Can we discuss Customizing Smith revolvers... the long and short of it...

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ABPOS

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I think some of the coolest Smith revolvers are ones that somebody has put personal touches on. I like factory guns too. There's no denying how great they are. But a gun that is tailored to someones desires, when done properly, can be a really really neat thing. Especially when you kind of agree with what they've done. I mean some things I wouldn't do for myself, but you can just repsect the jobs they've had done. Like engraving. I sort of like it but not really. It grows on me the older I get but kind of fru fru for me. I'm more of a no frills kind of a guy. Except that I like nickel. LOL.

Anyways.. I've seen a few custom guns on this site that really make me go wow and if you would like to post your custom jobs up here, I would love to see them.

I sometimes think about if I want to butcher up my Step Dad's Model 19 that I received as a gift. It seems like it would be a shame to do it. On the other hand, I think it could be better for my needs.

I hate the way the partridge sight looks and I wish the barrel was shorter. It's so front heavy. I also like magna type grips with Tylers but don't like that set up with such a front heavy, long barreled gun.

Personally I'd like to cut this barrel just in front of the lug and put a ramped front sight. And then either refinish it in Nickel and put some White type grips on it. Either stag or bone or something cool. With a Tyler T grip. OR, leave it blued with the same.

But part of me thinks it would be awful to cut it up. They don't make them like that any more. Plus I'd want to pony up the dough for a proper job and there is always the chance it could go wrong. Plus it shoots really really well as is and that could change.

Did any of you that did custom touches worry about what it was going to do to it?

I mean it's just so danged lanky. LOL. It is a joy to shoot though.

You can tell I have a lot of time on my hands. Talking about Smith revolvers is a wonderful pass time. And really, I hope to be out there shooting these things again very soon.

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I have modified many smiths. But that is because they were rebuilt from bare frames, or otherwise wrecked. I won’t mess with a beautiful clean gun or one that’s 60%ish more original finish. That 19 is beautiful. I’d find one with a cracked forcing cone or barely any finish left and have at it. That ones purdy. Everyone has a personal modification/destruction line. That’s where mine falls
 
It's Patridge not partridge. But call it whatever you want.

The only custom S&W revolver I own is a 1942 Navy Contract Victory Model that I bought cheap because the original 4" barrel was bulged. I got a commercial 5" barrel that was from 1939 on ebay and I swapped it. May be the only 5" Navy VM in 38 Special in existence.
 
well i would not modify that beautiful gun...but if u decide u want to shorten the barrel...find the correct barrel and change it...that way you change your mind...you can return it back to original...always better to be safe than sorry...God Bless,John
i would not nickel it or do crazy modifications as you will not get your money back and more than likely take all the value away from a very hard to find beautiful gun...if it were me...and i have done this in the past and i am doing this right now...find one just like u have...one that needs work...and keep yours as it is...and make one as your heart desires...there is something to be said for a nice long barreled gun...i personally love short barreled guns...i am right now in the process of taking a very nice like new Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag 6.5" barreled gun which some knucklehead screwed a goofy scope mount to the barrel with three screws and ruined the barrel...i decided when i found it...i wanted to make a Elmer Keith Homage...a 4 5/8" 44 mag...which was never produced...so if u decided u want a custom or modified gun...dont tear one apart just cause u have one...fine one that needs some love and make it yours and u will be more satisfied doing that than taking a beauty like yours and truly taking a beautiful piece of history away from us all...just my 2 cents...
 
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As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a traditionalist. Generally speaking, I like the looks of most S&W revolvers as they come. When I do customizing, I prefer to change the details just enough that gun meets my idea of the configuration that suits me better personally. Here are two examples:

This Model 625 is a 5" model of 1988, shipped in February, 1989. I don't like patridge sights for outdoor or defense use, so I changed out the front sight for a Baughman-style with a red ramp for visibility and easier drawing from a holster. I also don't go for the "tear drop" cylinder release. That style seems to direct the thumb slaunch-wise, so I changed it out for the older style that seems to give better purchase and straightforward direction. For a full-size N-frame that will be holster-carried, round butt stocks need to be converted via stocks to square butt configuration. Discreet carry guns can profitably use the round butt style. Here, I used Ahrends stocks to convert to square butt. I also treated the gun to a primo action job by Nelson Ford. Now it's the sweetest-handling and smoothest N-frame I own.

SW_MODEL_625-1988-feb_1989_zps5leeprph.jpg


I gave much the same treatment to this 625-6 .45 Colt Mountain Gun, vintage of 1996. Red-ramped front sight, old-style cylinder release, and round-to-square stocks. Also given a nice Nelson Ford action job. Now it's an ideal trail gun for me.

SW_625-6_MTN_GUN-1996_zps4bqx7isz.jpg


At first glance, both of these guns could easily pass for a factory-issued product, changed just enough to make a difference for me.

John
 
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ABPOS said:
I think some of the coolest Smith revolvers are ones that somebody has put personal touches on. I like factory guns too. There's no denying how great they are. But a gun that is tailored to someones desires, when done properly, can be a really really neat thing. Especially when you kind of agree with what they've done. I mean some things I wouldn't do for myself, but you can just repsect the jobs they've had done. Like engraving. I sort of like it but not really. It grows on me the older I get but kind of fru fru for me. I'm more of a no frills kind of a guy. Except that I like nickel. LOL.

Anyways.. I've seen a few custom guns on this site that really make me go wow and if you would like to post your custom jobs up here, I would love to see them.

I sometimes think about if I want to butcher up my Step Dad's Model 19 that I received as a gift. It seems like it would be a shame to do it. On the other hand, I think it could be better for my needs.

I hate the way the partridge sight looks and I wish the barrel was shorter. It's so front heavy. I also like magna type grips with Tylers but don't like that set up with such a front heavy, long barreled gun.

Personally I'd like to cut this barrel just in front of the lug and put a ramped front sight. And then either refinish it in Nickel and put some White type grips on it. Either stag or bone or something cool. With a Tyler T grip. OR, leave it blued with the same.

But part of me thinks it would be awful to cut it up. They don't make them like that any more. Plus I'd want to pony up the dough for a proper job and there is always the chance it could go wrong. Plus it shoots really really well as is and that could change.

Did any of you that did custom touches worry about what it was going to do to it?

I mean it's just so danged lanky. LOL. It is a joy to shoot though.

You can tell I have a lot of time on my hands. Talking about Smith revolvers is a wonderful pass time. And really, I hope to be out there shooting these things again very soon.

RJWQy8C.jpg


zejW8Tm.jpg


4Q78ki3.jpg
Click to expand...

Don’t do it, man. Just don’t.

Sell it, and buy what you want.
 
Well I don't have the money to anyways. Right now. And you guys make a good point. Just find something that needs a lot of work and go from there is a good idea.... Basically like saving one and building it up the way you want.

But I have seen some pretty good custom jobs on here and I'm not sure if they've always been from ones that NEEDED work. Maybe they were though.
 
If you can go out & buy a S&W revolver that has the features you want... even if you have to search for it... you'll be ahead money. M19s have been made in 2 1/2" & 3"... they are rare... but they are out there. My first choice would be to buy what you really want & put Dad's gun away. Second choice would be to buy a junker & have it properly rebuilt to your dream gun.
 
A lot of it depends if you can do the work or if you have to pay to have it done. A 2.5" nickel 19 or 66 sounds like what you are looking for. It will always be more cost effective to get a factory model. That said you can get anything you can envision, with enough money !
 
The Patridge front sight is the best front sight for me to see. Especially with some carbide sight black on it. It is the worst sight for holster use, though. Custom work is expensive and if you want a shorter barrel 19, it would probably be cheaper in the long run to buy another gun that better suits your immediate needs. Then you will two!
I have a couple of cowboy action Ruger Vaqueros that have a substantial amount of $$ in custom work that I would never be able to sell for even a third of what I have in them.
 
On the one hand, I feel like the decision to customize is strictly the job of the owner... will doing so make the gun better/more attractive/more useful for him? Having, over the last few years done not one but two complete builds to acquire guns I wanted and will probably keep and shoot for the rest of my life, I certainly identify with this school of thought.

On the other hand, I tend to look at the donor gun and ask myself am I destroying something significant or unique by making these changes? My stainless gun started as a police trade in (pretty common at the time I bought it in the '80s and well worn to the point of being rebuilt and even rebarreled over the years) and the K-38 for my second project was priced in a most favorable manner because of wear and tear on the barrel and cylinder which I was replacing with 32 caliber parts. In neither case did I lose intrinsic value, rather the guns were improved.

Of course there are those who think every gun should be left as it is and no changes should be allowed. They are welcome to take this approach to their own guns if they like, but I reserve the right to take my approach to those I own. That's my story and I'm sticking to it... YMMV.

Froggie
 
well i guess the better question to ask is this?...what do u want to use this for?...are u looking for a carry gun?...why not find a nice model 66..they are stainless model 19...they come with short barrels...my Dad has a 66-2 with a 2.5" and round butt...and they are quite reasonable...
and maybe this also might be considered..sell yours and buy exactly what u want...and u might even be able to come put with some money in the end...you have to decide what u want and how u will use it...trust me...once u start modifying things...you better be able to do the work yourself or have a large checkbook to pay for it..it is not for the faint of heart...God Bless,John
 
It's your gun...........do what you want with it! It's not a triple lock or a Registered magnum! I don't like the six inch barrel on a 19 either!
 
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