I know that there are several custom gun smiths that do a "melt" to 1911s. From what I've read, the idea is to soften the edges to make the gun easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry.

My question is if anyone has done or heard of a melt job on a value series S&W semi auto. Specifically the 457 has a very blocky slide compared to the more finished semi autos. I'd guess that the reduced machining saved a lot on production costs and thus made the guns less expensive to produce and sell.

Would there be any problem with having something like this done?

I'm more curious than anything else since it would defeat the purpose of buying the 457 that I got if I put another couple of hundred into having it melted and refinished.

Thanks.

Just answered your own question. Sell the 457 and get a stainless 3rd Gen. if you want a melt job.

The 3rd Gens have one of the best production melt jobs ever.

Best,

Heekma

Thanks, that pretty much what I thought. I like the 457 and plan to start carrying it at some point. I mostly have 9mm and none of those are value series. I bought the 457 because it was the least expensive way to get a 3G .45 ACP.

You could do the melt job yourself and save that money.

I could, but I won't. I'd guess that a sanding machine of some kind is involved. Along with a good eye for knowing when enough has been taken off. Nether of which I have.

Then probably cerakote or something similar.

I have another topend coming for my 457 that I may play around with. I will post pics of it when I am done with it.

Check out this link for some ideas: My take on the S&W CS45 It is based on a CS45 and not a 457 but some of the ideas this guy did with his one off project gun were UNREAL! I really WISH Smith and Wesson would have adopted his ideas and made a production run with his improvements on the original Chief's Special line. I know they would sell a bunch but their profit margin wouldn't be as high as the polymer framed guns they are churning out these days.


On another note, Karl Sokol of Chestnut Mountain Sports in West Rutland, Vermont has plenty of experience with Smith's AND has done a bunch of "melt"ing jobs. The custom 3914 in my avatar picture was one that he built for my wife. She's a beauty (the 3914 AND my wife)! You might consider shooting him an E-mail or giving him a call to discuss what you have in mind for your 457.

Here's a link to his website: Karl Sokol Chestnut Mountian Sports Gunsmithing Services I just checked his website and it looks like a bunch of the photos on the gallery page have dead links but he does exceptional work.

Here are a few photos of the 3914 Karl customized for us:







Good luck with your project and let me know if you want to see any additional photos of the 3914.

Another option is a "carry bevel". Rather than sanding rounded edges, a carry bevel simply breaks any 90 degree angle with a 45 degree angle. I have done this on some 1911s and two of my 3rd Gen autos. I apply the bevel to the front, bottom, and rear of the slide, the slide stop, and the front edge of the dust cover.

I have done all work with basic tools and little skill. Alot of brew and patience. Still need to dehorn the frame and re anodiize and would like to install the steel mag release {have to drill the frame.....yikes} and a front night sight. All blk would be cool.

you wouldnt happen to have any photos of a 4506 with this treatment would you? I'm kinda curious what it would look like with those mods done to it.


Also Garry from what I understand this is also a popular modification for Stainless Interarms and smith and wesson PPKs as the bottom half of the slide can cut into your hand if it was a rough cut from the factory, even with the extended bevertail of the Smith PPKs while on the well finished blued ones from walther circa 68' this was a non issue.

That's nice work on the Chiefs Special. Mine is one of the black finish versions, so a refinish would be in order.

Gives me something to think about, though.

Thanks for the pictures.

I expect that kind of response from a guy living in MA. If you lived down south you would have already been to Lowes and gotten the attachments for the Dremel

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Forum consigliere

Could be that's why the refer to it a "Bubbarizing" a gun and not "Yankeerizing" a gun!

Considering what firearms cost up here due to our stupid "consumer safety laws", it's not for the faint of heart to do something like this.

This forum depresses me when I see what some people pay for firearms that I can't even get here.

Moving to a more gun friendly place is on my to do list, but when it will happen I don't know.

Here's a couple pics of my 6906 that has the carry bevel treatment. This is done by hand with Arkansas stones and then bead blasted to a satin finish.

Attached Images

	SW 6906 Slide Front.jpg (66.3 KB, 109 views)
	SW 6906 Slide Rear.jpg (59.4 KB, 119 views)

Forsmithers,

I have had a Model 65-5 done by Karl. He is one of the better gunsmiths ever to touch a Smith and Wesson. My good friend, Bill Burris (BBurris handle on this forum) is the second.

I have a .45 3rd Gen that I spoke to Karl about customizing. Karl is NEVER too busy to talk with you about your likes/dislikes. His experience as an LEO and as a gunsmith on mnay disparate platforms is reassuring. He knows them all.

Bottom Line: You can't go wrong with Karl Sokol. He stands behind his work and is a true craftsman.

Just my $.02

Nice work ednred, that looks good.



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James

Hahahaahhaaaa......I am on my third dremel.

My CQB was also sharp.....and I dehorned that one too.

I will try and find photos.

Yeah I need to move to New Hampshire or Maine one of these days just for that, although well this has been my home since I was born and I like it here, its just the damn fact that its in MA thats so annoying.

plus the extra sales tax they have on everything here, especially cars if you buy it new, you basically give them 5 extra grand to piss away on useless **** here thanks to that tax.

and they cant even keep a single road here pot hole free with that extra money ffs.

NH and ME are too cold for me, which is why I'm looking south. ME has pretty high taxes from what I've been told.

It's no colder here in NH than it is in Mass. But the Job market here right now sucks.

Yep. Karl's a great guy. We worked together on the same PD when I lived in Mass. and he and his wife actually introduced me to my wife. I even did a little work at his shop until I moved south and he moved north to the great state of Vermont.

GaryS,
The weather is VERY nice in the Carolina's! I moved from Mass. to North Carolina back in 1993 and love it down here. We see a change of seasons in the fall, winters are very mild with a little snow unless you are in the mountains and I'm roughly 2 hours from the mountains and 3-4 from the beach.

Today's high was 57, so far no snow and I actually had to mow the lawn the other day. Needless-to-say I'm not shoveling feet of snow like I need when I lived in Mass. Although I am sure my boys would have liked to build snow forts and sled like I did when I was their age.

I sure do love being in Texas. I spent two years at Ft. Devens, MA back in the 80s - way too cold and too much snow, especially when you have to do a 2 mile run when it's 20 degrees out!

hmm theres an idea, New Hampsure while I like it seems too rural for my tastes and with Maine the taxes are high and the proximity to the ocean seem like a bad thing.

Basically I dont know but ill keep it in mind.




actually my brother moved down there, I forget precisely where though although the Hail and threat of hurricanes, storms and a 100 plus degree days in the summer arent exactly what I'd be looking for, it just seems like it'd be too much for me to take, although that could be just one part of texas and the other would be fine as I really dont know too much about texas itself.