Slicking Up a Revolver(?)

[rog8732]

By the time Bubba's younger brother got to the point he cranked the side plate off with the screw driver, I had mostly finished jamming a sharp pencil in one ear due to the "uhs" he uttered in the first 30 seconds.

I was earnestly working to gouge out one eye when he criticized the proper method of side plate removal, and had to pause on the eye-work and return to the other ear.

Though he "played it off" I KNOW he intended to snatch the hammer out before he loosened the strain screw, but just didn't have enough finger strength.

It was like watching a snake wrap up a baby bird and begin to swallow.
I was horrified but could not turn away. Thankfully my wife heard me moaning in agony and jerked the power cord.

I have never fully atoned for the sins of my youth,....I may watch it again for penance, and pronounce my self "cleansed" of all my earthly sins. (Part two oughta give me some "spares".)

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Many years ago, I purchased a DVD from the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) on "The S&W Revolvers". One of the first scenes on disassembly showed one of their gunsmiths prying the sideplate off with a screwdriver. I was always taught this is a big no-no. To me, everything else that particular gunsmith said lacked credibility. The presenter on the video you cited really bothers me in that he neglects safety by not demonstrating before he starts handling the revolver that it is unloaded. He is supposed to be an expert, and he should, in my opinion, do everything possible to show safe and proper techniques. I know that there are some gunsmiths who pry the sideplates off of revolvers, but I won't have any of my revolvers treated in this fashion if I'm around to see it. I agree with others that there are much better sources out there than the video you have cited.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[buckyjames1]

Found it informational

Okay, excluding the pry-off, excluding the spring cut.

I thought the camera angle was better and did a good job of what to polish/stone, There are lots of variations and tiny tricks that different smiths will perform eh?. I have the Jerry video and thought the combo of the 2 was worth it. Especially since the youtube one was free. In combining the 2 videos, I was able to notice some rough spots that were brought out by stoning, but were not covered in either video.

Better lighting, better resolution, better close up of the parts. If the Jerry video didn't have his name on it, would people respect it as much or critique it harder...just sayin. I did learn from the Jerry video and its good but not because his name is on it.

At least there wasn't as many comments like: Just shoot it 1000 times, it will be like an action job or there is no need to do an action job, or..the famous "Just send it in to a gunsmith and let them do it.

 

[Tom S.]

Part 2 is even funnier........in a tragic kinda way.

I would suggest finding a better teacher.

I was so hoping when he was reinstalling the slide and spring that he would A) stab himself with the screwdriver and B) launch the spring into some dark corner of his garage. If I was grading him on his work, he would get a "C". He knows what he is supposed to achieve, but his methods of doing it need help - like his method of prying the side plate off and pounding it back in place with a mallet. And when I saw the Dremel make an appearance, my cheeks tightened up. That he has a following is proof that you don't have to know what you are doing to convince people that you think you know what you are doing.

 

[Russ S.]

Okay, excluding the pry-off, excluding the spring cut.

I thought the camera angle was better and did a good job of what to polish/stone, There are lots of variations and tiny tricks that different smiths will perform eh?. I have the Jerry video and thought the combo of the 2 was worth it. Especially since the youtube one was free. In combining the 2 videos, I was able to notice some rough spots that were brought out by stoning, but were not covered in either video.

Better lighting, better resolution, better close up of the parts. If the Jerry video didn't have his name on it, would people respect it as much or critique it harder...just sayin. I did learn from the Jerry video and its good but not because his name is on it.

At least there wasn't as many comments like: Just shoot it 1000 times, it will be like an action job or there is no need to do an action job, or..the famous "Just send it in to a gunsmith and let them do it.

Interesting take, especially since you've seen both. I wonder if this video could still be a good resource if you account/correct for a couple mistakes.