otis24
Member
Has anyone here turned an N frame square butt into a round butt? Do you have pics? Was this hard to do?
N frame square butt question
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john traveler
Member
There was a thread on this a couple months ago. Not hard to do, but the biggest stumbling block is placement of the serial number. If part of it is obliterated during the conversion, BATFE is not gonna be happy with you...
Bob R
US Veteran
Here is a SB 25-5 that was turned into a RB by Austin Behlert.
It approximates a K fram RB, but the grips still take a little fitting. I am sure there are jigs out there now that will get it to the exact dimension as a K RB.
As far as the Serial number, what keeps a person from restamping the serial number somewhere else on the gun. I don't think the BATFE says "OK, it's a S&W, it has to have the serial number on the bottom of the grip". As long as it is there somewhere, you should be good to go. YMMV.
bob
It approximates a K fram RB, but the grips still take a little fitting. I am sure there are jigs out there now that will get it to the exact dimension as a K RB.
As far as the Serial number, what keeps a person from restamping the serial number somewhere else on the gun. I don't think the BATFE says "OK, it's a S&W, it has to have the serial number on the bottom of the grip". As long as it is there somewhere, you should be good to go. YMMV.
bob
I have recently been told you cannot deface the original serial number not even if it is re stamped
Len
Len
Bob R
US Veteran
Len,
Who told you that?
I haven't heard that before.
I was under the impression that a gunsmith can restamp a serial number, just not over the old one, if it is defaced or destroyed by work on the gun.
bob
Who told you that?
I haven't heard that before.
I was under the impression that a gunsmith can restamp a serial number, just not over the old one, if it is defaced or destroyed by work on the gun.
bob
Duke426
Member
This is one of those issues where I believe the answer is, "Why make life more difficult than it has to be? Leave the damn serial number alone. Period."
To the OP, yes you can do the conversion at home with little effort, so long as you don't touch the serial number!
I have converted a model 13 K-frame from square to round in just a couple hours. I used an old set of round butt magnas as my guide and used my bench grinder to get it down close to size. Progressively finer grits of sandpaper used for the final fitting. If you are at all mechanically inclined you can do it to that N-frame, no problema.
To the OP, yes you can do the conversion at home with little effort, so long as you don't touch the serial number!
I have converted a model 13 K-frame from square to round in just a couple hours. I used an old set of round butt magnas as my guide and used my bench grinder to get it down close to size. Progressively finer grits of sandpaper used for the final fitting. If you are at all mechanically inclined you can do it to that N-frame, no problema.
Here is my M25-5 that I round butted back in the 1980s.
The advice that Duke426 gave is basically the procedure that I used. I did cut a rough outline first with a fine toothed hacksaw before I started grinding, filing, and sanding.
The advice that Duke426 gave is basically the procedure that I used. I did cut a rough outline first with a fine toothed hacksaw before I started grinding, filing, and sanding.
Duke426
Member
Muley Gil, great job and great looking gun
Only if converted to proper K frame dimensions.....
K frame RB and N frame RB frames are different, close but different, so if you want to use K frame grips, and have them fit without metal showing, then you need to pattern the conversion on K frame dimensions.
Just curious, what's the big deal about the serial number on the grip frame? I own quite a few S&W's, and have owned at least as many more, and each one has had the serial number on the bottom of the grip as well as the yoke cutout. Since they are both stamped on the frame, and it's an integral piece, what difference does it make if the bottom of the grip frame is altered?
I could understand if it's an older one that may not have the serial in the yoke cut.
I could understand if it's an older one that may not have the serial in the yoke cut.
IIRC, Federal law and most state laws as well, forbid the altering of "any" serial number on a firearm.
buckeyeshooter
Member
For those of us with big paws and kind of round butt, especially on an N frame is a sin!!
Taken from here:
http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/gca.htm
"k) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to transport, ship, or
receive, in interstate or foreign commerce, any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered or to possess or receive any firearm which has had the importer's or
manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any
time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce."
http://www.atf.gov/pub/fire-explo_pub/gca.htm
"k) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to transport, ship, or
receive, in interstate or foreign commerce, any firearm which has had the
importer's or manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered or to possess or receive any firearm which has had the importer's or
manufacturer's serial number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any
time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce."
That still doesn't quite answer my question though. If, (as many Smiths do) the gun has two serial numbers what difference does it make, since the one in the yoke cut out is still there.
I was always under the impression that the above post was in reference to someone totally removing the serial, so that there wasn't any serial number left to do a run on the gun, should it ever be used in a crime.
I was always under the impression that the above post was in reference to someone totally removing the serial, so that there wasn't any serial number left to do a run on the gun, should it ever be used in a crime.
Since the ATF or any other agency doesn't specify where a serial number has to go, other than on the frame, moving it does not constitute a manufacturer's serial number being removed, obliterated, or altered. As long as it's on the frame, there's no problem.
Perhaps I can help out here. Don't mess with the original serial #. I had a Browning Hi-Power featured in American Handgunner some years ago. The serial # was moved so I could checker the front strap. I received a call from the ATF less then a week after the magazine came out.
You can stamp the serial # any place you want. You just can't remove, obliterate or alter the original. If a serial # becomes damaged the ATF will either grant permission to restamp or stamp with an ATF assigned #.
You can stamp the serial # any place you want. You just can't remove, obliterate or alter the original. If a serial # becomes damaged the ATF will either grant permission to restamp or stamp with an ATF assigned #.
Dale53
Member
Hey! Don't worry about doing ANYTHING to a serial number. We KNOW ALL of those government types are REASONABLE people, RIGHT? Just think "Ruby Ridge" or "Waco". I believe that the ATF lead the charge at WACO. A BUNCH of people died because the ATF "thought" that someone MAY have purchased full auto sears...
Yes Sir! I don't worry about any of that stuff, if's a free country, right?
The above statement is PURE satire. Anybody that alters a weapons serial number is engaging in wistful thinking if they believe that LOGIC will apply.
Dale53
Yes Sir! I don't worry about any of that stuff, if's a free country, right?
The above statement is PURE satire. Anybody that alters a weapons serial number is engaging in wistful thinking if they believe that LOGIC will apply.
Dale53
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