M1066 Spa treatment + some teachable stuff

BMCM

BMCM

US Veteran
Gold Supporter
Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
1,404
Reaction score
6,553
Location
SW Mississippi
Ahoy there Gents,

Just wrapped up this job last night and thought I'd share a couple things that might be of benefit. This was a newly acquired M1066 and M1026 belonging to one of our members. In brief both guns got new sights fitted, and a couple parts replaced. '66 needed some repairs and got modded to decock only.

Now about how they were shipped to me:rolleyes: ...

Both guns shipped together in this box via UPS ground...
IMG_2399.jpg

Note how the corners of the box facing me are busted open:eek:

Now, if I'm not mistaken, I'm quite certain UPS policy requires handgun shipments to be via overnight express. This shipment was by UPS ground and was merely dropped off on my porch. If my parrots had not alerted me that someone had been on the porch, I might not have known the box was there. (no signature confirmation?)

Slit the top open and under a layer of bubblewrap is the M1066 and the end of the box just flopped open. There really wasn't much holding that box together.
IMG_2400.jpg


A couple more layers of bubblecraap and there's the M1026
IMG_2401.jpg


I find it rather surprising neither of those guns managed to get out of the box. With the corners blown open there was really nothing keeping them in there but blind luck:eek:

Anyway, the M1026 was a pretty straightforward job. Detail strip, clean & inspect. Stuck in a new trigger play spring, recoil spring and new sights... An LPA TR in the back and a Dawson F/O up front. Pretty nice setup.

The M1066 on the other hand, had some issues.:eek:

Notice anything unusual here?
IMG_8479.jpg

Like that trench dug in the bottom of the dovetail cut. Seems to be somewhat in line with the securing grubscrew on the sight:rolleyes:

And when we bump the sight off we find a trench carved in the cover plate going off on the wrong (left) side:eek:
IMG_8485.jpg


Yup, at some point, some genius beat a sight out of that dovetail cut on the wrong side of the slide and without backing out the fixing grubscrew. So, this here ditch will need to be backfilled.
IMG_8491.jpg


Bench Note...
***Sights only go on and off on the starboard (right) side of the slide***

There were some other issues too like this nasty pitting here at the rollmark...
IMG_8490.jpg


And up here...
IMG_8489.jpg


I wasn't comfortable welding that close to the rollmark with my equipment so, I enlisted the aid of my friend Tony up at Micro Precision Welding. And a few days later this came back...
TFBY0424.jpg


Just look at those tiny little weld beads:cool: If I did that the rollmark would have said "TH & WESSON":D

Had Tony take care of these spots too while it was in his shop because why not;)
IMG_2480.jpg


Once back here on my bench... A little milling and a bunch of filing & stoning later...
IMG_2483.jpg


IMG_2482.jpg


IMG_2485.jpg


And a trip to the blast cabinet...
IMG_2486.jpg


Then slap it all back together with a few new bits...
IMG_2487.jpg


And we're done...
IMG_2488.jpg


Well, almost done, Gotta package 'em up for the trip home...
VCI paper wrap & sealed in a VCI bag and enclosed in a hard case.
KODB9845.jpg


Those cases are Plano Gun Guard #10137, about $8 on Amazon. Any arm that comes to me loose goes home on one of those. And they fit perfectly in a USPS Medium flat rate box...
IMG_2490.jpg


One last thing... Whether shipping yourself or having a local FFL doit, If the shipping label gets damaged or becomes illegible the carrier will open the parcel to try and figure out where it needs to go. I always stick an extra copy of the shipping label inside the box...Just in case:D

Nothing further...long break... Out!

Cheers
Bill
 
Register to hide this ad
Kurt is going to love those Bill . I thought UPS had to send guns 2nd day air . Besides , if it's going FFL to FFL , don't you have to sign for it . Or did he send them himself ? Anyways , good info . I too send them either a S&W plastic box that someone sent a pistol in or a plano type box . Anyways , another example of the fine work you do . I'm sure members are tired of me singing your praises , but they are well warranted as the pics tell us .
 
Nice save, Bill!

Great skills can't fix a firearm if it doesn't make it to you (or back to its owner).

So the packing tutorial should be of the most value to those who wish to retain ownership of their property.

Tony has done some fine work for me, also. ("Fine" meaning small and precise as well as high quality.)

So tell us, which do you prefer:

Customization (Being a "Hot-Rodder")?

or...

Restoration (Being a "Body and Fender Man")?

I think I know the answer but I'll wait for your thoughts on the subject. ;)

John
 
I don't have enough time to properly give you all the props you deserve for the work you do AND the photos you offer up here out of the goodness if your heart!

But I can't NOT comment on the way those were shipped to you.

I can't find the best words here but suffice to say, I'm sure the owner of them is reading this discussion and if it were me, I'd by irrationally embarrassed. That is 110% ridiculous packaging, and it baffles my mind that anyone would EVER do that on purpose and think "meh, good enough!"

Unbelievably awful. AWFUL. This is as kind as I can be.

As for UPS regulations, it must go air. Can go as low-cost as 2nd Day, it needn't be top level overnight "Next Day Air." But that is a UPS rule, not any law. Yes, they likely would never pay out on a claim when you don't follow their regs.

Lastly...
I see the packaging skill and sure makes me wonder if maybe we already know who borked up the rear sight. ;)
 
Sevens said:
I don't have enough time to properly give you all the props you deserve for the work you do AND the photos you offer up here out of the goodness if your heart!

But I can't NOT comment on the way those were shipped to you.

I can't find the best words here but suffice to say, I'm sure the owner of them is reading this discussion and if it were me, I'd by irrationally embarrassed. That is 110% ridiculous packaging, and it baffles my mind that anyone would EVER do that on purpose and think "meh, good enough!"

Unbelievably awful. AWFUL. This is as kind as I can be.

As for UPS regulations, it must go air. Can go as low-cost as 2nd Day, it needn't be top level overnight "Next Day Air." But that is a UPS rule, not any law. Yes, they likely would never pay out on a claim when you don't follow their regs.

Lastly...
I see the packaging skill and sure makes me wonder if maybe we already know who borked up the rear sight. ;)
Click to expand...

Sir, I was floored at the way they were shipped for sure I had a let's say great interpersonaled conversion about it, it's not like the guns are common place and can just go pick up two additional models of likeness.

As for that 1066 she was deffinatly neglected during its life, but she back to her former glory thanks to bill at BMCM CUSTOM:D
 
cherrypointmarine said:
John , I'd have to say he's both .
Click to expand...

marine, rock, and 18, please forgive my response as multi-quote won't work for me.

You misunderstand my question.

I certainly agree Bill has the requisite skills.

What I asked him was which he preferred.

Personally, I restored hundreds of motorcycles, but I preferred building custom and race bikes (and cars) :cool: (although it was a lot more work). :eek:
 
cherrypointmarine said:
I thought UPS had to send guns 2nd day air . Besides , if it's going FFL to FFL , don't you have to sign for it . Or did he send them himself ? .
Click to expand...

Sent by his local FFL UPS Ground. That's not in accordance with UPS policy on shipping handguns so if one or both of those got loose, was lost or stolen...Tuff Luck. It'd be very unlikely getting UPS to pay a claim. I think the only way to have gotten compensation for a loss in this case would be to take the dealer originating the shipment to court.

Seems some FFLs will abide by carriers shipping policies and some know the policies or just don't care and use the cheapest means possible.

So, Unless you know for certain your dealer is doing the right thing and taking proper care of your weapons, I recommend preparing the shipment yourself.

This is what I used to do before I got my FFL when I sold or traded a piece from my personal collection...

At the time my transfer FFL here was/is a Local LE official and is often quite busy. So, in order to expedite things and make his part a little easier I'd prepare the shipment. With FFL copies already swapped between the dealers I'd log on to USPS and prepare and pay for the shipping label. USPS Priority Mail with the appropriate insurance coverage and marked for adult signature confirmation. Then I pack up the weapon in a hard case then into the flat rate box, affix the label then carry that over to my dealer open & unsealed. Hand the package to my guy and he logs the acquisition in his bound book and at the same time logs it right back out as a disposition to the receiving dealer. Close & seal up the box and hand it to the Postman. The only other thing that USPS requires is the shipping dealer to fill out a USPS form 1508 which takes about 30 seconds.

Anyway, it took a little extra effort on my part but I knew for certain the firearm was properly packaged, well protected and insured against theft or loss.

And another thing... I had a guy once ship two guns to me packaged together in the same S&W blue plastic case. Well they shifted around in transit and dinged each other up on the way here. Don't do that. Or at the least make some kind of partition out of some cardboard or something the keep them separated and wrap them up individually in some protective material, packing paper or shop rags just something to make sure they stay separated apart in the box.

Cheers
Bill
 
JohnHL said:
So tell us, which do you prefer:

Customization (Being a "Hot-Rodder")?

or...

Restoration (Being a "Body and Fender Man")?

I think I know the answer but I'll wait for your thoughts on the subject. ;)

John
Click to expand...

Well Sir...

They're both pretty much equally satisfying. Some of these beater repairs look pretty horrid at around the halfway point then as it starts to really shape up I find myself thinking "ahh this is actually going to work" :D Like LtCol John "Hannibal Smith always used to say "I love it when a plan come together" Or like when I got that M1066 all back together and lubed up and thought "Damn that's a nice trigger":cool:

However I think the most fun and enjoyment comes from figuring out the setup, layout and fixturing for some machine operation I haven't done before. For example I used a two axis mill vise and to hold this M65 barrel resting on a toolbit and sandwiched between some copper sheet with the vise tilted down about 5° so the top of the barrel indicated level. Milled off the fixed sight and flattened the top then cut a 65° x .330 dovetail for the new sight. Fresh out of the blast cabinet.
IMG_8544.jpg


Not half bad for a rookie;) I was pretty pleased with myself when the plan came together :cool:
I rekon that means I favor the "hotrod" stuff a little more.

Cheers
Bill
 
Last edited:
BMCM said:
I rekon that means I favor the "hotrod" stuff a little more.
Click to expand...

That's what I would have guessed. :)

It's great to see a piece of equipment restored to its original usefulness.

But there is little in life more satisfying (at least that we can discuss on this Forum ;)) than having that light bulb moment when a solution to a problem (that seems to have been previously unaddressed), comes blasting out of that often neglected right, creative side of the brain and it actually works !

That's often more fun than the final product. :D

John
 
GaryS said:
Really nice work saving that fine firearm.

Not that I plan to do it, but sights should be pushed out from left to right and then replace from right to left always using the right side?
Click to expand...

In general dovetailed sights should always come off on the same side they went on regardless of what arm we're talking about.

For these S&W guns the dovetail cuts have a tapered lead in on the right side and the actual sights themselves are tapered a bit on the mating side. The cuts are tapered on the right and the sight bases that fit those cuts are tapered on the left. This is to ease starting into the cut. So yes, on these guns the sights come off and go on only on the right hand side.

Cheers
Bill
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Super Dave
  • Locked
Expired/Withdrawn Revolver stuff: cleaning out my parts bin
Replies
5
Views
837
Nathan510
Nathan510
glshuck
New to me nickel 19 no dash, and some questions for the experts
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
Gun Relics
Gun Relics
cmansguns
need some help - vintage K 38 nomenclature and date UPDATE July 16 see last post!!!
Replies
18
Views
1K
desi2358
D
J
What has happened to QC at Smith and Wesson?
3 4 5
Replies
83
Views
4K
JimW
JimW
ImDrRich
Bodyguard 2.0 issues and some potential solutions -
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
34K
wvsportsman
W

Latest posts

Back
Top