SSV Frankengun Project

guzzitaco · #51 05-17-2020, 06:31 PM

The front sight arrived on 5 de Mayo, so it took a lot of will to install it before having a few beers.

On a more serious note, I was concerned about the front sight install, since I didn’t want to ruin the finish. I sent a PM to Bill to ask him for some advice. After reading his notes, I decided to tackle the job.

For the install, I used a small hammer and a couple of brass punches (I should invest in a cooper hammer).

I used different stones to cut the base (I need to invest n a couple of Norton bench stones).

I used some tape to protect the slide and the sight. I took my time only moving forward bit by bit.

Everything went well… front sight got installed…

more to come...

JohnHL · #52 05-17-2020, 07:53 PM

Bravo!

She shines like a new penny!

John

stansdds · #53 05-18-2020, 07:15 AM

Looks great!

guzzitaco · #54 05-18-2020, 08:16 PM

Cost Summary:

I always see a lot of questions about costs, so instead of being asked, here is a summary:

Frame + Slide + parts kit = 152 + 140 = $292
Recoil spring + 2 ejector springs + grip + oversize mag catch nut = 2.49 + 1.99 + 1.99 +19.29 + 7.22 + shipping = $37
Front sight = 14 + 4 = $18
Recoil guide rod = $13
Blast media + hopper gun + plastic container = 44 + 20 + 16 = $70
Bluing materials = $16
Hours of joy and frustration in the middle of a pandemic = free

Grand total = $446

I am not including the gunsmithing cost, for this you should contact BMCM (Bill) directly.

Also, not including the cost of other small things that I normally keep in my garage such as: acetone, simple green, masking tape, sandpaper, etc.

Some pics of the finished gun:
I took pics with different lighting so you can see the different tones under a different light.

Thanks, and Acknowledgments

Thank you all for all the likes and the kind words.

Thanks to squidsix, 4T5GUY (Jim), 1775usmarine, TercGen, BLUEDOT37, JohnHL, GerSan69, Craig19, Electromotive, stansdds, jsbethel, Jaymo for all your comments in this thread.

Thank you 4T5GUY (Jim) for your generosity.

Thank you BMCM (Bill) for all your help and advice.

Range report after the range opens...

Final thoughts:

The past 60 days have been very tough on me, I guess on all of us. At some point in time I doubted if I was going to be able to get out of this mess. There have been many sleepless nights.

This project allowed me to focus on something else. I have enjoyed it tremendously (despite the fact that my wife complains that I am playing with my guns instead of doing house chores).

Smith & Wesson is a fantastic company that made fantastic guns, like the 3rd gens that we all love. All of this under American ingenuity and creativity. Its is that same ingenuity and creativity that will take us forward and help us get out this crisis.

God Bless

PS: I will re-open my business on Wednesday...I am going back to work

1775usmarine · #55 05-18-2020, 08:25 PM

She looks rip roaring and ready to go. Your thread made me start working on my 5906 target project. Need to order a few stones, and different hammer, but so far so good. Will have my local smith machine me a rmr rear sight plate adapter if he's got the time.

guzzitaco · #56 05-18-2020, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1775usmarine

She looks rip roaring and ready to go. Your thread made me start working on my 5906 target project. Need to order a few stones, and different hammer, but so far so good. Will have my local smith machine me a rmr rear sight plate adapter if he's got the time.

Please let us know how it goes...

the RMR mount situation on a 5906 is an un-answered issue...

I have been looking for a slide to do a target slide with a RMR, but I haven't been able to figure it out. I got an email from John at BME mounts and he is willing to help. I also exchange an email with AmeriGun USA and they also can make a mount...

I would like to mill the slide, so the RMR isn't mounted as tall..but I am not sure it is possible...

Craig19 · #57 05-18-2020, 09:05 PM

That really looks amazing. Its great that you can bring a gun "to life" like that.

1775usmarine · #58 05-18-2020, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guzzitaco

Please let us know how it goes...

the RMR mount situation on a 5906 is an un-answered issue...

I have been looking for a slide to do a target slide with a RMR, but I haven't been able to figure it out. I got an email from John at BME mounts and he is willing to help. I also exchange an email with AmeriGun USA and they also can make a mount...

I would like to mill the slide, so the RMR isn't mounted as tall..but I am not sure it is possible...

I was thinking of buying a parts kit with adj sights as well, but will work with what I got. Maybe I can get him to mill somthing for the front sight like the gp 100 rail. Ill be sure to post my final product when its done.

nocents · #59 05-18-2020, 09:35 PM

Thanks guzzi.....this thread has been a joy to follow....your finished results speak volumes...you should be rightly proud...congrats

.......AND.....good luck on reopening your business

squidsix · #60 05-18-2020, 09:45 PM

Looks perfect. Great job

JohnHL · #61 05-19-2020, 01:25 AM

The remarkable journey and transformation of a gun, a time, and a man.

And you saw it here, folks!

Once again, Bravo.

And Encore!

John

BTW, it's not fair to include the blast equipment in your cost summary because they are tools.

That makes $376.00 for a custom pistol probably the best deal of the year!

Old_Cop · #62 05-19-2020, 07:13 AM

You have real skills and vision. I hope that you will continue to take on projects and document them.

mikerjf · #63 05-19-2020, 08:32 AM

Informative and intriguing. I have a 908 I'm going to do 'something' with... lots of good inspiration here!

rosewood · #64 05-19-2020, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guzzitaco

Misalignment concerns: I think I better tackle this in a separate post before we all get stuck in a "rabbit hole".

As I said in a previous post, to be totally honest, I never thought about addressing the slide/frame misalignment. I never paid much attention to it, since most of the 3rd gun S&W have it. And maybe it is kind of a "trademark" of a third gen.

To illustrate my point:

the M5967 that I am "inspired" by has it

also the M6906

also my beautiful M5906 TSW

even some Performance Center pistols as this Shorty45

However, there are examples that I found where it was "corrected". All are Performance Center pistols.

the 3566 compact

the fantastic Shorty40

One thing is certain, I do not have 1/10 of the skill of one of the Performance Center guys that built those guns...

I don't know if I should try address it, because after that I might want to address it in all my S&W...and I would be hard to do it in all since there are aluminum frame ones (like the M6906) that would need to be re-anodized.

I have to think more about it, before attempting to tackle it...

Maybe in the future...

Anyway, thank you for the feedback...never thought about it...

more to come...

Why, oh why did you have to point this out. I never saw this as an issue before and now my OCD is kicking in....

Rosewood

GerSan69 · #65 05-19-2020, 10:55 AM

You really "hit it out of the park"!!!
Very impressive work and results... congratulations!
And an even bigger CONGRATS on being able to get back to work!

K Frame Keith · #66 05-19-2020, 11:11 AM

Very nice! I've been following this thread from the start. Thanks for sharing. The rear sight is my only concern. I had the identical sight on a PC Shorty Forty and I liked the sight picture and very easy to adjust. I used the gun as a carry piece and somehow managed to move the rear sight constantly, probably when drawing or re-holstering. I regretfully replaced it with a fixed sight.

MackTech · #67 05-21-2020, 09:56 PM

You will love the SSV concept! I have an original SSV that I have carried a lot in the past few years. It needs a freshing up before long. I have a fiber optic front sight on my 3913 and want to add one to the SSV due to my aging eyes. I would like to have a spare SSV and might go the parts guns route like in the thread .

guzzitaco · #68 05-22-2020, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosewood

Why, oh why did you have to point this out. I never saw this as an issue before and now my OCD is kicking in....

Rosewood

Wasn't my intention Rosewood...

I am also a little (or a lot) OCD myself...

guzzitaco · #69 05-22-2020, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Frame Keith

Very nice! I've been following this thread from the start. Thanks for sharing. The rear sight is my only concern. I had the identical sight on a PC Shorty Forty and I liked the sight picture and very easy to adjust. I used the gun as a carry piece and somehow managed to move the rear sight constantly, probably when drawing or re-holstering. I regretfully replaced it with a fixed sight.

Thanks for the heads up...

I have a similar sight on my M5906 TSW (but larger, target version) and it has performed well...however, that is mostly a range gun and I don't even have a holster for it yet...

In any case, I will keep one the rear sight that came with the set and will probably get rid of the trijicon that came with the TSW

guzzitaco · #70 05-22-2020, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4T5GUY

Still looking real good. Great job.

Since you are using an over size mag release button I assume your end result is not about carrying this new wonderful pistol around.

I bought many of the Ed Brown’s “extended” offerings a very long time ago and have an extended slide release that you can have if you want. Obviously it could work for you cause it’s for the 6906/5906 series. It’s almost brand new and still fits in tight. Maybe you could use it in this project? I don’t need it so it’s yours if you want it.

PM me your address and I’ll get it going your way ASAP.

Jim

It is here...
thank you so much Jim...

I haven't had time to play with it yet...

will post some pics soon...

Craig19 · #71 05-22-2020, 09:18 PM

I never knew Ed Brown offered 3rd gen stuff. I learn stuff all of the time on this forum.

4T5GUY · #72 05-22-2020, 10:10 PM

I cringed but grinned when I saw that quote.

I’m surprised the “purists” haven’t jumped on me by calling it a slide release and not a slide stop. I can not see any advantage of a slide stop being extended but there could be a merit in a slide release being extended.

Glad you have it now my friend.

Jim

stansdds · #73 05-23-2020, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig19

I never knew Ed Brown offered 3rd gen stuff. I learn stuff all of the time on this forum.

Ed Brown did. I happen to be in possession of an Ed Brown stainless steel recoil spring guide rod assembly for the 645/450x/100x pistols. No, it is not for sale.

JohnHL · #74 05-23-2020, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stansdds

Ed Brown did. I happen to be in possession of an Ed Brown stainless steel recoil spring guide rod assembly for the 645/450x/100x pistols. No, it is not for sale.

Are Ed Brown stainless steel recoil spring guide rod assemblies for the 645/450x/100x pistols rare and expensive?

John?

stansdds · #75 05-24-2020, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHL

Are Ed Brown stainless steel recoil spring guide rod assemblies for the 645/450x/100x pistols rare and expensive?

John?

I'm sure they made more than one, but this is the only one I have found. Mine was not expensive at all, it popped up on eBay and the "buy it now" price was too low to pass up.