The primary work was to replace the barrels with shorter ones. The shortest standard
factory length was 4 inches. From earlier experimentation work that I had done, I
felt that 3 or 3 1/2 inch barrels presented a very nicely balanced appearance. The last
sets of pictures shows the standard 4" gun with the shorter 3 and 3 1/2" guns. Judge
for yourself when length you prefer.
The work consisted of first figuring out how to make the barrels, and then getting
them made with a machinist friend of mine. 1899 barrels all have the same diameter
at the frame face, regardless of barrel length, and they all have the same diameter
at the muzzle, regardless of barrel length. What changes, then as the length changes,
is the taper angle.
My goal was to create what I felt the factory would have done, had they offered
shorter barrels. That is, the front sight base had to be forged integrally with the rest
of the barrel, and the flat under the barrel had to be the same length as all the
standard 1899 barrel lengths.
It turns out that 1950's 38/44 barrels have enough steel, such that a proper 1899
barrel can be made from one, including the front sight base. That is what we did.
There is enough steel in the rib to create the 1899 front sight base.
After we machined-out these barrels, I sent them to Dave Chicione for final polishing,
fitting, and bluing. When the machining was completed, the barrels were completely
in the white. All the barrels had to be blued, but not all the frames. Ie, the 3 1/2"
frame did not need to be refinished.
In the middle of this project, Dave Sr had a stroke, and Dave Jr was immediately
swamped. The frame for the 3" gun did not have any finish on the sideplate or the
rear grip strap. I don't recall if that frame was to have been refinished, but what I
do know is that it came back without having been refinished. This is why it went
to Fords, who did a very nice job with it. In fact, I think they blued the entire gun.
That's the story.
Regards, Mike Priwer
