A Model 25-7 cut to 3 1/2 Finished , 10-11-12.

[Allen-frame]

Friends ,, I have seen the 'Fitz' guns , and the Behlerts , all the heavily modified N frames from before the time Smith & Wesson created the
Model 24 and 624 in the 3 in. barrel with round butt.

I have admired them for what they are , short barreled carry guns for use up close.
I have had difficulty getting my 1955 Target and model 25-2 in
45 A.C.P. to shoot well with their standard barrels , much less with an abbreviated barrel on a 'Fitz' special.

When I found my latest 'orphan' A finish challenged model 25-7
I thought I might create my own A-Frame special.

1. Do not modify the frame or internals , just install a smallish pair
of polymer buffalo horn grips to make the grip frame as abbreviated as
possible without cutting.

2. Then just take the pitted end of the barrel and cut it off just behind
the front sight.
Then finish off the muzzle and cut the original front sight from the
portion of the barrel already removed.

3. Re mount the front sight base to the top ribbed end of the shorter barrel.

The results are here in the pictures.

3 hours , a bench vise, a hack saw , and bench grinder.

The front sight still needs to be welded to the barrel. And the muzzle
properly crowned and blued.

But so far I think it looks o.K.
Just hope it shoots. ): ..

Update ; 10/9/12 . The barrel has beenn crowned, the lettering polished off the
barrel sides , and the front sight silver soldered. ...........


So far the cost is just the $400. the gun cost me. And 3 hours 'spare' time.

Here it is with the P.C. Magnas and the nice polish job and bluing
on the barrel.

I am hoping to polish and blue the rest of the gun to match the barrel.


Allen Frame

Finished < ? You decide .












Allen Frame

 

[jackpearl]

I like it!!
I have a 1917 frame,25-2 barrel, 625 cylinder, and a few misc. 28 parts that have all come together as a fine shooting 45. I plan on shooting it at our next Action Pistol shoot, and I'm counting the days...
Thanks for sharing

 

[Lenny_D]

Allen Frame,
It sure looks better than "alright" to me. Nothing more intimidating than a big old hole in a short barrel! Kind of sexy too. Nice job good luck finishing it up and please show us the pictures when you're done and let us know how it shoots

Len

 

[jack the toad]

show us the pictures when you're done and let us know how it shoots

+1
As are so many others, I'm a big-bore snubby fan.
I think you did that gun a favor.

 

[BubbaBlades]

The man does this stuff with a vise and a hacksaw. Imagine what he could (would) do if he had access to a complete machine shop.

The five Allen modified guns that I have are among my favorite shooters. It turns out that gun modifications that Allen thinks should be made are usually the same things that I feel need improvement.

Mark

 

[C.S.63]

Very nice!! Great work!! "SWEET"
Allen Frame are you going to pin the sight and silver solder?
Any thoughts on how to accomplish barrel end radius?

A brass round head wood screw and some lapping compound and the crown should be good to go.

Thought
If you can post particulars maybe in the gunsmith section and get it sticky-ed would be great how too's

 

[Warren Sear]

Allen Frame, what technique will you use to weld the front sight base to the barrel?

 

[mc5aw]

How long before a "Fitz-Allen Special" sign-up list starts for interested buyers?

 

[Allen-frame]

Allen Frame, what technique will you use to weld the front sight base to the barrel?

Silver solder??

Or , I am seriously considering sending it to Fords for the
crown work and front sight mounting AND a high polish blue.

Details to be determined.


Allen

 

[tek4260]

Why not D&T the sight? Shouldn't be much trouble. Also, try one of the Brownells 11deg crowning tools rather than sending it off. They are money well spent if you like cutting them like I do!

Here is my latest hack job in progress on a 44 SBH. You can also see the results of the crowning tool.

RugerForum.com • View topic - Future 3.75" SBH

And here is a Redhawk that is very similar to your M25 I did a while back

RugerForum.com • View topic - Redhawk and Boredom

Thomas

 

[C.S.63]

Allen Frame Thank you great info!
Tek4260 Nice info! and great pics in the links!
I have a line on a SBH and or A RH that may become a project? Lots of folks get tired of the 44 mag and makes a few affordable for projects.

Thanks again
Carl

 

[AKtinman]

That looks like a fun project, Allen.

Here is a M58 cut to 3" and redone to .45 Colt by Spokhandguns back in the 1970's. I sold it because the cylinder was just too short for some of the loads I wanted to shoot. It was fun, though.

 

[chipking]

Great job so far Allen, There is just something so right about a 3 1/2" N frame gun. I like my 4" 625 for slinging 45 ACPs but now you have me on the lookout for a "challenged" 25-whatever.

--- Chip King ---

 

[Allen-frame]

Front sight has been silver soldered on and lettering has been polished off the barrel.

ALLEN

 

[ladder13]

Nice work Allen

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

When you say "cut" do you mean hacksaw cut?

Slick looking sixgun.

 

[Nedroe]

Outstanding!!!!!!!

Great work Allen!! Your project's are super cool & that one is a 45LC!! That finish is Smith's BEAD BLAST BLUE is it not? Send it back & let 'em re- do it.

Ned

 

[Jerry M]

I use to have a S&W 1917 that was cut off just past the lug. Very nice big bore carry pistol.

 

[Allen-frame]

When you say "cut" do you mean hacksaw cut?

Slick looking sixgun.

Yes , cut off with a hacksaw. And the front sight too.

Pictures added showing the final bluing.


Allen

 

[David Sinko]

Good job.

I see what appears to be a hole on the front sight base that was not there in the original pics. Did you drill it and screw it down in addition to the silver solder?

What did you do for the crown? I have a couple of rifle barrels that I'd like to shorten if I can do it without spending a lot of money.

Dave Sinko