I picked up this pre-27 .357Mag w/a 5" bbl a while ago.
Priced accordingly, or at least what I thought was fair for what I had in mind for it.
Likely more $$ than many would spend for the gun in this condition, but I do all my own work so the high labor prices of others are of no concern to me.
I've done this stuff all my life and full time for 30+ yrs as well.
Retired now it's just a hobby, but still a fun one and I intend to keep at it until..
It's a good project gun. No mechanics to fix. No parts to replace.
A rebore/rechamber MAY be in play but that could be an option even with a good bore and chambers. Depends what you want the gun to be.
I'd really like to have a big(er) bore , but we'll see.
Left side looks not too bad, especially in the pic(s).
The right side and bottom took the brunt of the damage.
$400 was the total cost. Everything matches incl the grips.
The bore is perfect. 3 of the chambers have some rust in the throats that might clean up.
If they don't then the project will become a 44spcl, or 45Colt or 44-40.
A 38-40 kind of interest me lately too. Don't have a 38-40 anything at the moment but I do have dies and bullets for some unkn reason.
That checkered top bbl rib and frame will make a classy caliber anything
The action is timed perfectly and nice and smooth.
Just plain rust from poor care and no maint attention to the thing.
Looks like a wet holster or hands maybe then some try at scrubbing some of it off.
Whatever, that damage will all disappear in a polish before engraving. The S&W medallion will go as well and I'll engrave a smaller replacement in another position on the gun. Recut any lettering as needed.
A scroll style and pattern I usually decide on about the time the chisel first hits the steel.
I have a set of way oversize ivory grips somewhere (I think) unless I used them already. They'd look nice on it.
I hate to see nice quality guns left to rust away like this. But it does leave behind a gun that can be worked on w/o worrying about reducing any collectible status or value.
Another one for the 'to-do' pile..
I just finished up that Ruger OM Single Action conversion to 45Colt w/ engraving. Along with a couple of more simple fix up jobs on other project guns.
Time for some new projects.
Here's some pics of it as-is.
Priced accordingly, or at least what I thought was fair for what I had in mind for it.
Likely more $$ than many would spend for the gun in this condition, but I do all my own work so the high labor prices of others are of no concern to me.
I've done this stuff all my life and full time for 30+ yrs as well.
Retired now it's just a hobby, but still a fun one and I intend to keep at it until..
It's a good project gun. No mechanics to fix. No parts to replace.
A rebore/rechamber MAY be in play but that could be an option even with a good bore and chambers. Depends what you want the gun to be.
I'd really like to have a big(er) bore , but we'll see.
Left side looks not too bad, especially in the pic(s).
The right side and bottom took the brunt of the damage.
$400 was the total cost. Everything matches incl the grips.
The bore is perfect. 3 of the chambers have some rust in the throats that might clean up.
If they don't then the project will become a 44spcl, or 45Colt or 44-40.
A 38-40 kind of interest me lately too. Don't have a 38-40 anything at the moment but I do have dies and bullets for some unkn reason.
That checkered top bbl rib and frame will make a classy caliber anything
The action is timed perfectly and nice and smooth.
Just plain rust from poor care and no maint attention to the thing.
Looks like a wet holster or hands maybe then some try at scrubbing some of it off.
Whatever, that damage will all disappear in a polish before engraving. The S&W medallion will go as well and I'll engrave a smaller replacement in another position on the gun. Recut any lettering as needed.
A scroll style and pattern I usually decide on about the time the chisel first hits the steel.
I have a set of way oversize ivory grips somewhere (I think) unless I used them already. They'd look nice on it.
I hate to see nice quality guns left to rust away like this. But it does leave behind a gun that can be worked on w/o worrying about reducing any collectible status or value.
Another one for the 'to-do' pile..
I just finished up that Ruger OM Single Action conversion to 45Colt w/ engraving. Along with a couple of more simple fix up jobs on other project guns.
Time for some new projects.
Here's some pics of it as-is.
