Generation 2.5

[Green Frog]

Well, the Franken-Smith project is proceeding apace. Many thanks to all who have contributed ideas, suggestions, and even parts to my effort.

The man who invented the plastic fantastic Glock did so with no experience or preconceived notions about what a semiauto should be, and I started my foray into S&W semiautos with experiences with Colt and High Standards, but not Smiths, so that colored my attitude. I decided I wanted a steel (preferably stainless) frame for durability, dovetailed sights, wood grips, and single stack capacity for ergonomics.

The Gen 2 Model 639 frame fit my guidelines best since the Gen 3 frame has wrap around grips incorporating the mainspring housing, but the forged front sight was detrimental as any change to it was challenging to say the least. It became obvious to me that if I were to get all the features I wanted, a Generation 2.5 would have to be built. I also have a penchant for retro style two tone guns with "white" receivers and blued slides. One final detail was the ambidextrous safety/decocker. I got tired of retightening the screw on the Gen 2 (or picking it and the lever up from the ground ) so the snap together Gen 3 unit is preferred. I still plan on building a second upper with a reflex-type red dot sight, and since the iron sight type becomes a moot point, I can (and probably will) use my Gen 2 Model 439 slide for that.

There you have it... the development of my Generation 2.5 S&W semiauto 9mm, AKA Franken-Smith. I wanted to get it out to the forum and thank everyone who provide moral support or more. I don't know whether it will be as successful for me as that Glock guy's was for him, but I like it.

Froggie

 

[H Richard]

When are we going to see pictures?

 

[mikerjf]

Sounds like a great project... I have something in mind as well, great fun!

Just a thought, inspired by your post... that front sight could be filed off and maybe set up for a Glock style front? Those are pretty darn easy to deal with, and a huge variety is available.

 

[Green Frog]

Ask and ye shall receive; Gun is assembled with 439 slide and Gen 3 safety, and the Gen 3 slide is above it.

Froggie

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I also played with my 639 . My eyesight is not the best so I find myself gravitating towards adjustable sights . I know a lot of you don't like the looks , but I find them helpful .

Anyways , I found a 3906 parts deal on the net . Came with a lot of parts including slide , barrel , all of it , and guess what , factory adjustable rear sights . I took it out last week and it was very accurate after I adjusted the sights .

Don't know what else I'll do to it , but I've got some ideas . It gives me something to do , coming up with ideas of what I can put with what . And I learned it from here , the best Forum out here . Don't visit many others , but from you guys say , it's the best .

 

[Green Frog]

Went to the range yesterday and the gun, assembled with the Model 915 slide, shows signs it wants to shoot well. Unfortunately the problem I had earlier with the decocker not quite wanting to work has returned. I can get the lever to go down almost far enough then it stops. I have to use both hands to push the slide and move the lever until the hammer finally drops down into "Safe" position. I think there must be something going on with the slide, as the same thing happens with both the 639 ambi safety and the Gen 3 ambi safety I obtained from a friend. Just FYI, both safeties work fine on the 439 slide. This is a real conundrum looking for a solution!

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

It's Aliiive!!

Well, my e-friend and mentor JohnHL sent me a PM with a suggestion to solve my problem immediately. I don't think he'll mind if I share his suggestion since it works so well. The fact that the decocker could function if I pushed on the slide with one hand and hit the switch with the other told him that my problem was with my sear release lever. Apparently it was just long enough to work with the original slide but just enough too short to allow the safeties on other slides to function properly.

Rather than starting from scratch with an all new part that would be likely to need fitting, John suggested that I take the part from my 915 parts kit that was already on hand. It took about as long to find my tools and lay everything out as it did to do the partial disassembly of the lower, change out the part and reassemble the Franken-Smith and test (dry) fire it. The clouds parted, the birds began to sing and all is well with the world once again!

Especial thanks to "Dr John" and all the rest who continue to support and put up with me.

Froggie

 

[JohnHL]

It's all you, Froggie!

I made the suggestion, but YOU did the work.

The triumph is yours and deservedly so.

John

 

[GaryS]

That's a nice concept. My one big frustration with the 3rd Gen pistols is the wrap around grip.

I think S&W must have wanted an opportunity for a cost savings so they went with that instead of the three piece grip of the 2nd Gen.

The back strap on the 2nd Gen frame almost, kind of, sort of, looks like it might have originally been intended for some sort of grip safety.

No matter what the reason, the design of the 3rd Gen grips makes producing after market grips a major challenge.

 

[Green Frog]

It's all you, Froggie!

I made the suggestion, but YOU did the work.

The triumph is yours and deservedly so.

John

It may have been my banana-like fingers doing the change, but it was your brain all the way my friend. In fact, I was thinking of a "repair" that would have made matters worse. There's no substitute for experience and I got a lot of benefit from yours. Thanks again John... this project may reach a successful conclusion in spite of my fumbling around.

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

That's a nice concept. My one big frustration with the 3rd Gen pistols is the wrap around grip.

I think S&W must have wanted an opportunity for a cost savings so they went with that instead of the three piece grip of the 2nd Gen.

The back strap on the 2nd Gen frame almost, kind of, sort of, looks like it might have originally been intended for some sort of grip safety.

No matter what the reason, the design of the 3rd Gen grips makes producing after market grips a major challenge.

Gary, I don't know about the grip safety idea, but it sounds plausible. Making the 3rd Gen grips in one piece injection moldings that included the mainspring housing certainly made the gun a lot easier and cheaper to build, and probably made a lot of sense in the Accounting Dept, but it certainly lowers their curb appeal for me. It's kinda like pinned barrels and recessed cylinders in S&W revolvers; they may not make the gun shoot any better, but I know what I like. As a relative newcomer to S&W auto pistols, I apologize if I'm slicing a steak from a sacred cow, but "I yam what I yam" and I like what I like. It seems strange to intentionally seek out a metal framed gun then accept plastic grips and mainspring housings.

Froggie

 

[Dale53]

Froggie;
Well reasoned and well put! I had the "ol Two Tone finish" on my IPSC 1911. I went with a bright lower out of self defense. I shot that piece so much, that I wore the blue off so quickly, you wouldn't believe it. I have put 100,000 rounds through my 1911 and it still looks and shoots in excellent fashion. Those rounds were all full charge home cast loads except for a few major competitions where they required factory hardball.

Here's wishing that your concept works as well, my friend!

It looks like "YOU DID GOOD!"

Dale53