Project gun thread, lets see your 'improved' Smiths,and how did you do it?

[Bwilli88]

started with a 3" 65 and a 4" standard model 64 barrel.
barrel swap,
Moonclipped,
lightly chamfered the charge holes,
target trigger and hammer,
Shoots great, still want to do
black powder chamfer on the cylinder
patridge front sight with a gold bead.

 

[Lenshappy]

Allen buddy - what a great idea for a thread

 

[Big Cholla]

My contribution to this thread is a Model 624 converted to a .41 Rem Mag for me by Cylinder & Slide. It is a real tack driver. I have a ".41 Special" load for a 210 gr. SWCGC bullet that I cast from wheel weights and a magnum load for a 210 gr. Nozler JHP. I have taken one forked horn muley buck at about 30 ft. with the Nozler load. I take credit for the "mountain gun" idea.

.......... Big Cholla

Sorry, I guess I haven't figured out the 'add pic' thing on this forum. I will go figure it out and then be back. BC ..... Got It!

 

[boatswainsmate]

I didn't have anything to do with making this beautiful weapon but somebody knew what they wer doing. I got lucky enough to buy it for 500.00 when I was home on leave one time. I hope it qualifies. Boats

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Originally posted by Cayoot:
I have shown this one before, but it is my favorite custom job. I took a long time to figure out exactly what I wanted in my carry gun.

I finally decided about 5 years ago and had this done. To me it is perfect. I carry it pretty much every day (in an Allesi OWB holster) and the only thing I would change is that I would have had the lettering on the barrel taken off so that the barrel would look more "right". However, I put all my money (that I had at the time) into making this the "perfect" carry piece to suit me personally, and did not want to "waste" any money on cosmetics at the time.

Oh well, I'm still thrilled with it, and would do it again in a heart beat!

My 686+ (dash 4)

It has been cut down from 6" to a 3 3/4" barrel, had a SDM gold dot front sight installed, cylinder machined to accept moon clips, ball detent moved from the end of the ejector rod to the crane (for improved consistency in lock-up), Extra large cylinder release, tuned action (of course), forcing cone had the sharp edge on the right side slightly rounded (cuz I kept cutting my finger on the forcing cone during speed reloads), trigger polished, smoothed and rounded, and finally, given a set of S&W PC combat grips.

Cayoot:

Where did you get the cylinder release for your pistol? Who is the manufacturer - any idea of the cost? I've been looking for a release like that for my 625.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[dogsoldier]

Grayfox, I'd LOVE hearing and seeing more DETAILS of your M28/25 'project'.

 

[Cayoot]

Originally posted by Double-O-Dave:
Where did you get the cylinder release for your pistol? Who is the manufacturer - any idea of the cost? I've been looking for a release like that for my 625.
Thanks,
Dave

Dave, contact TK Custom at www.moonclip.com. He did part of the work on this gun, including installing the oversize release.

 

[ATCDoctor]

I had ROBAR do a custom finish for my 4" M500.

I had them ROGUARD the frame and barrel and NP3 the cylinder compensator and internals.

 

[Allen-frame]

Thought I'd bump this one back up top so we could all enjoy it again, and Add to it with any new projects or ideas

.


REgards ,,,Al

 

[G-ManBart]

Wifey wanted a carry gun, and after checking out a bunch, settled on this 640. She shoots it really well and it's small enough that she can conceal it (she's very petite). Heck, she'll even shoot it with hot 125gr JHPs, so more power to her!

When she took her CCW class she tried some of the other guns in low light/near dark and decided she wanted night sights. Since buying a different gun would cost more than getting night sights put on hers, I sent it off to Dave Lauck at D&L Sports in Wyoming with 50 rounds of her carry ammo. He did up the rear sight, fit the front sight, milled it down until the point of aim and point of impact were dead on at 10yds and then sent it out for the tritium inserts. Total cost was about $400, but it give a sight picture darn near as good as a 1911 with Bo-Mars mounted on it....much, much better. The gun still fits the Kramer horsehid holster, so there was no change needed there. We're considering having the trigger worked on to get it a tiny bit lighter as she still tires very quickly with it....but I would be extremely conservative and if it was only a pound or two lighter, that'd be fine. Still haven't decided on that.

 

[Centurian77]

Originally posted by Cayoot:

Originally posted by Double-O-Dave:
Where did you get the cylinder release for your pistol? Who is the manufacturer - any idea of the cost? I've been looking for a release like that for my 625.
Thanks,
Dave

Dave, contact TK Custom at www.moonclip.com. He did part of the work on this gun, including installing the oversize release.

Any more info on the chopping barrel and front sight SDM combo? Who did this work? Very nicely done. I just picked up a 686+ model that I'm looking to have something similar done with.

 

[Qball]

This one is done just for the fun of it.
Cut for .45acp fullmoon clips (can still use .45Colt)

 

[BuzzardBilly]

Here is my M28 with a M27 3.5" barrel.

 

[29aholic]

Here's mine (crappy phone pic) started life as a 6" 29-3. I cut it to 5" and installed an Ed Brown partridge front sight and Millett rear. I tuned the action and radiused a .500" target trigger. The grips are an old set of Herret's that I filed to fit my hand. At some point I'll have the grips duplicated in rosewood or perhaps ivory.

 

[Newsguy]

My "Adventurer's Gun." Started with a beatup Model 1917. The barrel had already been cut and there was no front sight. My 'smith crowned the barrel, added a front sight base with a white bead, and hogged out the rear sight trough. The resulting sight picture is very similar to the XS Big Dots on my semi-auto carry guns. He also bobbed the hammer, put in Wolffe springs and topped it off with a Parkerized/Gun Kote finish. I kept the lanyard loop for its vintage look and practicality.

 

[animalmother]

Love that converted 10-8, Bullseye Smith. One of the best custom projects I have seen.

 

[Bob R]

I had nothing to do with eitrher one of these, except hand over some money. But, I wouldn't have them any other way now.

This one started life as a 610-2 with a 3" tube and unfluted cylinder. Since then it has been set up for IDPA. It now has a 4" tube, fluted cylinder with the front chamfered to ease reholstering. The front sight is a red fiber optic insert and the rear is a stock WO sight. RB to SB conversion grips round out the package.

Action job, yes. Very smooth DA, light SA

I did get the 3" tube with it in case I want to put it back to stock some day. I guess I should start looking for an unfluted cylinder, even though I don't like them.

This one is kind of an oddity. Austin Behlert was making big bore snubbies back before the S&W factory saw the light. He would travel the east coast circuit and do smithing on guns there and also did work at home. His guns were very popular in the pin shoots back in the time they were popular.

What makes this one different is that it didn't get the barrel lopped off. It is a 25-5 with a 5" barrel. It has been Magna-Ported, has been converted to a round butt, and has one of the smoothest action jobs I have ever had the pleasure to shoot.

bob

 

[winter1857]

Originally posted by Newsguy:
My "Adventurer's Gun." Started with a beatup Model 1917. The barrel had already been cut and there was no front sight. My 'smith crowned the barrel, added a front sight base with a white bead, and hogged out the rear sight trough. The resulting sight picture is very similar to the XS Big Dots on my semi-auto carry guns. He also bobbed the hammer, put in Wolffe springs and topped it off with a Parkerized/Gun Kote finish. I kept the lanyard loop for its vintage look and practicality.

I love it! I've saved this picture because I want to build one just like it......

 

[chevypilot]

S&W Model 19-3, 4" barrel. Made in 1976

Before

After

 

[mic214]

This is my Model 18 that I had converted to a round butt many years ago:

This is my Model 65 that started out life with a 4" barrel and a square butt. I had the barrel shortened to 3", the muzzle was re-crowned and a new front sight was dovetailed into the barrel rib. Finally, the square butt was converted to a round butt:

 

[D1911]

My 65 project, from 4" square butt to 3" round butt:

Before:

After:

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Here is another one I just got done with - 681 with Ti cylinder and PC barrel.

 

[S&W2244]

Allen-Frame,
Looking for a good revolversmith in the Hollywood FL area. You mentioned a "professional
in the area" and you referred to a Bob at Showgun in Pembrook Pines. Would you share their
names and contact info (phone #'s). I would appreciate it. Also, if any other forum members have the names and contact info for other good revolversmiths in the area please include.
Thanks in advance for you help.

 

[Allen-frame]

My e-mail is in my profile. Anyone wanting information e mail me .

Regards ,,,Allen

 

[David LaPell]

Here is my 25-13 Mountain Gun. It has had a trigger job, custom grips (wearing a set of Grashorn's stags but now has a set of Ahrends, and a custom front sight by SDM.

 

[dave-arlington-va]

great thread. thanks to all for sharing some very very cool guns.

 

[29aholic]

A better pic of my Skeeter project 29