A “New” Revolver Project

[Mercury]

Green Frog:
I didn't have to replace the hands for either .32 conversion.
The SWL cylinder dropped right in and it carried up on all chambers, it had no end play and the B/C gap was also good.

The .32 magnum cylinder was brand new with raw ratchets, so I had to file them. That was my first time filing ratchets and not knowing how much to take off, I modified a side plate so that I could see the hand as it contacted each ratchet.

NB: I tried orienting the photos the correct way but couldn't get them right.

 

[Green Frog]

Thanks for the response, Mercury. I won't need to make that kind of change on this project, but the information certainly adds to the discussion. I feel like the small frame guns have been neglected as candidates for customization, so information about such processes is pretty thin.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[Hondo44]

I've never needed to change hands when changing to a cyl with only one or two more or less chambers on a J, K, or L frame.

Cyl/hand timing is less critical than on might intuitively think.

 

[mrchuck]

Sounds like you have the talent,knowledge,and tools,eqpt,to do this.
I look forward with anticipation to reading about this !!!!!

 

[Green Frog]

BRAVO MY INTREPID AMPHIBIAN S&W COLLEAGUE!!

I like your plan! I think your initial Baughman front sight blade on factory style ramp can't be beat...

And as you'll notice, due to the thick barrel above, the front sight won't need to be as high as my 30-1 with tapered barrel:

Since I know the retention of the leaf mainspring is a must for the pre war trigger pull, you might consider a post war target hammer: as I've just finished designing a fairly simple modification to the target hammer allowing it to work with a pre war/leaf spring. And a small frame post war target trigger as well.

Does the 303 barrel have the right twist? And are you planning for a barrel rib?

Hello Brother Hondo, chief among the enablers.

I'd been planning on sending you an e-mail about this, but I'll put some out here in public to keep the thread going.

First, I'm going to avoid a barrel rib, first to keep the machine time down and second to match the frame profile better. I'd like to see how the tops of these two specimens you provide above look... I assume the later, heavy barrel gun does have an integral rib(?)

Second, I've just found a likely candidate for a barrel "donor." It is a Ross barrel in 303 Brit and is said to have a 10 twist barrel. I'm thinking this may be a little faster than I "need" but it will enable the use of longer, heavier bullets like the Ideal 3118 (originally designed for 32-20) without having to drive them so fast. I consider that a plus.

Finally (for now) that Baughman ramp and blade in front will, as you mention, eliminate the need for a "shark fin" type front sight blade, which will fit much better into my Kit Gun/woods loafing concept for the gun.

Now I've got to call my tool and die maker friend to see what he thinks of my project plans so far and when (if?) he can work me in. In the inimitable words of the great Sherlock Holmes, "The game is afoot!"

Froggie

PS At this point, I'm planning on keeping the perfectly acceptable hammer and trigger that came on the gun as it came from Springfield, but I'm sure all of us would like to see the retro mod ideas for fitting coil spring parts to a leaf spring gun. I know I've often wondered whether it would be feasible or even possible to do this.

 

[Hondo44]

Hello Brother Hondo, chief among the enablers.

First, I'm going to avoid a barrel rib, first to keep the machine time down and second to match the frame profile better. I'd like to see how the tops of these two specimens you provide above look... I assume the later, heavy barrel gun does have an integral rib(?)

Finally (for now) that Baughman ramp and blade in front will, as you mention, eliminate the need for a "shark fin" type front sight blade, which will fit much better into my Kit Gun/woods loafing concept for the gun.

Froggie

PS At this point, I'm planning on keeping the perfectly acceptable hammer and trigger that came on the gun as it came from Springfield, but I'm sure all of us would like to see the retro mod ideas for fitting coil spring parts to a leaf spring gun. I know I've often wondered whether it would be feasible or even possible to do this.

1. Yes the Mod 36 target shown above has a low barrel rib. With further thought I agree a no rib barrel for your pre war project gun would be more appropriate.

2. My post war target hammer mod only modifies the hammer to work with and retain your gun's leaf spring. It does not convert the leaf spring to a coil spring.

 

[Green Frog]

My post war target hammer mod only modifies the hammer to work with and retain your gun's leaf spring. It does not convert the leaf spring to a coil spring.

That's what I understood... I just didn't type it well. Having that "arrow in my quiver" would be handy!

Froggie