Rebarreled 1 of 500 Bill Davis National Match revolver?

[MP1518]

Anyone ever heard of a 6 inch Bill Davis 1 of 500 ? Or where they all 5 inch , unfluted cylinder ,etc. Does this look like like someone installed 6 inch barrel ? Barrel is six inches instead of five and it's not marked National Match.

 

[sndbggr1484]

Product Code 104254, 5'' barrel, made for Bill Davis , dual speed loader cutouts, unfluted cylinder, 500 manufactured. 1989. National Match per SCS&W 4th Edition.

 

[Jeep 1]

Looks like a 6” classic hunter to me with a set of the best grips ever! But it is 3:00 Am….. Great looking 686, is it a -3 ?
Sorry for not picking up on the insignia at 3 AM!
I have seen several 6 inch guns with Bill’s insignia over the years
I don’t think that he had that done by Smith & Wesson. I believe that was done after he received them, but I could be wrong.
Bill gave me a set of his grips and installed them at the masters international handgun championships back in 1989 and they have always been my favorite grips.
After Bill passed, I was able to buy six sets from Mrs. Davis and I have a couple of them installed other guns
Tom

 

[MP1518]

Looks like a 6” classic hunter to me with a set of the best grips ever! But it is 3:00 Am….. Great looking 686, is it a -3 ?
Sorry for not picking up on the insignia at 3 AM!
I have seen several 6 inch guns with Bill’s insignia over the years
I don’t think that he had that done by Smith & Wesson. I believe that was done after he received them, but I could be wrong.
Bill gave me a set of his grips and installed them at the masters international handgun championships back in 1989 and they have always been my favorite grips.
After Bill passed, I was able to buy six sets from Mrs. Davis and I have a couple of them installed other guns
Tom

Also , the six inch gun has 1 of 500 on the frame . Just like my 5 inch gun. I will request a letter on that one. To my understanding. all 500 guns that went to Davis in 1989 had unfluted cylinder and 5 inch barrels that were stamped National Match . This one was also made in 1989 , has PPC target on the frame. 1 off 500 stamped on it , unfluted cylinder, but a 6 inch barrel. I will definitely request a letter. Very curious about that gun. Product 104254 had 5 inch barrels.

 

[sndbggr1484]

The Bill Davis National Match, 1 of 500, Product Code 104254 was only made with a 5'' barrel.

If the side plate is a good fit I'd say it was rebarreled to a 6'' from it's original 5''

 

[MP1518]

The Bill Davis National Match, 1 of 500, Product Code 104254 was only made with a 5'' barrel.

If the side plate is a good fit I'd say it was rebarreled to a 6'' from it's original 5''

Yep. Exactly what I think it is. According to the factory, that gun WAS a part of 104254 and all of them were 5 inch.

 

[AveragEd]

As the owner of a 686-3 National Match, I think it is a shame someone modified one of those guns. And by the way, those Bill Davis grips were available on eBay for $18 when I bought my NM about eight years ago.

Ed

 

[CALREB]

Don't get me wrong, I love 5" barreled guns and even have a few. While this is a really neat gun. When it came out most ppc shooters wondered what national match referred to. If you were buying one for competition open gun and distinguished revolver rules allowed a 6" barrel. Also,the unfluted cylinder being heavier would take more trigger press to turn than a regular cylinder.

That being said the gun is a neat gun and the fact that it was associated with Bill is nice since Bill had so much to do with PPC and other shooting disciplines.

I would imagine that someone who wanted to use it as a Distinguished gun or open gun had the barrel changed to a 6". I have seen a couple of the barrels for sale over the years. Wish i had bought one now...