Swissman
Member
Hi all, let me tell you a story which started more than three years ago.
Maybe some of you remember my bad luck with the Model 53 .22 Jet. One of the chambers was bulged. The reason was probably stucked powder
in the powdermeasure. I didn't felt any strong recoil or heared a louder bang, but the cylinder was blocked and the chamber touched the topstrap.
After a lot and heavy blows with a woodhammer was it possible to swing the destroyed cylinder out. And then what????
No chance for a repair-part here in Switzerland. I put the disassembled gun in a box and tried to find a substitute. I found another Model 53
after two or three month......and it costs me a lot. But hey, I got all the reloading-gear, a lot of cases and the .22 Jet-bug.
The destroyed Jet was resting in the box for many month. The contact between the bulged chamber and the topstrap let me be concerned about
the condition of the whole frame. But after a close inspection, I didn't found other damages or bending. But can you imagine how difficult it is to
find another cylinder of a gun, which was not Swiss-made, chambered in a caliber which was never-ever popular in Switzerland and
was for more than 30 years no longer in production???????
I saw no chance for a new cylinder. But my luck let me find another Model 53 in very good condition here in Switzerland. The damaged one
was not forgotten, but I started to accept the fact that it's over.
But then I heard some rumors out there, that Mr. Hamilton Bowen from Bowen Classic Arms,
+ B O W E N + Bowen Classic Arms - Custom Revolvers, Pistols and Guns Repair and Pistolsmithing,
offers a serie of slightly longer K-frame-cylinders with small pre-drilled holes.
I checked my information-sources and get contact to Mr. Bowen via a forum-member. After some discussion about the possibility to replace
the damaged cylinder, we found out that the laws made it necessary to make all chambering-work here in Switzerland. So I called the Swiss
forum-member Dani and asked him for help. First he was very carefull, but then, after a close look at the work and time-investement, he said OK.
Shooting-buddy and mech-wizzard Dani was involved into this project. He has so much questions about the transforming-process, and we recieved a
lot of anwers and recommendations, for the upcoming work from Mr. Bowen. We got big respect for this project and we know that this process is
not that easy for Dani. There was always the risk of loosing all. Now it is time to say "Thank You" to all the good ghosts, who made it possible that
the Model 53 barks again.
We decided to order a cylinder. To my surprise, a forum-member and good friend of mine, was able to send the blank Bowen-cylinder to me.
He sent it as a Christmas (2009) gift. WOW!!
After the cylinder arrives in Switzerland was it time to order the tools. I found the Pacific-Tool in White City USA.
Pacific Tool & Gauge Inc. - Chamber Reamers
Kathleen and Mr. Kiff helped me through the ordering-process and soon was the .22 Jet chamberreamer in Switzerland.
The reamer for the correct pilotdiameter of the chamberreamer and the .224 reamer for the cylinderthroats were ordered in Switzerland
for not much money.
Then Dani's work starts. Because this was a "afterwork and weekend-project" and the work was time-consuming, was Dani in his basement for many nights.
He doubelchecked every step and so he avoided mistakes. There was no second chance.
First he opened the holes of the blank cylinder to the measure of the reamerpilot and then he reamed very carefull the chambers with his
CNC-milling-machine. (cellphone-camera-pictures)
After this first work he adjusted the lengt of the cylinder-backside. He sent me this pictures....
...and later this video in May 2010 (Click at the picture to see the video. Loadingtime ca. 15 seconds)
The frontside of the cylinder was not adjusted to the correct gap. Because the breech of the barrel got some serious eroding-traces,
was it wiser to cut back the breech for adjusting the correct gap between barrel and cylinder.
He made two centerpins from brass to hold the barrel correctly in the lathe. Then he cutted the breech as much as it was necessary/possible.
The erosion was almost away and the gap is perfect.
After reasembling the gun, was it time to go to the range for the first testfiring. Here's a the video of the first shot with the white
cylinder. (Click at the picture to see the video. Loadingtime ca. 20 sec.)
The exctraction of the fired cases was real hard, because of the somewhat rough chamberwalls. Next step was carefull polishing.
Then was the next testfiring scheduled with the white cylinder. The hands were supported on the desk...no supported gun.
This were Remington factory-ammo.
The extraction of the cases was much better.
The result was good enough. The gun was disassembled again and Dani brought the parts to a fine company, which reblued the gun.
After some days we got the Model 53-parts back. Dani reassembled the gun and we met at the range with a bunch of my different loads!!!
Here is the gun (the lower one) with its substitute/twin.
Here some pics and comments about the next testfiring....
50 grainer aren't for the .22 Jet. Both pictures shows tumbling 50-grain-bullets
But then we shot the 45 grainer and the results were good. So I decided to build up the tripod and the Camera. This
video is uncutted and shows my testfiring with the repaired Model 53. The sound sets in after 15 seconds.
(Click at the picture to see this 2 minutes long video. Loadingtime is ca. 35 seconds. So please be patient).
This gun isn't an original S&W Model 53 anymore. But it is a great piece of craftmanship and it means a lot to me. This gun is a real loud sign of
Friendship, Patience, and Skilled Workmanship.
Many thanks to all the friends who are a part of this story. I am proud, that I can tell it here.
Regards
Swissman
Maybe some of you remember my bad luck with the Model 53 .22 Jet. One of the chambers was bulged. The reason was probably stucked powder
in the powdermeasure. I didn't felt any strong recoil or heared a louder bang, but the cylinder was blocked and the chamber touched the topstrap.
After a lot and heavy blows with a woodhammer was it possible to swing the destroyed cylinder out. And then what????
No chance for a repair-part here in Switzerland. I put the disassembled gun in a box and tried to find a substitute. I found another Model 53
after two or three month......and it costs me a lot. But hey, I got all the reloading-gear, a lot of cases and the .22 Jet-bug.
The destroyed Jet was resting in the box for many month. The contact between the bulged chamber and the topstrap let me be concerned about
the condition of the whole frame. But after a close inspection, I didn't found other damages or bending. But can you imagine how difficult it is to
find another cylinder of a gun, which was not Swiss-made, chambered in a caliber which was never-ever popular in Switzerland and
was for more than 30 years no longer in production???????
I saw no chance for a new cylinder. But my luck let me find another Model 53 in very good condition here in Switzerland. The damaged one
was not forgotten, but I started to accept the fact that it's over.
But then I heard some rumors out there, that Mr. Hamilton Bowen from Bowen Classic Arms,
+ B O W E N + Bowen Classic Arms - Custom Revolvers, Pistols and Guns Repair and Pistolsmithing,
offers a serie of slightly longer K-frame-cylinders with small pre-drilled holes.
I checked my information-sources and get contact to Mr. Bowen via a forum-member. After some discussion about the possibility to replace
the damaged cylinder, we found out that the laws made it necessary to make all chambering-work here in Switzerland. So I called the Swiss
forum-member Dani and asked him for help. First he was very carefull, but then, after a close look at the work and time-investement, he said OK.
Shooting-buddy and mech-wizzard Dani was involved into this project. He has so much questions about the transforming-process, and we recieved a
lot of anwers and recommendations, for the upcoming work from Mr. Bowen. We got big respect for this project and we know that this process is
not that easy for Dani. There was always the risk of loosing all. Now it is time to say "Thank You" to all the good ghosts, who made it possible that
the Model 53 barks again.
We decided to order a cylinder. To my surprise, a forum-member and good friend of mine, was able to send the blank Bowen-cylinder to me.
He sent it as a Christmas (2009) gift. WOW!!
After the cylinder arrives in Switzerland was it time to order the tools. I found the Pacific-Tool in White City USA.
Pacific Tool & Gauge Inc. - Chamber Reamers
Kathleen and Mr. Kiff helped me through the ordering-process and soon was the .22 Jet chamberreamer in Switzerland.
The reamer for the correct pilotdiameter of the chamberreamer and the .224 reamer for the cylinderthroats were ordered in Switzerland
for not much money.
Then Dani's work starts. Because this was a "afterwork and weekend-project" and the work was time-consuming, was Dani in his basement for many nights.
He doubelchecked every step and so he avoided mistakes. There was no second chance.
First he opened the holes of the blank cylinder to the measure of the reamerpilot and then he reamed very carefull the chambers with his
CNC-milling-machine. (cellphone-camera-pictures)
After this first work he adjusted the lengt of the cylinder-backside. He sent me this pictures....
...and later this video in May 2010 (Click at the picture to see the video. Loadingtime ca. 15 seconds)
The frontside of the cylinder was not adjusted to the correct gap. Because the breech of the barrel got some serious eroding-traces,
was it wiser to cut back the breech for adjusting the correct gap between barrel and cylinder.
He made two centerpins from brass to hold the barrel correctly in the lathe. Then he cutted the breech as much as it was necessary/possible.
The erosion was almost away and the gap is perfect.
After reasembling the gun, was it time to go to the range for the first testfiring. Here's a the video of the first shot with the white
cylinder. (Click at the picture to see the video. Loadingtime ca. 20 sec.)
The exctraction of the fired cases was real hard, because of the somewhat rough chamberwalls. Next step was carefull polishing.
Then was the next testfiring scheduled with the white cylinder. The hands were supported on the desk...no supported gun.
This were Remington factory-ammo.
The extraction of the cases was much better.
The result was good enough. The gun was disassembled again and Dani brought the parts to a fine company, which reblued the gun.
After some days we got the Model 53-parts back. Dani reassembled the gun and we met at the range with a bunch of my different loads!!!
Here is the gun (the lower one) with its substitute/twin.
Here some pics and comments about the next testfiring....
50 grainer aren't for the .22 Jet. Both pictures shows tumbling 50-grain-bullets
But then we shot the 45 grainer and the results were good. So I decided to build up the tripod and the Camera. This
video is uncutted and shows my testfiring with the repaired Model 53. The sound sets in after 15 seconds.
(Click at the picture to see this 2 minutes long video. Loadingtime is ca. 35 seconds. So please be patient).
This gun isn't an original S&W Model 53 anymore. But it is a great piece of craftmanship and it means a lot to me. This gun is a real loud sign of
Friendship, Patience, and Skilled Workmanship.
Many thanks to all the friends who are a part of this story. I am proud, that I can tell it here.
Regards
Swissman
Last edited:
Until recently, repair parts like the ones from Mr. Bowen were not available, and finding a replacement Jet cylinder even here in the U.S. was no sure thing.
