Need help - L frame barrel on K frame?

[Double-O-Dave]

Greetings,

A fellow forum member has a 3" 686 barrel for sale. I'm curious if this barrel could be fitted to a K frame Model 65 or 66? If so, any idea of the rough cost, and what gunsmith would you recommend in the Central Texas (Austin) area for this surgery?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Greetings,

A fellow forum member has a 3" 686 barrel for sale. I'm curious if this barrel could be fitted to a K frame Model 65 or 66? If so, any idea of the rough cost, and what gunsmith would you recommend in the Central Texas (Austin) area for this surgery?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Regards,

Dave

 

[handgunner356]

Anything can be done, it just comes down to who is writing the check. But no, a L-Frame barrel does not fit right on a K-Frame.

 

[Paulie686]

There have actually been a couple of "Threads" on this very subject here over the last few months. I have ATTEMPTED to Paste In, below, Links to the relevant Threads. If you manage to get any Contact Info for the Gunsmith, PLEASE share it here. Thanks. Paulie686.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...?r=44310544#44310544

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...904/m/3621087343/p/1

 

[jrm53]

This can be done as the 686 threads are a larger diameter than the K threads. I have a R.B. 66 that I put a 681 barrel on and it is posted on about page 16 or 17 in 1961 -1980 section I just looked it up but the pictures have been removed. One thing if you do this it will have to have a crane lock (detent ball) installed as the c/l to c/l dif. between ejector rod and barrel c/l is closer on the 66 than on the 686 so the ejector lock rod will have to be removed from the 686 barrel. Also look on page three of this forum at the post by rightwinger on "how hard is it to install a crane lock" there is a picture of my 66 with the 681 cut barrel in 3" length.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Paulie686, I thought I remembered a 686/66 conversion! Thanks for the thread. I "googled" Steve Cline (Cline's Trigger Shop) without any luck, but being that I'm located 90 miles away from San Antonio, it shouldn't be to hard to find him. I will definitely share any news that I find about this gunsmith.

JRM53, thank you for input. I have a very nice Model 66 with a 2.5" barrel that I've owned for more than 20 years. It's a sweet shooter, but I've always wanted a Model 65 with 3" barrel. I also own a 686 with a 6" barrel and Leupold scope that I could use as the frame, but the 686 as set up is so accurate that I hesitate to alter it. I'll share any updates with the forum if I get this conversion done.

Regards,

Dave