Opinions wanted on this bubba'd 25-2

steelslaver said:
I would have bought it right away. I have some barrels, but might just fix that one. I have a lathe and tools, but you could do it yourself using files sandpaper and a ball bearing of about 1- 1 1/2" diameter. First square it up, then use the bearing to back course emery cloth then finer grits, then valve grinding compound, varying the pattern all the time. the outside edge could be done with small files then emery paper. Time and effort.

Most likely the 4" sight was silver soldered a bit out of square. Put the shank in something to hold it level sight blade up and put a small C clamp on it padded with brass or copper and tighten it up fairly tight. Heat it up with a small hand held torch and the solder will soften and blade should straighten up, if not a small crescent wrench set to just fit tthe front sight should allow you do get it dead on.

Not many N frames you can buy for $350. But, on Ebay there is a 4" model 29 barrel for $120, a 6" 25 barrel with a day left, an 8 3/8" 44 barrel, 4" model 41 mag barrel $94 buy it now, a 4" model 28 357 for $90 buy it now etc etc. lots of cylinders model 28 for $115 up, a recessed 44 mag for $200, a new style 44 mag for $175, a 29 cylinder and yoke for $110 buy it now. No 41 mag cylinders, but they show up. Point is with a $350 frame and another $300 I could have a 357, a 41 a 44 mag or a 45 acp. well, in my case there are 44 and 45 barrels as well as cylinders in my parts drawer. I also own 2 45 colt reamers I would probably make another 45 colt

A boat anchor. That is sacrilegious
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Hey, I realize this thread is 8 months old, but I just had to throw a "like" at Steelslaver. Could not have said it better myself.
Now, I'm gonna go back where I was and read the rest of this interesting thread. Can't wait to see if the OP bought it! :cool:
 
Yup, just finished reading the rest of the posts. Did not see that coming! Cool outcome to the story. Congratulations, strawhat! Glad it went to a good home AND to someone here, so we could see what happened.
I, for one, loves me some good gun mods. I won't brag but I've had a few done myself, so I guess maybe I appreciate them more than most. And I "get" the whole 'silk purse out of a sow's ear' thing. I love the challenge of getting a beat-up gun to good condition without spending more than it's worth. Not to mention, the way gun prices are heading toward outer space, picking up something that needs some work is not a bad way to get another shooter in the stable.
Anyway, great story and thank you very much for blogging it all here. Well done!
 
Boy, that is 'Special'

Capt. F. said:
Ok, I’ve posted pics of this one before, but here’s my take.
I wanted a custom gun that was one of a kind.
Mechanically, I can usually figure out which end of a hammer to hang onto, so I knew having custom work done would be entirely a custom gunsmith’s job.
I paid $750 for a 5 screw Pre-27 that had the barrel cut to 3 1/2” and had been re-blued so no collector value there. Overall in good shape so a great candidate.
I shipped it off to a custom smith who no longer works on S&W’s and paid $950 to end up with a 5 screw, 3 1/2” .44 Special - built to my specs.
Do I have more in it than I could ever get out of it? You bet.
Do I care? Not one wit.
It pleases me to own it and that’s all that matters.
Buy the gun, ship it to a competent gunsmith and don’t worry about the money.
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That is a nice one.........

I have a coupla chopped "Moon-Clip" guns and I really enjoy them with .255swc on 6.5gr Herco crimped in the groove and Foll Moons..........
 

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ddixie884 said:
That is a nice one.........

I have a coupla chopped "Moon-Clip" guns and I really enjoy them with .255swc on 6.5gr Herco crimped in the groove and Foll Moons..........
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Somehow, I missed this post. Nice revolvers. The one without a spur, is that also a “th&Wesson”? Guessing Model 25-2?

The spurred revolver, a Model 1950? 5” barrel?

Kevin
 
Although I would personally pass I’m glad you posted it to serve as a warning to others. Some things are better left to professional gunsmiths.
 
Breaker said:
Although I would personally pass I’m glad you posted it to serve as a warning to others. Some things are better left to professional gunsmiths.
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The OP passed on the purchase but was kind enough to also let me know where it could be found. I got it and took it to Andy Horvath. Had my shop not been packed away for the move, I would have done the work at home. The hardest thing would be cutting the grooves in the back strap.

Kevin
 
No it says Smith

StrawHat said:
Somehow, I missed this post. Nice revolvers. The one without a spur, is that also a “th&Wesson”? Guessing Model 25-2?

The spurred revolver, a Model 1950? 5” barrel?

Kevin
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But just barely. None of the writing is gone it is just a tad far to the front...........
 
Looks like a giant piece of Leavarite to me.
More work than it is worth or ever will be worth unless you have a lot of spare time and do not value your time.
 
Chukar60 said:
Looks like a giant piece of Leavarite to me.
More work than it is worth or ever will be worth unless you have a lot of spare time and do not value your time.
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It turned out very nice. Compact, as much as an N frame can be yet accurate out to as far as I choose to shoot.

Kevin
 

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This was a good story! I’ve done stuff like this a time or two. I have to say I like Capt. F.’s approach. Hamilton Bowen rescued a sorry old Model 29 for me some time ago now. He did a great job on a gun that was in very sad shape. Now it’s almost too nice to use! Hamilton told me he had made the proverbial “$1200 $600-gun,” which seemed a pretty apt description all the way around. :D You either want to fix up the gun (properly) or you don’t. I guess I felt sorry for it. :o

It seems that hobbies are almost never consistent money-makers for most hobbyists. True in my case, anyway. I accepted that long ago, but there were always limits to what I could spend on a project. I’ve gotten older now and am not inclined to “rescues” as I was twenty-years ago.

I’m happy to know this old 25-2 found a welcoming home and has had a new life breathed into it. :)
 
I had this revolver out recently and it is an incredibly easy revolver to shoot. I am happy it turned out so nicely.

strawhat-albums-strawhat-ii-picture24978-model-25-2-mcgivern-bead.jpeg


Kevin
 
it is a neat project for someone who likes projects,
but as a flip? I dont see much profit if any
glad to see it worked out
 
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4speed said:
it is a neat project for someone who likes projects,
but as a flip? I dont see much profit if any
glad to see it worked out
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Not everybody flips everything. Some like to hold on to what they have. I for one generally take a while to decide what to buy and then keep it for a long, long time. The profit for some of us is taking an abused piece and making it functional and a good shooter. To me there is more satisfaction in that than making a couple of bucks.
 
AJ said:
Not everybody flips everything. Some like to hold on to what they have. I for one generally take a while to decide what to buy and then keep it for a long, long time. The profit for some of us is taking an abused piece and making it functional and a good shooter. To me there is more satisfaction in that than making a couple of bucks.
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Similar to my way of thinking. I buy something, if I need to modify it, I do. I use it and if someone makes an offer, I consider it. If I make money, great!!

If the offer is less than I put into it, I may consider it the rent I pay for having something I enjoy. Or, I may refuse the offer!

Kevin
 
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jc2721 said:
This showed up at my LGS last week. I looked it over pretty hard for a couple of days, then it disappeared for a couple of days. Today it showed up again:




It's a 25-2, cut down to about 3.25 inches. Bobbed hammer, round butted (left in the white). K frame (I think) combats sanded down at the rear. Trigger narrowed and polished smooth. DA "stages" really early, then there's what seems to be a quarter-inch of hard pull before the hammer drops.

Muzzle looks to have been roughly crowned with a 5/8" drill bit, the cut itself, while flat, is not square. Sharp edges all along the outside of the barrel and rib.

It does come with a cut-down 4" 25-2 barrel that's properly crowned but the front sight leans slightly to the left


I don't have any tools for removing/installing barrels, and outside of changing springs I don't have much experience in slicking up Smith actions.

The estate wants $350 for it--what do you think? Would you buy it? What would you do with it? Is it a money pit (there are no working professional pistol smiths here in Honolulu)?
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Honestly, from the other Revolvers I've seen you build/upgrade... This "Bubba'd" example is totally fixable with some of your TLC... Especially if you have access or someone you trust to a Mill to fix that front sight... A new set of Combats, clean up or replace the hammer, most certainly install a new trigger and it's fixed!
 
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