This is a photo-essay about short-barrel .38 target revolvers. 1899's were offered in 4", 5", and 6 1/2" standard lengths, with a 6" barrel offered on special order. There is at least one known 8" barrel, made up special for Dr Reginald Sayre, one of the great target shooters of the early 1900's. There may be one other 8" 1899, and there is a third one that was originally made as a 6 or 6 1/2", but was subsequently changed to 8" a few years later by the factory.
For the past six to eight years, I've been developing 1899 target barrels that are in non-standard, and shorter lengths, and have finally completed the four lengths that were planned: 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", and 4 1/2" . The 2 1/2" has just recently been completed, and this thread shows the three shorter lengths.
These four special barrel lengths were made from original 1950's 38/44 S&W factory barrels. The ejector rod housing, and most of the rib, was removed. There was enough steel in the barrels so that the remaining piece of rib formed the forged front sight base. I devised a grinding technique to reshape the barrel, to the exact dimensions and contour of S&W 1899 barrels, which are all the same except for their length. They are all straight-taper barrels, with the same muzzle OD, and the same frame-face OD.
These first two pictures are the 2 1/2" 1899 .38 target revolver. The frame was chrome plated from head to foot when I received it. The chrome was stripped, the logo recut, the frame refinished, and the hammer and trigger were sent out to be re-case-colored. This case coloring is not period-correct, but its acceptable.
The next two photos are the 1899 2 1/2" with the 1899 3" revolver. Jim Fisher graciously consented to test-firing this gun, and found that the knife-blade front sight was too high. He mounted the King sight shown on the gun now. It's a wonderful shooter; I need to lower the original blade and mount it back on the gun, to make it period-correct. The picture following these two is the test target that Jim shot for the 3" revolver. Note that the group can be covered by a half-dollar.
The last pair of pictures are all three 1899 target revolvers: the 2 1/2", the 3", and the 3 1/2". Jim also test-fired this gun, and found the Paine-bead front sight blade was too high, causing the gun to shoot low. We made up a new higher rear sight blade that fixed the problem. The third picture of this set is the target that Jim shot for the 3 1/2" gun. Note that the group can be covered by a nickel.
Regards, Mike Priwer
For the past six to eight years, I've been developing 1899 target barrels that are in non-standard, and shorter lengths, and have finally completed the four lengths that were planned: 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", and 4 1/2" . The 2 1/2" has just recently been completed, and this thread shows the three shorter lengths.
These four special barrel lengths were made from original 1950's 38/44 S&W factory barrels. The ejector rod housing, and most of the rib, was removed. There was enough steel in the barrels so that the remaining piece of rib formed the forged front sight base. I devised a grinding technique to reshape the barrel, to the exact dimensions and contour of S&W 1899 barrels, which are all the same except for their length. They are all straight-taper barrels, with the same muzzle OD, and the same frame-face OD.
These first two pictures are the 2 1/2" 1899 .38 target revolver. The frame was chrome plated from head to foot when I received it. The chrome was stripped, the logo recut, the frame refinished, and the hammer and trigger were sent out to be re-case-colored. This case coloring is not period-correct, but its acceptable.
The next two photos are the 1899 2 1/2" with the 1899 3" revolver. Jim Fisher graciously consented to test-firing this gun, and found that the knife-blade front sight was too high. He mounted the King sight shown on the gun now. It's a wonderful shooter; I need to lower the original blade and mount it back on the gun, to make it period-correct. The picture following these two is the test target that Jim shot for the 3" revolver. Note that the group can be covered by a half-dollar.
The last pair of pictures are all three 1899 target revolvers: the 2 1/2", the 3", and the 3 1/2". Jim also test-fired this gun, and found the Paine-bead front sight blade was too high, causing the gun to shoot low. We made up a new higher rear sight blade that fixed the problem. The third picture of this set is the target that Jim shot for the 3 1/2" gun. Note that the group can be covered by a nickel.
Regards, Mike Priwer
Very nice! Will respond to your email. 
