Project gun thread, lets see your 'improved' Smiths,and how did you do it?
- Thread starter Allen-frame
- Start date
My custom gun projects seemed great at first but nearly all of them lost quite a bit of luster after delivery. Both five-shot big-bore revolvers are gone now, replaced by a lightly tweaked 5" Model 629 Classic. Several - honestly, I've lost count - serious custom hunting rifles are gone with them, replaced by a lightly tweaked pre-64 Model 70 in 308.
The problem was that I didn't really sit down and think about what I wanted vs. what I needed. I also ignored a lot of conventional wisdom. I read too many gun rags and convinced myself that big game animals were nearly impossible to kill and that the whole hunting process was far more dramatic than it really is. None of that was the case at all. The guns that replaced my custom projects do just about the same thing just about as well, and it's a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to find ammo for them.
If you want a serious 357 carry gun, consider a Model 65 police trade-in from Robertson Trading Post. Have Karl Sokol dovetail a front sight onto the barrel and do an action job. Then you'll have a more durable weapon for serious use. If you just want to spend money, cut up a nice Model 66 and not have much real-world improvement in performance or durability to show for it, you're on the right track.
If this will be a serious carry gun, I'd avoid the Weigand front sight system. To remove the front sight blade, you pull it to straight the rear and lift it out of the base. There is no locking mechanism. If you catch the front sight blade on something as you're pushing forward, such as the lip of the holster as you're reholstering, the blade pops out. It can be a real shock to draw the gun and find a long rectangular slot where your front sight used to be.
Fortunately, I figured this out when I was scouting for deer and not in a fight.
Okie John
The problem was that I didn't really sit down and think about what I wanted vs. what I needed. I also ignored a lot of conventional wisdom. I read too many gun rags and convinced myself that big game animals were nearly impossible to kill and that the whole hunting process was far more dramatic than it really is. None of that was the case at all. The guns that replaced my custom projects do just about the same thing just about as well, and it's a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to find ammo for them.
If you want a serious 357 carry gun, consider a Model 65 police trade-in from Robertson Trading Post. Have Karl Sokol dovetail a front sight onto the barrel and do an action job. Then you'll have a more durable weapon for serious use. If you just want to spend money, cut up a nice Model 66 and not have much real-world improvement in performance or durability to show for it, you're on the right track.
If this will be a serious carry gun, I'd avoid the Weigand front sight system. To remove the front sight blade, you pull it to straight the rear and lift it out of the base. There is no locking mechanism. If you catch the front sight blade on something as you're pushing forward, such as the lip of the holster as you're reholstering, the blade pops out. It can be a real shock to draw the gun and find a long rectangular slot where your front sight used to be.
Fortunately, I figured this out when I was scouting for deer and not in a fight.
Okie John
G
Guest
John,
Did you get him before he got to you?
I guess, if this had been a bear attack, that removeable front sight would be viewed as a positive option!!
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I dont have a picture of my best custom I had done, as I stupidly sold it back to the original owner, (a close friend). It was a 1917 S&W. I had a new .455 clyinder and crane rechambered to .45 colt, makeing it a nice convertable that worked well. Also had a smith target sight installed with a red ramp. Had the hammer beavertailed etc, and target stocks. Looked like the factory done it!
But here is a model 51 that I had called the factory and ordered a .22lr clyinder for. I simply thought if ruger can do it, why not smith? This was about in 1971. Right after that they had it as a option in their new catalog for awhile.
But here is a model 51 that I had called the factory and ordered a .22lr clyinder for. I simply thought if ruger can do it, why not smith? This was about in 1971. Right after that they had it as a option in their new catalog for awhile.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I'm a bit of a tinkerer. Been doing trigger jobs, parts replacement and minor repairs to my guns for years.
The last couple of years I've been tackling bigger projects. Here are two of my S&Ws.
A couple of years back Numrich got a hold of some 5" 686 barrels. When word hit this forum, they sold out in just a couple of days. I was one of the lucky folks who got one. Took me about two years to find a suitable (affordable) donor gun for the project, but I eventually found a well used 8 3/8" 686 at a reasonable price.
Swapped out the barrel, worked over the action and polished it all up nice and pretty.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This next one I built from scratch. Started with a bare nekked Model 28 frame. Later came across a 6 1/2" 25-2 barrel which I cut back to 3 1/8". Added a Model 25-5 cylinder and internals from various sources. Finshed it off with a set of Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty sights.
The end result was this .45 Colt snubbie.
The last couple of years I've been tackling bigger projects. Here are two of my S&Ws.
A couple of years back Numrich got a hold of some 5" 686 barrels. When word hit this forum, they sold out in just a couple of days. I was one of the lucky folks who got one. Took me about two years to find a suitable (affordable) donor gun for the project, but I eventually found a well used 8 3/8" 686 at a reasonable price.
Swapped out the barrel, worked over the action and polished it all up nice and pretty.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This next one I built from scratch. Started with a bare nekked Model 28 frame. Later came across a 6 1/2" 25-2 barrel which I cut back to 3 1/8". Added a Model 25-5 cylinder and internals from various sources. Finshed it off with a set of Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty sights.
The end result was this .45 Colt snubbie.
Wyatt Earp
Member
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I have to say, of everything I have seen here so far on this thread, these two revolvers really turn my crank.Originally posted by Grayfox:
I'm a bit of a tinkerer. Been doing trigger jobs, parts replacement and minor repairs to my guns for years.
The last couple of years I've been tackling bigger projects. Here are two of my S&Ws.
A couple of years back Numrich got a hold of some 5" 686 barrels. When word hit this forum, they sold out in just a couple of days. I was one of the lucky folks who got one. Took me about two years to find a suitable (affordable) donor gun for the project, but I eventually found a well used 8 3/8" 686 at a reasonable price.
Swapped out the barrel, worked over the action and polished it all up nice and pretty.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This next one I built from scratch. Started with a bare nekked Model 28 frame. Later came across a 6 1/2" 25-2 barrel which I cut back to 3 1/8". Added a Model 25-5 cylinder and internals from various sources. Finshed it off with a set of Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty sights.
The end result was this .45 Colt snubbie.
If I was a peace officer and my department would allow me, I would carry that 5" 686. That is just bad ass!
And the 45 Colt N frame snub is just cool.
Curt Dawson
Member
Well I am taking my post war M&P with 6" barrel to the gunsmith and having the barrel replaced with a 4"slab sided PPC barrel with full length winged sight.I have already had to replace the cylinder due to bad gunshop reloads.I used a model 64 cylinder.And I had the hammer bobbed.Now I just have to sell the holsters and have replacements made.
Curt Dawson
Member
Now which holster to choose?I am leaning towards El Paso saddelery but I am unsure about the fit with the winged sight.
rhodnett
Member
Here is my "improved" model, only because the original owner chose to "deprove" it. It started life as a NYSP(HP?)model 520 that the owner had converted to .44 mag with the installation of a M29 cylinder and barrel. He thought a fixed sight .44 mag needed to be had. I had been lusting after a Hamilton Bowen .45 Colt conversion and spotted this on GunsAmerica; since heavy duties were getting scarce and pricey, this seemed like a good candidate for my project.
Major modifications include a 5" pre-war HD barrel, black powder cylinder chamfer, and front strap modified to resemble a HD. The trigger and hammer were re-color case hardened. It's shown wearing Executioner's bone stag grips.
Major modifications include a 5" pre-war HD barrel, black powder cylinder chamfer, and front strap modified to resemble a HD. The trigger and hammer were re-color case hardened. It's shown wearing Executioner's bone stag grips.
Bwilli88
Member
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.
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.
Big Cholla
Member
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!
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
Member
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
US Veteran
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
Member
Grayfox, I'd LOVE hearing and seeing more DETAILS of your M28/25 'project'.
Cayoot
Member
Dave, contact TK Custom at www.moonclip.com. He did part of the work on this gun, including installing the oversize release.
OP
Allen-frame
Member
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
REgards ,,,Al
G-ManBart
Member
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.
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.
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