Fantasy Build -- the perfect belt carry revolver

[Continental Op]

The only limit is physics, so no 50-shot .454s the size of an NAA mini.

My entry would be a LadySmith 65, 3-inch with small underlug, with a Centennial-style internal hammer (never been done on a K-frame, I think). I'd have a Trijicon HD (yellow) front sight fitted and a Warren Tactical plain rear sight fitted. Neither of those are made for a revolver, so it would take some doing. I'd have it sighted in for the Speer Short Barrel 135 gr. Gold Dot .357 load. I'd have the chamber mouths chamferred for easier loading, the chambers Flex-honed for easier extraction, and the cylinder given a blackpowder chamfer by Bowen for easier reholsterring. Do I need to even say it would have the perfect double-action trigger job. I'd use Pachmyer Compac grips.

What would you build if you could?

 

[CO_Kid]

4 inch Model 19. Why mess with perfection?

 

[80sgyrene]

3.5" L frame, tapered bbl and shroud of the Heavy Duty, round butt, .357.

Fixed sights of course.

 

[petepeterson]

The only limit is physics, so no 50-shot .454s the size of an NAA mini.

My entry would be a LadySmith 65, 3-inch with small underlug, with a Centennial-style internal hammer (never been done on a K-frame, I think). I'd have a Trijicon HD (yellow) front sight fitted and a Warren Tactical plain rear sight fitted. Neither of those are made for a revolver, so it would take some doing. I'd have it sighted in for the Speer Short Barrel 135 gr. .357 load. I'd have the chamber mouths chamferred for easier loading, the chambers Flex-honed for easier extraction, and the cylinder given a blackpowder chamfer by Bowen for easier reholsterring. Do I need to even say it would have the perfect double-action trigger job.

What would you build if you could?

I'll buy one. I'm not sold on the internal hammer for a belt gun, though. My 60-15 meets alot of this, but comes up one round short.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

I like your internal hammer model 65 except I'd go with XS Big Dot and a C&S U-notch rear.

But I think I'd with a 2" Airweight K-frame with dove tailed XS Big Dot and C&S U-notch rear sight and option of getting a DAO or spurred hammer, (like Ruger's SP101.) a nice buttery smooth 8lb DA pull. For grips/stocks I'd like Ahrends tacticals or boot grips, granted I wouldn't mind UM boot grips either since most people like different grips anyway.

 

[BruMatt]

I would go for your Ladysmith modifications on a 3" Model 69 L frame 44 mag. It might be the last gun I would ever buy....(probably not)!

 

[wheelyfun66]

2.5" model 66 with bobbed hammer and fixed, low profile night sights.
Also, a forcing cone without the flat spot.....(if they can do it to the M&P340 and 640 Pro, both 357 mag revolvers...why not the K-frame?)

 

[StickShift]

Also, a forcing cone without the flat spot.....(if they can do it to the M&P340 and 640 Pro, both 357 mag revolvers...why not the K-frame?)

You could do that with a new, two piece barrel Model 66-8. I imagine S&W will bring the 2.5" and 3" barrels back in the next year or so.

My perfect carry revolver would be a 3" stainless Colt Detective Special with S&W lockwork and tritium front post. Why S&W never finished the development of the C-frame I will never know. Alternately, I'd take a stainless and alloy 3" Model 12 with the front night sight.

 

[snubbyfan]

4" M66;

'Nuff said.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

A 3-inch, 5-shot, L-frame. Bodyguard shrouded hammer, chambered in .44 Spl. Round butt, AirLite, flat-side tapered barrel, and the Novak like adjustable sights they use on the Pro Series J-frames. Uncle Mike boot grips. As an option, same gun as a 7-shot .357.

 

[Waywatcher]

--Stainless L frame, roundbutt
--3" barrel
--internal hammer (centennial)
--.357 magnum, 6 round capacity
--C&S duty sights, plain black

 

[Engine49guy]

3" 9mm SS Model 547 (647) with ejector rod shroud, and spare cylinder for 357 magnum.

 

[pacecars]

L Frame 10mm with 4 inch barrel on a Scandium frame

 

[629shooter]

I have a few "dream" carry revolvers in my head.

I scandium version of the M65 Lady Smith w/a pinned front sight.

A 3" and 4" 329 Night Guard.

A 3" M69 with a u-notch rear and a pinned front sight. A 629 in the same configuration would be nice too.

Most importantly, leave the ILS out of them, especially the Scandiums.

 

[Green Frog]

My fantasy build was http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a.html and my fantasy became a reality! Sometimes I still have to pinch myself.

Froggie

 

[LonChaney]

A 3" 366 Night Guard .357 with the Extreme Duty rear (with a tritium vial at bottom of notch) and Big Dot front sight. Bobbed hammer, DAO. Cut for moon clips.

 

[SuperMan]

...already have it....someone was nice enough to make it and sold it...and I ended up with it. A .41 Lovers Dream...

 

[at_liberty]

This will depend upon how one dresses, which is typically a function of age, I believe. If one truly dresses to conceal, the gun can be bigger, allowing either more rounds, a larger caliber, or more powerful loads.

I am older and am able to dress to conceal. I think an optimal belt carry revolver, balancing comfort, conceal-ability, sight radius, and load to weight balance would be a 4" barrel, half lug, with a round-butt combat grip, at least 6 round, not a recoil beast nor a real threat to my hearing. It would be double action, preferably stainless, so wear wouldn't show as much.

Now I have to pick between old guns and recent production versions. On an S&W forum, it would be cool to name an S&W gun.

I believe the caliber would be .357 Magnum but loaded to a subsonic level, say something like a Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel cartridge.

I would have to work from the date of introduction of the round butt grip frame, probably the earlier the better, at least to avoid comments against newer guns that otherwise qualify.

The field is narrow, but I think the model 66 would be it. On the newer guns, I am not a fan of blast finish, but there might be some custom option.

 

[owenwd54]

I would want a new scandium blued or black model 12 round butt 2" or 2 1/2 "

 

[P&R Fan]

I too would like a M65 with a concealed hammer. Maybe just bob the hammer. But since I'm the P&R Fan it would have to be an early model.
The one I REALLY want though is an L-Frame. Fixed sights, with Tritium inserts. Barrel lug, but not the full one like on the M586, M686, etc. Bob the hammer and put nice wood stocks on it. Relieve the right side of the trigger guard slightly for faster access to the trigger. Make it a 3" barrel, and of course chamber it for .41 Magnum. Oh, and as stated above, it HAS to be pinned and recessed.
Make it in all steel. Should weigh about 35 ounces or so. Then make an Airlite Scandium one. Should weigh less than 20 ounces.
We can dream, right?
Jim