So, I've picked up this project HE2, it has a previously cut cylinder and a shortened barrel, but the muzzle needs a better crown on it.
I went to go take it to the local gunsmith I've previously used, and he's closed up shop. Have stopped into two different larger gunshops in the area trying to seek a new gunsmith recommendation: one said he only knew of a muzzleloader gunsmith, and the other said he 'has a guy, but he's not taking on any more clients', that he has a full-time job and only does gunsmithing on the side. I've tried googling local ones, keep finding more closed shops, or folks that assemble ARs or 'are planning to get a gunsmithing certification', but have yet to find one that I think would 'know' old Smiths.... I am still looking, hoping to find someone. But unless I do, I might have to end up w/ a drawer of tools to properly clean up the muzzle.
When a barrel is cut, the front of the muzzle is flat, perpendicular to the side and bore of the barrel, whereas the original S&W muzzle is rounded in cross-section. Brownells and Midway (albeit currently all on backorder, as is everything) show 90-degree muzzle facing cutters which would ensure the muzzle is trimmed up and even, and they have 45 degree muzzle chamfering tools that would cleaning open up the transition out of the bore to the muzzle. What I've yet to locate is a tool that would accurately return the profile of the muzzle's front face to the rounded nature, instead of leaving it squared off. There must be a name for such a tool of which I'm unaware, or, a guide jig to allow a smith to profile it with a file, or, something. (If I can find the right tool! As of yet, looking for related tools, nothing has even been available.)
Any ideas or suggestions on how to have a proper S&W crown put back onto this revolver's muzzle would be appreciated.
I went to go take it to the local gunsmith I've previously used, and he's closed up shop. Have stopped into two different larger gunshops in the area trying to seek a new gunsmith recommendation: one said he only knew of a muzzleloader gunsmith, and the other said he 'has a guy, but he's not taking on any more clients', that he has a full-time job and only does gunsmithing on the side. I've tried googling local ones, keep finding more closed shops, or folks that assemble ARs or 'are planning to get a gunsmithing certification', but have yet to find one that I think would 'know' old Smiths.... I am still looking, hoping to find someone. But unless I do, I might have to end up w/ a drawer of tools to properly clean up the muzzle.
When a barrel is cut, the front of the muzzle is flat, perpendicular to the side and bore of the barrel, whereas the original S&W muzzle is rounded in cross-section. Brownells and Midway (albeit currently all on backorder, as is everything) show 90-degree muzzle facing cutters which would ensure the muzzle is trimmed up and even, and they have 45 degree muzzle chamfering tools that would cleaning open up the transition out of the bore to the muzzle. What I've yet to locate is a tool that would accurately return the profile of the muzzle's front face to the rounded nature, instead of leaving it squared off. There must be a name for such a tool of which I'm unaware, or, a guide jig to allow a smith to profile it with a file, or, something. (If I can find the right tool! As of yet, looking for related tools, nothing has even been available.)
Any ideas or suggestions on how to have a proper S&W crown put back onto this revolver's muzzle would be appreciated.
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