A Project J frame.........and now the After look.

[M29since14]

I think about all I would do for that old desperado is rough up that T-grip and shoot it with a matte black paint, or maybe you could find someone to professionally powder coat it for you? Otherwise, it looks good. I have a similar old finish-challenged Chief I keep lying around where no one notices it. There are more modern "little guns" out there, but none more comforting, as far as I am concerned.

 

[shep854]

Nice! The only reservation I have is that spurless hammer; it certainly won't snag, but it looks as if a cylinder check (where you draw the hammer back slightly to check cylinder rotation) and lowering the hammer if it gets cocked would be a challenge.

Once, I had the hammer bobbed on a revolver, but I had the 'smith leave a stub of the spur so that I could do the cylinder check, AND have something for a safety strap to hold onto.

 

[KLYDE]

The aged look on that piece looks just beautiful. If you are intent on getting refinished you might think about the bead blasted blue from S&W.

That 36 and your sweet 649 will be a carry lineup that will be tough to beat.

 

[WC145]

Nice piece. I like the work you had done, very well thought out. I'm all about customizing guns to meet your needs (wants?) and this is a great example. Looking forward to seeing the next set of pics.

 

[Stophel]

I like the bead sight. I may do something like this on mine. I just went out shooting with it, and even with the sight painted red, I could barely see it.

 

[hotrod150]

.... but it looks as if a cylinder check (where you draw the hammer back slightly to check cylinder rotation) and lowering the hammer if it gets cocked would be a challenge. ........

Have you ever had a cylinder turn the wrong way? or fail to turn? I guess I dn't get it-- cylinder rotation doesn't seem to me to be something you need to check too often, and never with the gun loaded IMHO.

 

[tdrizzle]

I have a T grip on my M36, and wouldn't agree with the suggestions to go to boot grips. The T grip works just as well, and I think it looks classier. Guess that isn't much of a reason to keep something, but aesthetics are always important.

I have a Colt Agent with a Hip Grip I bought used, have had to explain it to several people, and even bought a NIB model for another Smith model at a remainder sale for .25. Yes, a quarter for some cool old school grips to hang a piece inside your pants without a holster.

Probably why I like the T grip so much as well. Old school cool.

 

[hotrod150]

FWIW Desantis makes a polymer grip that's a cross between a boot grip and a hip grip-- the "clip grip". About $30.

 

[hotrod150]

If you do decide to have it refinished, no matter which finish you choose, be sure & do a good job of it. For example, I recently bought a 1960-ish flat-latch Chief which had been gunkoted (or similar). That's fine, I kinda like that type of finish.....except whoever did it apparently didn't do any prep. Looks like they just sprayed the new finish on right over the old factory blue, and as a result the finish has a bunch of chips in it. If they'd beadblasted it first, I'm sure it woulda turned out a lot better. In fact, some gunshop has a finish with a fancy name where they parkerize the gun, then apply gunkote or duracoat over that. I guess the parkerizing sticks to the gun, and the spray-on finish sticks to the parkerizing. Kinda like primer paint & finish paint.
I've beadblasted several cylinders and then oxpho-blued them which results in a matt blue. Turns out pretty good if you like that sort of finish.

 

[lawandorder]

New finish.

Well I pretty much agreed with everyone who said the worn blue looked good but with the melt job there was only some cold blue on it in a lot of places so it had to have some kinda of finish.
Never tried one of these but the Gunsmith put a spray on finish of some sort, looks pretty good, now to see how it holds up.

The young man who did this is a very talented Smith and I think he is gaining a new appreciation for defensive wheel guns.Here is a link to his web site if anyone wants to contact him. I highly recommend him and his work.

Rivervalley gun works - Home

 

[snubbyfan]

Looks nice, I'd be interested to know what the finish is and how it holds up. Duracoat maybe?

 

[lawandorder]

Yes that is what he called it, Duracoat. Is it tough?

 

[snubbyfan]

I never used it but I did hear it's dependant on the prep. Either way we're gonna find out.

 

[hotrod150]

Looks good! Now as to the "dura" part of the duracoat finish..... you could always give it a road test: put it in the glove box of your rig with a buncha hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers,etc), drive about 10 miles of bad road at high speed, and then see how it looks.

 

[2hawk]

I LIKE It!

 

[OLDSTER]

Snubbies

Nice lookin old snubbie, and with a story no less. I too love snubbies, and have several. But my current favorite is a 642 with a complete action job.

 

[HotRoderX]

That thing turned out wicked I was just looking at the before picks before scrolling down. I thought man that thing would look good in a flat gray style finish. I think it turned out wonderfully looks like your friend is extremely talented.

 

[10-shooter]

That is one nice looking rig....

 

[Alnamvet68]

Well I pretty much agreed with everyone who said the worn blue looked good but with the melt job there was only some cold blue on it in a lot of places so it had to have some kinda of finish.
Never tried one of these but the Gunsmith put a spray on finish of some sort, looks pretty good, now to see how it holds up.

The young man who did this is a very talented Smith and I think he is gaining a new appreciation for defensive wheel guns.Here is a link to his web site if anyone wants to contact him. I highly recommend him and his work.

Rivervalley gun works - Home

Very nice work....now you need a pair of the new Heritage Classic grips from S&W, along with a mat satin black Tyler-T to complete the job.

 

[Imaposer]

IDK, I sorta like the old school look of the bronze t-grip. But I also liked the look of the worn original finish. Of course I also understand the need to go one better than the cold blue used after the dehorning. Nice looking gun!