My non-RM shooter project is alive.

[cgt4570]

At the bottom is a link to my original post from this past December.
Long story short I scored what turned out to be a non-RM frame and cylinder with a Model 28 barrel in order to get the nice Coke stocks it was wearing.
I had my gunsmith fit a 6" Model 27 barrel to it and mill it to accept a pre-war 'barrel-shaped' ejector rod knob.
It already had the custom King's micrometer rear sight on it that matches the RM/Model 27 top strap checkering.
(I didn't bother to remove the existing trigger shoe, but will do before I shoot it).
I swapped the early post-war safety notch hammer it had in it for a 1917 concentric groove I had in my stash. Pretty sure I have a correct but modified RM hammer or two stashed somewhere but this looks close enough for now.
The stocks are one of several junk sets I restored that were laying around the garage.
Even though it shows some wear and was probably re-blued at some point, it's tight as new.

SN is 60174. Coincidently, I was born in 1/74. Bonus!
I'll get a shipping date as soon as I can make it in the first 5 of the day. All said, I probably have a bit over $800 in it (subtract the several hundred $ for the Cokes it was wearing from that, plus the Model 28 barrel I'll most likely sell, and we're under half that amount!).
Enjoy my poor, rushed pics. Can't wait to shoot it all day with zero worries.


http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/604898-update-scored-non-rm-hp-barrel-wearing-cokes.html

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Dude, do you realize that the Magna stocks that you have on that gun are pre-war? They're probably worth as much as the cokes that you took off of it.

Guy

 

[younggun22]

Was there something wrong with the model 28 barrel?

 

[Valmet]

That’s a sweet old project you won’t feel bad about pounding ammo thru. Very nice OP

 

[Kurusu]

Was there something wrong with the model 28 barrel?

Probably nothing. But it would't match the top strap chequering.

 

[cgt4570]

Of course. That's why I've restored several junk sets.

Dude, do you realize that the Magna stocks that you have on that gun are pre-war? They're probably worth as much as the cokes that you took off of it.

Guy

 

[cgt4570]

Was there something wrong with the model 28 barrel?

Exactly as mentioned above. The dull finish and smooth topstrap just didn't work for me. At least the 27 barrel matches the checkering.

 

[younggun22]

Exactly as mentioned above. The dull finish and smooth topstrap just didn't work for me. At least the 27 barrel matches the checkering.

Fair enough. I believe there is a pre war 357 magnum barrel on eBay right now...

 

[Farmer17]

I think it’s beautiful and I’m jealous.

 

[Hondo44]

Good progress! Probably about a 1940 NRM.

Notching the ext shroud for the barrel knob is a great touch of historical accuracy. Not to mention the barrel knob is much more comfortable on one's finger/hand when extracting cases, especially if a little tight.

Does the offset hammer you said it came with have a name stamped on the left side near the top like King or Micro-Site?

The wide stripe around the cyl indicates the cyl lock bolt has a flat spot worn on the top of it. You could leave it or put a new peak on the bolt so it completely bottoms properly in the cyl notches.

 

[cgt4570]

Good progress! Probably about a 1940 NRM.

Notching the ext shroud for the barrel knob is a great touch of historical accuracy. Not to mention the barrel knob is much more comfortable on one's finger/hand when extracting cases, especially if a little tight.

Does the offset hammer you said it came with have a name stamped on the left side near the top like King or Micro-Site?

The wide stripe around the cyl indicates the cyl lock bolt has a flat spot worn on the top of it. You could leave it or put a new peak on the bolt so it completely bottoms properly in the cyl notches.

Hondo.
It came with a standard early post-war safety-notched hammer. The couple off-set or double wide hammers I have are early custom jobs of unknown origins, not King's.
I will probably swap the bolt with an NOS one and try to hide the heavy drag line a little with some cold blue. It is only a fun shooter at this point so I really can't hurt it.

It's just a (fairly) cheap fun project. As mentioned in another post above, yes there's a $400 8-3/4" RM barrel on eBay that's been there since before I started this project. It's missing the front sight and I'm all out of those. I was very tempted to get it but by the time I found or made a correct front sight, I'd be into it more than I wanted. I paid less than $100 for the 27 pinned barrel. If I sprang for the original RM barrel, I'd still have a mixed parts shooter and probably not worth much more.

Thanks for the input!

 

[cgt4570]

Fair enough. I believe there is a pre war 357 magnum barrel on eBay right now...

Yes, Thanks!
It was on eBay when I started this project months ago. I seriously considered it. It's missing the front sight. At $400 plus finding or making a correct front sight, I'd be into this project more than I wanted (the pinned Mod 27 barrel was about a hundred $) and probably wouldn't add much value to it as what is still a mixed parts shooter grade gun. Unfortunately. as much as I personally LOVE long tube Smiths, they aren't liked as much by a lot of people. If I ever decide I need to flip this gun (which I probably have $400 in after subtracting original parts and stocks removed), 6" barrels just seem to sell better.

 

[DWalt]

SN 60174 puts its likely shipping date in early 1940, and it's in the NRM range.

 

[LLOYD17]

60245 shipped in December 1939
60478 shipped November 1939
Both NRM’s and both were cop guns.

 

[SDH]

Nice job Chris, It looks right as a well loved, vintage .357 owned by a shooter. The "right" mix of spare parts came together just as if they were supposed to. I haven't felt the need to spring for a RM because I enjoy my Pre-27s so much. I'd be pleased to own that revolver!

 

[peter-paul]

I would love to own that Revolver. Great job!