #93  
Old 04-12-2009, 12:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by AJMBLAZER:
Okay, what was the thought process behind the cut trigger guard like some of these have?
J.H. Fitzgerald at the Colt plant came up with these modifications that were supposed to make the gun faster to get into action.

Col. Askins and other gun writers pictured such guns, and "Fitz" showed them at the National Matches and elsewhere.

Frankly, I think it was all glitz and wanting to make the gun look lean and mean.

Bill Jordan had huge fingers- I knew him and saw them- but even he only slightly thinned the trigger guard to allow smooth entry of his big fingers. He thought that cutting the whole trigger guard was dangerous.

I have normal fingers and have NEVER had any problems with the trigger guard impeding a fast draw and shoot procedure.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a gun so altered, or with the hammer spur cut off. But some like the looks and the drama, I guess.

T-Star
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Old 04-12-2009, 12:53 PM
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My own custom ongoing Skeeter project, and my very first new gun and first 29


I may finish it some day
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Old 04-12-2009, 01:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by LadyFed:
This one is my favorite; a Victory model cut down to 3 inches, round butt modification, and then carried as a backup by FBI Special Agent George Gillum from the late 1940's until his retirement in 1970. He served most of his career in Las Vegas on a Mafia TF. Looks like this revolver got some good use. It still shoots tight groups at 10 feet/gunfight range. Wish I could carry it in today's Bureau.
Eliza



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That looks VERY like the custom S&W that was on the hardback cover of the James Bond novel, "From Russia, With Love". (Published about 1955-56.)

That one belonged to Ian Fleming's friend and gun advisor, Geoffrey Boothroyd, a Scots TV writer and firearms authority. He wrote some excellent gun books.

His had the trigger guard cut out, and I think it lacked the lanyard loop.
It was originally a .38/200 that he modified because then, the early 1950's, it was hard to get new S&W guns in the UK.

His gun was painted for the book cover by an artist named Dick Chopping, who rendered it in remarkable detail.

Have you ever seen that cover?

Bond never carried such a gun. The only S&W that he wore was a Centennial in, "Dr. No." He lost it on No's island, and evidently never wore one again, preferring the Walther PPK in .32. (However, Fleming owned a Centennial, bought on a visit to New York.)

I guess the custom revolver on the book cover was just intended to grab the shopper's eye and look dramatic.

I think the modified .38 was also included in Boothroyd's superb, "The Handgun", the best basic book on the subject that I've ever found. If any of you has a copy, I could probably find the energy to look up the page that it's on.

Can anyone here find that book cover and post a photo? The gun would certainly fit the subject matter of this topic!

T-Star
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Old 04-13-2009, 05:48 AM
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TexasStar,

If I remember right the gun you are speaking of was owned by Boothroyd. I agree with you on his books, excellent.

tipoc
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Old 04-13-2009, 04:58 PM
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Texas Star, While I would not cut a new frame today, I have a 1920's era 38 snub that is so modified. It is faster, but I am not very fast. I have had this very discussion with Holster Guru Bob Arganbright who is literally Chain Lightning fast out of the holster and is and has been a very,very serious fast draw competitor. He has a GM so modified and he states without reservation that it is faster. I am sure it makes no difference for we slightly better than average shooters but perhaps it does for people well above the average. Bill Oglesby, one of the fastest shooters that I have ever spent time with up close and personal on a live fire range hits the trigger only one time and fires the remaining 4 rds. by "fanning" the hammer on his sa ruger with the fingers of his left hand. Five 45 colt rds. in a playing card at approx. 10 yrds and all we heard was one boom. I would not have believed it had I not watched him load 5 live rds. and then eject 5 empties.
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Old 04-14-2009, 05:01 PM
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Amazon has a pic of the James Bond cover. Is that an adjustable rear sight?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer...7199/ref=ed_oe_h_olp





I recall JB, in a short story I think, described as carrying a .45 Colt revolver -- a New Service maybe!
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Old 04-14-2009, 05:34 PM
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Paul Weston, the NYPD cop who retired to be a police science professor in California, endorsed the cut away trigger guard [and bobbed hammers] in his 1960 book, Combat Shooting for Police, and continuing into '60s magazine articles. These are from Gun Digest.

Holsters and grips on the Cobra are Gaylord.



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Old 04-14-2009, 06:15 PM
Glock 'em down Glock 'em down is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by tipoc:
Another Magnaport Predator. Not old school though.



tipoc
I'm lovin' that Ted Blocker shoulder rig!
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