My parts built 649 is ugly and took 5 years but..

[Breakaway500]

It shoots wonderfully! Improvised target at 25 feet.

I bought the bare frame and barrel about 5 years ago and over time bought a cylinder,yoke,side plate,trigger,hammer etc. and I had it ready to assemble till I found a screw hole stripped. I got an insert to repair the threads but then found the rebound stud fragile enough to break off so I sent it back to the Mother ship for repair 9 months ago.

It just came back this morning..and after 5 years and about $350 investment, (including S&W repair) I was able to shoot it. I do enjoy projects.

Not a pretty gun by any means, especially wearing the tird brown Bianchi Lightning grips, but a pocket gun I can single action shoot when needed.

I sure could have used it the other day on a red squirrel that I missed 3 times with my 642..although it was on the run.

And I got a free box!

 

[reccpd101]

If you can hit a red squirrel on the run with any snubby, you are truly a son of a gun

 

[Breakaway500]

I’ve bagged a woodchuck or two and a UFO so I figured the red wouldn’t be too tough. Just didn’t lead it enough!

If you can hit a red squirrel on the run with any snubby, you are truly a son of a gun

 

[damienph]

I don’t see anything ugly about your project 649. I even like the brown Bianchi’s.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My 49 no dash, has shot raccoons in the face as they sat on the top floor gutters of my old (1879) farmhouse. My "Greatest" model 49 shot was at an adolescent male coon looking at me through the fork of two branches, straight up and 60' above me, right between what was left of the eyes.

With the decline of fur clothing, the populations of raccoons skyrocketed. By the time I moved into the farmhouse in 1984, the population in my township was probably 20 times what it was growing up in the 1960's just down the road! The farmhouse was located in the middle of several farm's corn fields. I's estimate the area of corn around my house was 500 to 700 acres, interrupted only by country roads and a farmyard here and there! The only tree of any size at the time was a huge hollow Butternut outside my back door. (as of Spring 2020 it is officially the second largest Butternut in Ohio!) This tree towered above the house and due to farmers ripping out fence rows it was visible for a couple of miles in places. Bring hollow, the local raccoons thought it was their place to give birth. In the 30 years I lived in the house I killed over 300 raccoons, over 100 from that tree alone, and hundreds off the gutters or coming out of the holes they ripped in my soffits or facia boards! My pocket carry 49 accounted for a good third of them! It truly was a war I never won!

Ivan

 

[Norton 750]

Wow, I have not seen any Bianchi Lightning Grips for ages. Maybe they should bring them back out now that folks seem to have a better understanding of double action for defensive pocket guns. (judging by the sales of the DOA "hammerless" models. I still call them Centennial's but I know that name went out with the grip safety.) The problem is they make the revolver too large for a pocket. Coat pocket maybe?

 

[Breakaway500]

If I have the time to squeeze off a bullseye shot I am always more accurate using single action as I honestly don't practice enough double action for accuracy.In a snubby, you would think it doesn't matter but for me it does. The 649 fits well in my pocket but I have deep pockets in my coveralls and that is what I mostly wear.

 

[John Patrick]

Wow, I have not seen any Bianchi Lightning Grips for ages. Maybe they should bring them back out now that folks seem to have a better understanding of double action for defensive pocket guns. (judging by the sales of the DOA "hammerless" models. I still call them Centennial's but I know that name went out with the grip safety.) The problem is they make the revolver too large for a pocket. Coat pocket maybe?

Imo, the Bianchi Lightning grips don’t add too much size to a J frame or a K frame, I have them for both. And with a 3” J frame I can pocket carry in jeans. With a 2 1/2” K frame most khakis work, but not most jeans. Have not tried them on a 3” K frame.

I do wonder why one would use Lightning grips on a 649 or other humpback since the purpose of the Lightning grips was to provide a shielded hammer which could still be used single action. Essentially converting a, say, Model 37 to a humpback. Used on a humpback they just add unnecessary weight, imo.

My complaint about the Lightning grips is that they’re heavy.

 

[yugolovr]

That is a thing of beauty.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Yeah, what Yugolovr said.
Funny, seeing as you know a little about auto racing & all, I was anticipating seeing some baddass car with a blower sticking out the top of the hood and was curious about a big motor. Then I realized this is a gun forum for 1980 on up. The gun looks nice.
BTW, instead of shooting holes in the muffler, they sell glass packs & cherry bombs to make the car sound fast! (I had some squirrel sitting by me in a bar a long time ago telling me he did that instead of paying a whopping $28 for a cheap exhaust sound amplifier.)
For real, I'm impressed what people here can do and that is a prime example! 5 years...I don't have that patience!

 

[Breakaway500]

The Lightning grips are nothing more than a rubber layer against the steel chassis. I had to modify them to fit. I’m amazed how well I can control the revolver with these installed. My grip in my right hand isn’t what it used to be and needs all the help it can get.

I have been known to build some odd stuff. But, it usually works well.

 

[John Patrick]

The Lightning grips are nothing more than a rubber layer against the steel chassis. I had to modify them to fit. I’m amazed how well I can control the revolver with these installed. My grip in my right hand isn’t what it used to be and needs all the help it can get.

I have been known to build some odd stuff. But, it usually works well.

If the Lightning Grips work for you, that’s perfect.

And they’re comfortable for me too.

But they’re stiff enough to make an exposed hammer revolver the equivalent of a humpback, without the humpback frame supporting them.

I’m guessing you had to remove the material above their back strap side to accommodate the humpback frame. Iirc, there’s a ridge which would fit an exposed hammer revolver’s frame while providing the extra material to provide the stiffness required to ensure reliability with exposed hammer revolvers.

Since, after reliability, weight is the most important feature in a concealed carry gun to me, the Lightning grips are in my assorted grip box. (And I own a 638 instead.)

If you’re interested in black J frame Lightning grips, shoot me a PM. I paid $50 for the J frame versions and I’d sell them for that plus a couple bucks for shipping.

 

[Boogsawaste]

What was stripped? One of the side plate holes? Where did you find an insert for it? I’ve been in a bunch of s&w’s and while I have yet to encounter a stripped hole it’s always a concern of mine!

 

[Breakaway500]

The front side plate hole in the frame was stripped. I found a Helicoil kit in the U.K. That carried the correct size. It worked perfectly to restore the missing threads for that fastener. Then I encountered the bent/straightened Slide post. I figured let S&W do it.for $103 why not? (Even if it takes …a looong time. I’ve got others) If it didn’t pass their scrutiny I’m sure they would not have test fired it like they said they would on the “ Estimate to repair” and it came back with 5 fired holes. Some things are worth rescuing.

 

[Boogsawaste]

That’s great you found the right one. You wouldn’t happen to remember the size used, would you? Might come in handy one day. 49/649’s are my favorite so I’m glad to see a rescue like yours. Hint to anyone out there who has one collecting dust that might need a new home!

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Personally I cannot get over the why’s of your selection of grips but if it makes holes where you point it, my opinion matters very little.
Good job resurrecting it

 

[Marshal Tom]

Looks very nice but having a hard time figuring out why a bare frame and barrel and then the rest of the build. How come just those parts? Inquiring minds need to know? I recently purchased a very high condition 649 in it entirety for $450.