My $185 S&W 657, A Work in Progress . . .

[bigmoose]

I am glad you decided to go ahead with the project. With your skill set, it should be an enjoyable endeavor. I would keep the 629 barrel length intact, though. Red ramp front sight is a nice touch also. Why mess with a good thing?

Whatever you decide, I am sure it will come out great. Best wishes and keep the pictures coming.

 

[flgolfer29]

I'm subscribing, nice project..

joe

 

[TheShootist1894]

Got some parts in today, backordered a gold bead front sight, probably won't get many more updates until after the first of the year, Holidays and what not. Also I have a couple 1911 projects I swore to myself would be buttoned up by the new year.

Plan is to use a factory rear sight (I have a couple like new takeoffs to pick from in the parts bin) and probably factory combat grips.

 

[DR505]

Thanks for the update!

 

[Green Frog]

TheShootist1894,

You are doing what a lot of us wish we had the opportunity (and the skill) to do. You get to build a gun precisely as you feel it ought to be. Looks good so far, and as others have said, I'll be waiting for inspirational updates.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[33jayman]

Great post! I will be watching the progress too. Very interesting.

Jay

 

[Jaymo]

Absolutely.
Why junk if if you can fix it.
It's not like Smith is making any more 1987 model N frames.

Besides, it's not like you'd be shooting "Ruger Only" loads, in an N frame.

Salt, bleach, even tap water will oxidize/corrode/pit stainless steel. I've seen happen.
Anything with chlorine in it.
Heck, maybe it's one of the "stainless steel" Smiths that had problems with rusting, due to a lack of passivation (which would make it not actually stainless steel, since passivation is what keeps stainless alloys from rusting)

Not sure about finish. Hard chrome, if the pits can be filled.
Or, bead blast the whole thing and have a stealth stainless revolver.

 

[TucsonMTB]

Well, since those of us in the peanut gallery are now offering suggestions for the final finish . . . please allow me to request a brushed finish. I have read here (so it must be true) that brushed stainless finishes are not only attractive, but also good at shrugging off handling marks, etc.

Of course, I am being totally selfish because I am hoping you will show us how a nice brushed finish is applied.

Thank you for letting us look over your shoulder!

 

[meh92]

Any update?

 

[TheShootist1894]

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YA'LL! Not much has happened on this since December, and wife and I are expecting our first anyday now!! Very exciting times here. I plan to resume it asap and will keep my friends here abreast to the progress, Thanks!

 

[meh92]

Congrats on the upcoming birth! I think others will chime in and agree that your "disposable time" is about to be reduced substantially. That's a good thing, though.

Best wishes!

 

[vahiker83]

Subscribe! Congrats.

Sent from my SPH-M840 using Tapatalk

 

[Doubless]

When it comes time to finish it, you might consider Robar. I had a 2-1/2" Model 19 done, and although the firearm wasn't as clean as it should have been when I sent it to them, the finish is all I wanted and more. I will say this, though: it is going to add to the cost of the re-build if you go that route, even though I think it would be worth it.

 

[Doug M.]

I liked the idea of cutting it to 3.5" and doing an RB conversion; in the alternative, cut the barrel to 5" since you are doing all this work anyway and a 5" barrel N frame is so well balanced. I think that would be my favorite outcome.

 

[Warpspasm]

I'm anxious to see how this turns out too.

 

[Monkeyzero]

Well, um, I brought my shovel and dug this up. Did you finish?

 

[TheShootist1894]

Finish it no, but I have not forgotten it either, having worked on some of the metal cosmetics it is/has become a very long term project. By all rights it is too far gone to look good again, but I am determined! And with baby #2 due any day now, 'free' time is a premium. I have finished many other projects in the interim time, but this project is tough on the hands and sanity, I will try to dust it off and take some more pics in the not-so-distant future.