I.D. help on a strange one

[Redmist]

I just came into an old M&P (?) 5 screw that I'd like to know more about. The modifications don't look like they were done at the kitchen table, but it's sure an odd looking piece. It's now a .22 with a 5 1/2" bbl. The cylinder has been cut back to 1" long and the bbl. sticks 3/4" into the cylinder window to the face of the cylinder. The cylinder has been fitted with 22 l.r. inserts which project about 1/16" past the rear face of the cylinder and are recessed for the rims of the 22 cases. The bbl. has no markings and has a lug added to latch the front of the ejector rod. A 1" long sleeve has been fitted to the end of the bbl. with a blade front sight pinned into it. An overtravel stud (not a screw) was also added to the trigger guard. The action is very tight and smooth with a 2 lb. s.a. pull. Ser. # on butt is 86XXX, # on back of cylinder is 140XXX, and ass'y. # is 72XX. A couple of cylinders full of std. velocity l.r. were quite accurate.
Could this be a prototype? a S&W employee's lunch hour project? I've taken some digital pics that I don't know how to post but would gladly email - What the heck have I got?

 

[Redmist]

I just came into an old M&P (?) 5 screw that I'd like to know more about. The modifications don't look like they were done at the kitchen table, but it's sure an odd looking piece. It's now a .22 with a 5 1/2" bbl. The cylinder has been cut back to 1" long and the bbl. sticks 3/4" into the cylinder window to the face of the cylinder. The cylinder has been fitted with 22 l.r. inserts which project about 1/16" past the rear face of the cylinder and are recessed for the rims of the 22 cases. The bbl. has no markings and has a lug added to latch the front of the ejector rod. A 1" long sleeve has been fitted to the end of the bbl. with a blade front sight pinned into it. An overtravel stud (not a screw) was also added to the trigger guard. The action is very tight and smooth with a 2 lb. s.a. pull. Ser. # on butt is 86XXX, # on back of cylinder is 140XXX, and ass'y. # is 72XX. A couple of cylinders full of std. velocity l.r. were quite accurate.
Could this be a prototype? a S&W employee's lunch hour project? I've taken some digital pics that I don't know how to post but would gladly email - What the heck have I got?

 

[opoefc]

Sounds like you have a "Bubba Special" made up by a semi-competent gunsmith/blacksmith as a fun exercise for his own amusement. He could have gone to the local pawn shop and bought a .22 revolver cheaper than it took his time and money to make up the gun you have, but we often do things like that for the fun & experience of doing it. Ed.

 

[CMcDermott]

How was the firing pin handled, was it changed to an in-frame pin ala the factory, or was the hammer mounted pin somehow re-shaped to hit the rims of the cartridges?

 

[Redmist]

The hammer mounted pin was reshaped and the bushing (?) in the frame was either modified or possibly replaced as there is a series of 6 small holes (or stake marks) around it.