I've been remiss, an update has been warranted for a long time. I did farm the work out to Ford's. It took them a bit less than a year and charged me in the neighborhood of $1000. They fabricated the front sight from a 1934 silver dime I'd supplied, and Sam1947 supplied the ejector knob and the cylinder hold-open plunger & spring. Take a look:
s&w 1896HE 2681 (after).jpg
I should add the stocks haven't been de-patined, it's just the lighting. They sport S&W medallions but I don't see their equivalent in SCSW.