Short Barrelled N Frames = Au. Who's Built Their Own?

M1Lover · #1 09-06-2011, 05:10 PM

Man, it sure seems like less barrel equals significantly more money. Guess its supply and demand, but wow. Saw a 2" (maybe 2.5") 625 barrel on GB go to $325 and it didn't meet the reserve!! What's to keep a guy from buying a 5.5" barrelled 625, pretty common and reasonably priced these days, pulling and stripping the barrel, cutting it down as short as the extractor rod detent safely allows, re-crowning, milling a flat on top in the barrel serrations, relocate a front sight, bead blast the "th & Wesson" off, screw it back on and go?
--- Before you launch into the safety aspect tirade, lets assume that one is well aware of the safety issues and knows what they're doing. If they don't its just natural selection and who are we to interfere anyway? -----
Anybody been there and done this to their long-barrelled N Frame?? Want to share the experience?
I love the 625 and associated full-moon clips. I want to carry one daily and shoot it in IDPA. I just don't want to pay $1300 for one (before action-work) and can't see practical daily carry of the Hog-leg 625 in 5.5".... Thanks, H.

scooter123 · #2 09-06-2011, 07:31 PM

I would suspect there are a few "build your owns" out there, however I also suspect that you'll find it an expensive proposition. It wouldn't surprize me a bit if you are looking at 400 dollars to have it done by a pro. In addition you'll end up with a "chopped" gun that nobody will pay a premium for no matter how well done.

Personally, I would suggest that you consider the purchase of a current production 625. I just picked up a new 625JM for 890 OTD. As for an action job, I do my own and it's becoming a bit of a hobby. I can assure you it's not very difficult to do on the newer guns and once you have the tools it's not very costly. However, the tools will run about 200 bucks if you go first class and get a good digital trigger gage.

M1Lover · #3 09-06-2011, 11:04 PM

Well, let's see. A S&W 5.5" garden variety 625 is certainly no Ming Vase. Its more like a '72 Nova. Yeah, decent as it is, but could certainly be better and they are not rare (the 625 anyway).
My point is this: A guy with some talent and minimal machinery can likely make improvements to almost anything. Did I screw the pooch having a skilled craftsman put a beavertail grip safety and precision barrel bushing on my non-NIB late 70's Colt 70 Series .45 Auto? I doubt it. Value? It went up far as I'm concerned. When the collet bbl bushing broke it seized up tighter than a you-know-what. Had these mods done 20 some years ago. Still shooting that Colt .45 Auto regularly without issue. I'd wager that if someone made a done-properly snubby barrel conversion (your barrel modified and returned) with some attention to detail he'd (she'd??) have some demand. Its happened a 1000, wait, 1,000,000 times before..... H.

Greyson · #4 09-07-2011, 09:53 AM

I am posting in this thread because I am thinking about doing the same thing. Getting a 625 and chopping it down.

Actually I am in the market for a 1917 S&W chopped as well.

Regards,
Greyson

Maximumbob54 · #5 09-07-2011, 10:01 AM

I was kind of wanting to have the 6" tube on my 629 chopped to a 5" but by the time the cost of everything getting done came to me I figured I would rather go buy another gun. If I had a shop and all the tools I would be more than happy to do it myself. But since something as minor as cutting barrel threads costs so much these days I think gun smiths may be working themselves out of jobs. Some of them, I mean. Clearly not all of them.

M1Lover · #6 09-07-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyson

I am posting in this thread because I am thinking about doing the same thing. Getting a 625 and chopping it down.

Actually I am in the market for a 1917 S&W chopped as well.

Regards,
Greyson

I bought a chopped 1917 Brazilian S&W at an AZ Gunshow for $250. 3" bbl, and the guy who did it, whoever he is, did a pretty amazingly good job of it. Front sight is clean, if a bit odd looking, but with the tapered barrel he had to get some height back. This price supports Scooter123's opinion that chopped (such an ugly word, no?) revolvers don't hold their value. I jumped on it at $250 and I feel that I got an absolute bargain. That's because it was done properly. We've all seen hack jobs that we wouldn't buy at ANY price. MaxBob makes the point that many 'smiths have priced themselves out of the custom work business. I think that the liability issue (TV lawyers and their scumbag clients = The litigious Citizens of our great country) is a major factor in the price of custom work. Also, doing a one-up is very time consuming. You end up paying yourself 10 bucks an hour, not including your investment in your mill & lathe. I'm talking about a simple mod that could be done to say, any non-pinned N frame SS barrel. Mass-production, Eli Whitney style.
It's not rocket science to design and produce a clean SS front sight / block at the correct height for the serrated-top SS N Frame barrel, found on thousands of S&W's that we all have in our safes. Mount with two 2-56 Allen-head screws, counter sunk, or even button-heads, on a cut down, re-crowned barrel that had a flat machined on the top for the sight block. If that "ruins" the handgun's value on the Market, I don't care. I wouldn't build it for the Market. I'd build it for ME. My opinion is that an 8 &7/8" barrel on a revolver is about the most useless thing on the face of this Earth. Now, I'd actually carry and shoot a 3" version of that same revolver..... My purpose here is not to rattle the cage of the collector (IMO non-pinned SS S&W revolvers aren't very collectable anyway) or the S&W purists that are here, but to get us thinking about carrying these fine S&W N Frame revolvers as daily sidearms. Only way to do that is to make it in a manageable size. Sorry for the long post. A "Forum" is a place to share ideas and thoughts in public. H.

Mack · #7 09-07-2011, 12:09 PM

OK 625 barrels are 5" and I don't see a lot of price difference between the 4 and 5" guns but the 3" are much more money. SDM will cut back a barrel for $250 but I don't know how short they will go and they list installing their front sight. If you can find a Mountain Gun barrel that would make a nice 4".

SDM SW

M1Lover · #8 09-07-2011, 12:14 PM

Mack, this is exactly what I'm talking about. the photo-essay shows the entire process. SDM looks like they know what they are doing. THANKS for the post. H.

4 conversion

EDIT: Talked to the owner. Real nice work, good guy. Has over a year of backlog and once its done, he's getting out of custom gunsmithing altogether. Makes actual money with his sights and small parts. Another one bites the dust. He also pointed out that the length could be reduced to a minimum of about 3.625" and you'd have to have a 4" holster anyway, so he does (did) them to 4". H.

cgt4570 · #9 09-07-2011, 09:53 PM

Here's a link to the post about my 2" .45 revolver.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...ry-barrel.html

M1Lover · #10 09-08-2011, 10:11 AM

Chris, I'll agree with all the posts in the thread: NICE JOB and great rescue. That is one Helluva bellygun! Thank you for posting. H.

Engine49guy · #11 09-08-2011, 11:46 AM

M1 Lover, I think most of us have S&W revolvers we want shortened but after realizing its probably close to $300 realize its not very cost effective.

I do not know how many hours it takes to do this work but am assuming if the machines were already set up to remove machine and reinstall the barrel then crown and cold blue the muzzle... perhaps about 3 solid hours?

If a frame jig was setup so the gun could be machined without removing the barrel perhaps more like 1.5 hours?
IMO If a talented gunsmith were setup shop and advertise quality custom barrel shortening closer to $150 the response would probably be overwhelming.

I actually just sent an email to a well known excellent gunsmith (re post below) inquiring about cutting down a 6.5" pre Model 24 and was quoted $335 to $360 for everything.
Now I am wondering if I should swap the barrel and sell the old one.

Hello ,
I have been thinking about cutting down a 5 screw pre model 24 from 6.5" barrel length to a 4" or 5" barrel length.

... Would it be possible to shorten the barrel and cold blue the muzzle crown without harming the rest of the guns polish blue finish or would it need a total reblue ?

If its just a matter of cutting the barrel, resetting the front site and cold blueing the muzzle I would feel more inclined to do it.

reply:
It is that simple, but I'm not sure about the finish. We can remove barrels without marring the finish, but to mill the flat for the front sight, then cut the slot (plus drilling for 2 .050" cross pins") requires that the barrel be securely clamped in the milling machine. We can't use padding for this, as we'd risk the barrel moving. I can, however, refinish the barrel to match the rest of the gun if need be. I actually just priced out doing this on a 27 barrel, the total cost with refinish was $285. To do the "high luster" blue would probably add $50 to $75.

Bugs Bunny · #12 09-08-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximumbob54

I was kind of wanting to have the 6" tube on my 629 chopped to a 5" but by the time the cost of everything getting done came to me I figured I would rather go buy another gun. If I had a shop and all the tools I would be more than happy to do it myself. But since something as minor as cutting barrel threads costs so much these days I think gun smiths may be working themselves out of jobs. Some of them, I mean. Clearly not all of them.

I have a 5in comming off a 629-3 classic if your in the market for a factory 5in - S&W will yank it so there is no worry of the backyard "pistolsmiths" messing it up.

After my last deal I would not have anyone work on a S&W revolver but S&W..

jimmyj · #13 09-08-2011, 01:40 PM

Why short barrels? A four, five, or six inch barrel can be CCW with the proper holster and belt.

M1Lover · #14 09-08-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyj

Why short barrels? A four, five, or six inch barrel can be CCW with the proper holster and belt.

CCW a 6" N frame? yeah, I s'pose you could....

IDPA limits revolver barrel length to 4". Its what they consider a reasonable length for CCW. I'm in agreement with them. H.

jimmyj · #15 09-08-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1Lover

CCW a 6" N frame? yeah, I s'pose you could....

IDPA limits revolver barrel length to 4". Its what they consider a reasonable length for CCW. I'm in agreement with them. H.

CCW a Model 29-2 6" is "over the top"??

M1Lover · #16 09-08-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyj

CCW a Model 29-2 6" is "over the top"??

For you, perhaps, not at all JimmyJ. My idea of a point blank, up close and personal encounter would preclude it. I'd much rather start with a rifle at a longer distance! H.

Greyson · #17 09-09-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1Lover

Mack, this is exactly what I'm talking about. the photo-essay shows the entire process. SDM looks like they know what they are doing. THANKS for the post. H.

4 conversion

EDIT: Talked to the owner. Real nice work, good guy. Has over a year of backlog and once its done, he's getting out of custom gunsmithing altogether. Makes actual money with his sights and small parts. Another one bites the dust. He also pointed out that the length could be reduced to a minimum of about 3.625" and you'd have to have a 4" holster anyway, so he does (did) them to 4". H.

SDM is getting out of the business?!? Holy cow?

Regards,
Greyson

Scott D. Mulkerin · #18 09-09-2011, 04:13 PM

Hi Guys
This is Scott From SDM Fabricating. Greyson alerted me to this post.
The official status is as follows.
With my current backlog I am not accepting any new work. The parts end of my business is taking most of my time. And to be honest it is more profitable than gun plumbing. If the trend continues I won't have much time for smithing. If the trend changes I will continue to smith.
I have no plans to discontinue smithing services. But it could happen. Only time will tell.
I hope that clears things up.
My best to all, be safe

Greyson · #19 09-09-2011, 04:24 PM

Thanks for the clarification, Scott.

Regards,
Greyson

David Sinko · #20 09-17-2011, 03:26 PM

Here is my Model 625-4 with the same 2" barrel as seen in the earlier post. Note that mine still uses the original long cylinder and that the front sight had to be built up to accommodate the adjustable rear sight. The barrel cost me $67 from Numrich and a very capable local gunsmith installed it and built up the front sight for about a nickel under $50. But I think he overestimated the amount of work involved in the front sight and will NOT do this again any time soon.

Dave Sinko