Modifications to your revolvers -

[one eye joe]

Steelslaver, YOU ARE THE MAN ! ! ! THANK YOU FOR THE PICS. I WISH THAT MY WIFE LISTENED TO ME, AS WELL AS YOU DID.......

Toolguy, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THESE WERE YOUR FIRST FEW POSTS. OMG---YOU MADE QUITE A SPLASH UPON ENTRY ! ! ! YOU ARE A VERY VALUABLE ADDITION TO OUR FORUM.....

AND colt saa, THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL PICS, AND YOUR INSPIRING WORK. IT TAKES A REAL MAN TO MOLEST A COLT PYTHON ! ! ! I WOULD NOT HAVE THE TESTICULAR FORTITUDE TO DO IT, UNLESS I RESCUED IT, FOR CHEAP MONEY, AND IT NEEDED A COMPLETE MAKEOVER......

 

[Protocall_Design]

Toolguy, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THESE WERE YOUR FIRST FEW POSTS. OMG---YOU MADE QUITE A SPLASH UPON ENTRY ! ! ! YOU ARE A VERY VA

I've been around for a while. Sorry, I didn't quite catch that last part. Kinda hard of hearing, ya know...

 

[one eye joe]

I will see if I can get some pics up. I have to get my IT manager to help since she has all the computer stuff set up her way and I don't understand it all.

Toolguy, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. I'M A 75 YO GEEZER, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE HUGE LEAP, FROM MY '60s, VIETNAM ERA, 35MM, MINOLTA SLR, THAT USES ROLL FILM---TO THE WORLD OF DIGITAL MUMBO JUMBO.....

THE PICS THAT I POST, ARE AT THE BARE MINIMUM, OF WHAT MIGHT BE DEEMED AS ACCEPTABLE, BY TODAY'S STANDARDS......

 

[one eye joe]

Thanks for the kind words, one eye joe. I have spent my life in machine shops. Many people who have done the same can do what I do, they are just thinly spread out across the country.

THAT IS PROBABLY TRUE, Toolguy. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WAS SPAWNED IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS. AS A RESULT, I HAVE BEEN AROUND MANUFACTURING, SKILLED MACHINISTS, AND TOOLMAKERS, ALL OF MY LIFE......

I HAVE BEEN AROUND GUNS, AND 'SMITHS FOR 60 YEARS. ONLY TWO, WOULD I CONSIDER BEING UP TO THE TASK, OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE. ONE PASSED ON AT AN EARLY AGE, AND THE OTHER IS STILL WORKING......

THE LATTER IS INVOLVED IN BUILDING CUSTOM, 1911 STYLE, SEMI-AUTOS, FROM SCRATCH, ON BARE FRAMES, FOR SHOOTERS WHO COMPETE, THROUGHOUT THE NEW ENGLAND REGION, AND AT THE CAMP PERRY, CMP MATCHES. HE IS A ONE MAN OPERATION, AND HAS WORK STACKED UP. I DOUBT, IF HE WOULD HAVE THE TIME, OR INTEREST, TO GET INVOLVED IN ONE OF THESE REVOLVER PROJECTS......

 

[one eye joe]

I've been around for a while. Sorry, I didn't quite catch that last part. Kinda hard of hearing, ya know...

I WAS INTERRUPTED, Toolguy. I MEANT TO SAY THAT YOU ARE A VERY VALUABLE ADDITION TO OUR FORUM. I CORRECTED THE ORIGINAL POST---I HOPE....lol

 

[one eye joe]

I built a .44 AutoMag revolver out of a M29. Made a ported slab side barrel, put a shortened Wichita Rib on top, tig welded a hook on the trigger guard, made a steel underlug, bobbed the hammer, did an action job, cut the cylinder for moon clips, electroless nickel finish. As far as I know, it's the only one. That one is for bowling pins, shoots 300 gr. bullets at 915 fps. for a 275 power factor. The .308 brass has a bigger extractor groove than .45 ACP, so I had to put slits in the moon clips to make that work.

View attachment 318701

I've made 2 686s into 646s, one 4 inch, one 6 inch. Action job on both.
Rechambered the cylinders to .40 S&W, cut for moon clips, new barrels.
This one I rechambered and found a 646 takeoff barrel online, the 6" one I had the barrel rebored and re rifled. It still says .357 on it.

View attachment 318704

Built a 686 and a 625 into PPC guns with slab sided barrel, Wichita Rib, & action job.

View attachment 318702View attachment 318703

Built a 686 into a Bianchi Open Class gun with 6" slab barrel, titanium 7 port comp., Barricade wings, Stick Shift mover scope base, action job, & custom fitted extra 7 shot cylinder cut for moon clips and rechambered for .38 Super.

View attachment 318705

All the custom barrels were made by me from a blank that was already rifled. For those who have never seen a barrel blank, it looks pretty much like a 1-3/4" diameter piece of brown sewer pipe. Very rough turned, way oversize, and no threads or anything done on the outside.

Make front and rear fiber optic sights for S&W revos.

Invented and patented 2 scope bases with presettable elevations.

Invented a system to make the trigger pull get lighter as you pull it back. Prototype gun starts at 5lb. DA and goes down to 3lb.

I do all my own work, nothing is sent off or farmed out. And that is why I'm the Toolguy.

Too much other stuff to list it all.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE PICS, Toolguy. YOUR WORDS ALONE, COULD NOT DO JUSTICE TO THESE FANTASTIC CREATIONS......

THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM. JUST A QUESTION. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE SKILL, TO MAKE THOSE IL HOLES DISAPPEAR. IS THERE SOME REASON WHY YOU LEFT THEM VISIBLE ? ? ?

 

[Bakebfr480]

I used to rechamber/rebarrel model 28's to 44 spl........but not so much anymore.

 

[Protocall_Design]

THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM. JUST A QUESTION. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE SKILL, TO MAKE THOSE IL HOLES DISAPPEAR. IS THERE SOME REASON WHY YOU LEFT THEM VISIBLE ? ? ?

That's because I don't care about the ILs or the MIM parts. All my guns are working guns that get heavily used in practice and matches, and in all these years I have never had a problem with the lock or MIM parts. All my guns work great with forged or MIM.

In fact, the MIM parts are more consistent than the machined parts because they are precision molded. Every one is like every other one. In order for Metal Injection Molded parts to be viable, they have to be highly engineered. S&W did a killer job on the design and execution of these. They are very well done. If they were poorly designed or made, they would have no end of problems.

 

[Smith357]

Besides the typically action/trigger jobs, lock removal, have you done any major mods to your revolver?

I did not do the modifications but I sent my 586 no dash back to the mothership for a complete facelift.

BEFORE: a worn 6" bubba gunsmith special I rescued.

AFTER: 4" tube, replace all the buggered screws, blast blue finish, and combat trigger job done at the Performance Center. The only thing I actually did was save the ruined stocks.

 

[snowman.45]

I've changed out springs, hammers, hands, bolts, triggers, sights and cylinders. Generally, all I do is clean up the innards to remove burrs, but if there is something that needs to be done for other reasons, I'll do it. I enjoy working on revolvers and building 1911's.

 

[one eye joe]

I did not do the modifications but I sent my 586 no dash back to the mothership for a complete facelift.

BEFORE: a worn 6" bubba gunsmith special I rescued.

AFTER: 4" tube, replace all the buggered screws, blast blue finish, and combat trigger job done at the Performance Center. The only thing I actually did was save the ruined stocks.

HEY Smith357, THAT WAS A GREAT RESCUE. YOU MADE CHICKEN SALAD OUT OF CHICKEN MANURE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTHERSHIP DID SOME NICE WORK.....

I'M PARTIAL TO 4" TUBES, OVER 6" TUBES. THEY GIVE UP LITTLE IN PERFORMANCE, AND IMHO, THEY BALANCE MUCH BETTER. MOST OF THE "BARGAINS" THAT I SEE, IN GUNSHOWS, ARE BEAT UP 6" GUNS THAT I DON'T GIVE A 2ND GLANCE. IN LIGHT OF YOUR INSPIRATIONAL POST, I WILL START TO PAY MORE ATTENTION........

 

[jtcarm]

Bobbing hammers and replacing pinned FS blades is about all I do beyond action smoothing.

 

[BigBill]

Disassemble them, clean them, lube them with moly and run the actions to burnish it into the pores of the metal.

 

[zipty6]

I am far from a machinist, so the work that is within my ability is pretty minor. Most of it has appeared here before.

My range time favorite is a 10-6:
Slow rust blue.
Replace trigger with smooth combat style.
Stone rebound slide and accompanying areas inside of the frame.
Strip & refinish stocks with tung oil.

My current carry is a no-dash 36:
Slow rust blue.
Replace trigger with smooth combat style.
Bob hammer & remove single-action sear.
Stone rebound slide and accompanying areas inside of the frame.

I recently acquired a police trade-in 2.5" model 66-1. The front site insert was coming out. I used two-part epoxy mixed with Testor paint to replace it with a green one:

 

[rbmcmjr]

Here is a project that I commissioned. This was (in my mind) the ultimate nightstand gun, circa 1995. These two Model 29-4s started with serial numbers only 15 apart (XX54 and XX69).

I sent it off to Weigand Combat, who did their "Tame the Beast" package. This consisted of the porting, hammer bobbing, trigger polishing, and DAO action work.

I then sent it to Tarnhelm for their MagnaTrigger conversion. I know many feel that this is an answer to a question no one asked, but I have been happy with it for the past ~20 years. Final touches were the Hogue monogrip, matte chrome from AP&W Cogan, and Meprolight tritium sights.

 

[rbmcmjr]

A second project that is more subdued than the previous one. This is an early generation 629-4 Backpacker that made a trip to Cylinder&Slide for Extreme Duty fixed sights, crane ball lock, charge mouth chamfering, and action work. I also put the Ahrends grips on it.

Front and rear comparisons with the 29-4 above:

 

[S&WsRsweet]

I am far from a machinist, so the work that is within my ability is pretty minor. Most of it has appeared here before.

My range time favorite is a 10-6:
Slow rust blue.
Replace trigger with smooth combat style.
Stone rebound slide and accompanying areas inside of the frame.
Strip & refinish stocks with tung oil.

My current carry is a no-dash 36:
Slow rust blue.
Replace trigger with smooth combat style.
Bob hammer & remove single-action sear.
Stone rebound slide and accompanying areas inside of the frame.

I recently acquired a police trade-in 2.5" model 66-1. The front site insert was coming out. I used two-part epoxy mixed with Testor paint to replace it with a green one:

Thanks for the 2 part epoxy mixed with paint to make a colored sight insert that is a pretty cool trick and maybe with a little practice I can try that .

 

[FAS1]

Just a grip change to try the Ergo Delta Grip.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I bought an old Victoria PD trade in (shoulda got a dozen) for $219. The gun looked rough, but was tight. All I've done is port the barrel. I was bored at work and thought it was a good idea. And it was. I also put on the Houge mono grip. I feed it a steady diet of 125gr Berry's FP with Bullseye and we're happy!

 

[one eye joe]

I bought an old Victoria PD trade in (shoulda got a dozen) for $219. The gun looked rough, but was tight. All I've done is port the barrel. I was bored at work and thought it was a good idea. And it was. I also put on the Houge mono grip. I feed it a steady diet of 125gr Berry's FP with Bullseye and we're happy!

I WOULD HESITATE TO USE SUCH A WEAPON, AS MY PERSONAL NIGHTSTAND GUN, FOR HD / SD, IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS......

IMHO, A LARGE FLASH, EXITING A PORT, DIRECTLY IN MY LINE OF VISION, AND OBSCURING THE FRONT SIGHT BLADE, WOULD HAMPER MY ABILITY TO DELIVER RAPID, ACCURATE FOLLOW UP FIRE, AFTER THE FIRST ROUND WAS DISCHARGED.....