586 lug cut down

[Doug Add]

Some of us were discussing this after I posted a picture on the snubbies thread. To prevent too much thread drift I decided to start a new discussion.

Here is a picture of my 586 after the previous owner cut down the lug and did some other mods to smooth the edges. This is one of the pictures he posted in the FS thread from which I bought it. He kindly reposted them a week or so ago when I asked if he still had photos, because I foolishly forgot to take before shots prior to sending it back to S&W for a reblue.

ETA: Sorry, my original photos have been deleted from my photobucket account. Scoll down to posts 37, 38 for photos.

 

[.357magger]

You answered my PM questions to a T with this post.

Thanks Doug.

As for me, I like it. Sure that others will decry a non traditional look but...seems like a nice looking job to me.

 

[sw44spl]

that really looks good.

 

[wproct]

Wow! Beautiful deep, deep blue.

 

[m1gunner]

Is that the "factory" finish or the "high polish" finish that S&W does?

 

[scooter123]

You answered my PM questions to a T with this post.

Thanks Doug.

As for me, I like it. Sure that others will decry a non traditional look but...seems like a nice looking job to me.

Actually, IMO full lug barrels are NON traditional, this makes it look very much like the model 19, which is about as traditional as you can get in the heavy barrel profile. Needless to say, I also like it.

 

[Doug Add]

Is that the "factory" finish or the "high polish" finish that S&W does?

I honestly do not know. I asked for a reblue, and we did not discuss finish options. I just went back and looked at the work order paperwork. All it says is refinish complete gun. The product code is 9999RE. I plan to write a letter thanking the craftsmen for their fine work. I will ask which finish it received when I write.

 

[m1gunner]

I honestly do not know. I asked for a reblue, and we did not discuss finish options. I just went back and looked at the work order paperwork. All it says is refinish complete gun. The product code is 9999RE. I plan to write a letter thanking the craftsmen for their fine work. I will ask which finish it received when I write.

That is absolutely gorgeous, no matter what they call it.

 

[Doug Add]

Thank you. I hope to get some decent pictures taken of it soon, instead of these cheapo shots with my BlackBerry. I have a buddy with a nice setup who takes photos for me for insurance purpose, and anytime I need to sell a gun. All he asks is I treat him to dinner at his favorite restaurant.

I have not yet shot this since its return. I want to get some good photos before I shoot it. I'm also thinking strongly about replacing the tactical grips. Kim Ahrends does wonderful work, and I really like the look of his retro combats.

 

[Rimbaud]

I am seriously impressed with the refinish. What was the cost on that portion of the work?

 

[haris1]

model 586 cut down

it looks like they polished the front of the lug as compared to the first picture. Did they?
And yes, the blue looks so deep and rich like ones from the 50's and 60's. I too ,would like to know the cost
Great looking gun now.

 

[ljmvaw124]

I am really liking that ! I have a 6" 586 that is decidedly muzzle heavy, looking at those pictures definitely gives me the itch to work on mine .......

 

[peyton]

OK I will ask the question, how much of the underlug was taken off, it appears to be over and inch, and what would you use to do it with??

 

[Doug Add]

$200 for the refinishing work.

 

[Doug Add]

OK I will ask the question, how much of the underlug was taken off, it appears to be over and inch, and what would you use to do it with??

From the muzzle to the beginning of the cut down (top of the lug, just underneath the barrel) measures 1.25". From the muzzle to the farthest part of the cut down (bottom of the lug) measures 1.625".

I did not do the cut down work, so I'm not sure what he used to do it. But it was very smooth and rounded quite nicely. The previous owner did a good job, S&W just fine tuned it before rebluing.

 

[Doug Add]

it looks like they polished the front of the lug as compared to the first picture. Did they?

Yes, they did some touch-up work to the front of the lug.

 

[Doug Add]

ljmvaw124, seems like I remember reading that S&W has a 5" barrel that does not have the full underlug; might be an option for you.

After I authorized the work to be done on this one, I had a fleeting thought, "Why didn't I just ask them if they had a 3" barrel for it?"

But I am very happy with the result.

 

[Arizona Commander]

All right, that does it, I have been debating sending my J&G Model 15-3 (2nd from top) back for months, after seeing what they did for you....away she goes!!
If it comes back half as nice as yours did I will be thrilled.

 

[Robinett_11B]

So, S&W wont do that kind of rebluing on pre-1957 guns

 

[peyton]

Thanks for the info, the 16-4 of mine is begging for this kind of work, however I CRINGE thinking about it. Dang S&W should of made a half lug 32 barrel. HMMM would a 32-20 barrel fit onto a 16-4??

 

[Engine49guy]

Im in the like it crowd...NICE!

BTW, I just put the micrometer on the N and K frames and they measure the same thickness,
Cant say if the barrels have the same thread or if they have the same amount of forcing cone .
Anything is possible with the right tools but there are several options for a person wanting that look.

Perhaps the guy that did the original work can shed some light on how he accomplished removing all that extra barrel?

Im guessing if he didnt remove the barrel first it involved a cutting tool and lots of grinding and sanding.

My dream gun is a K22 with a model 19 barrel.
perhaps It can be accomplished with a 17-6 full underlug barrel as yours was.

 

[C/O]

That turned out ever nice. Good save.

 

[scooter123]

There is just one problem with the re-finish jobs from S&W that I've seen posted. That is that you take a gun you wouldn't think twice about shooting to an absolute GEM. I don't envy the debate you'll have with yourself about whether to actually shoot this one, it's so darned pretty I'll bet that just a smudge from a stray finger has you reaching for the wax.

 

[TiroFijo]

Very good looking!

But it seems the front of the barrel is not perfectly square? The 586 has a slightly slanted/rounded front that is difficult to take away completely.

 

[Condition Yellow]

VERY nice. Per S&W's gunsmithing services page, that is the standard polish and blue.

 

[Joe in SC]

I like this revolver very much, probably one S&W should have made.

 

[Engine49guy]

Someone recently posted asking if anyone had a 586 with a Python barrel or cut their S&W barrel to look like a Python but got no repsonse.
There actually was a guy that did that kind of work back in the day so they exist.
Imagine that.

 

[NFrameFred]

I LIKE IT !

 

[k22fan]

1 [...] BTW, I just put the micrometer on the N and K frames and they measure the same thickness,
Cant say if the barrels have the same thread or if they have the same amount of forcing cone .

2 [...] Perhaps the guy that did the original work can shed some light on how he accomplished removing all that extra barrel?

3 Im guessing if he didnt remove the barrel first it involved a cutting tool and lots of grinding and sanding.

4 My dream gun is a K22 with a model 19 barrel.
perhaps It can be accomplished with a 17-6 full underlug barrel as yours was.

1 N frames have a larger dia. barrel thread than L and K frames.
2 I'd also like to know the most practical way to de-lug a FL barrel.
3 The original post looks like hand file work which can be done well with a radius gauge.
4 A S&W ejector rod shroud is not a "half lug" and extends down lower than a FL. Additionally, an ejector rod shroud has its own classy cross sectional shape. Someone answered your recent thread on this topic suggesting that you use a model 53 barrel. That's probably your best option if you can find one.

 

[Bwilli88]

I was the one who did the cut down of the 586, I did it with a small bench grinder. It took a few hours to grind it off. Next time I would have a metal shop band saw it and then grind to fit. It looks like S&W redid the front of the underlug to match a typical S&W look.

It looks like a great job, I wish S&W made them from the factory like this. I really would prefer a 3.25" like this with a round grip.