Smolt: Let the flogging begin!

[CH4]

I have never been able to find a Smolt that I found acceptable, most had 6 inch barrels and I want 2.5 or 4. Having several 2.5” 686s, I just needed the right barrel at the right price. Found this pristine stainless barrel on eBay for about $90. Only one way to scratch this 45 year itch. Will soon be sending it to QRP Gunsmithing in Nampa, ID.

 

[flgolfer29]

That's going to be a sweet shooter.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[TheTinMan]

Looks sweet!

 

[jc2721]

I'm sure you did your due diligence with your selected gunsmith--my only objection to "smolts" has been the blending (or more precisely, the LACK thereof) of the barrel rib to the frame. Personally, I've seen several "professional" jobs where there was a noticeable gap or step in the joint.

EDIT--I just looked up QRP and the Smolt they offer looks great--your project should turn out nicely!

Keep us posted!

 

[S&W ucla]

Do they drill a hole in the barrel lug for the latch to support the ejector rod? Unsupported? Ball bearing like on M69? Always wanted one but too many $$$$. Looking forward to seeing yours.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Straight to jail for you!

Kidding aside that is a nice donor gun for a Smolt! I’ve been wanting to get a smolt made myself and have an 8” barrel that’s in pretty good shape but no donor frame to speak of yet. My rough plan is a blued model 19 frame with nickel barrel and cylinder then some fancy presentation grips.

Looking forward to seeing pics when yours is complete.

 

[CALREB]

WELL,,, to show you my disgust, If you need a full length stainless extractor rod , be glad to send you one.... I think all the Davis Smolts just had a ball and detent or 2. Good luck. looking forward to more reports.,

 

[CH4]

WELL,,, to show you my disgust, If you need a full length stainless extractor rod , be glad to send you one.... I think all the Davis Smolts just had a ball and detent or 2. Good luck. looking forward to more reports.,

Thanks for the offer of the extractor rod. I was told that it’s provided. Looking forward to reporting back after it’s finished.

 

[CH4]

Do they drill a hole in the barrel lug for the latch to support the ejector rod? Unsupported? Ball bearing like on M69? Always wanted one but too many $$$$. Looking forward to seeing yours.

It’ll have a ball bearing detent on the crane. Should be into this project for less than a new Python.

 

[schutz5]

Good deal on the barrel! Hey, at a certain juncture in life,ya have to satisfy yourself first!

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Been intrigued by Smolts for a long time haven't found one. Only comment I have is if you're having a conversion done done why not have it done on a longer bbl Smith as the short Bbl Smiths are a premium currently? (not throwing shade just what my plan is)

 

[Venom6]

These were popular (if not common) in the late sixties and throughout the 70's. The rationale was that the Pythons were more accurate than the S&Ws most often used in PPC competition, but a lot of guys much preferred the Smith action, as the Colt tended to "stack." The Python barrels were tighter (Pearce has written that most of the dozens he slugged came out at .355") and "choke bored", meaning they got tighter by a thousandth from breech to muzzle (though that later changed). It was an expensive conversion, as the threaded diameter and direction were different. I had been told that the earliest Davis conversions tediously refitted the front locking point, as did a very few others. Most, including my Trapper (Alexiou) utilize the spring-loaded ball on the crane. The interest slackened considerably when S&W introduced the L-frame in the early 80's.

 

[CH4]

I share your view and have considered sacrificing a 6”, but I want a round butt and I have several 2.5” 686s.

 

[Borderboss]

When these started to become a "thing", I believe the accuracy angle was the reason. IIRC, the accuracy was borne of the fact that the Colt barrels are 1 in 14" twist while the S&W barrels are/were 1 in 18" twist, with the Colt barrels providing better bullet stabilization. I can't tell you if that's an accurate (no pun intended) opinion, but it's the one that was offered back in the day.

 

[Yendor357]

Like most of you, I’d heard the legend of the Choke Bored Python barrels. I always wondered how they achieved a choked bore. My Gunsmith told me how they did it. Colt would pull an abrasive impregnated lead ball or slug from the forcing cone to the muzzle. As the abrasive impregnated slug moved down the barrel, it would lose some of the abrasive, hence “cut” less. And presto! Choke bore.

I had an 8 inch Python back in the 90s. It shot .38 wadcutters like that is what it was designed to do. I once put 10 wad cutters in about an inch group from a 25 yard sandbag. But that gun would totally unscrew itself. Every screw and even the barrel would back out. I should have Loc-Tighted everything on that gun. But it didn’t like my 173 Lyman SWCs that my Smiths shot so well. So I foolishly sold it.

Smolts are cool. The new Colts have reduced that endeavor to an engineering exercise.

 

[410bore]

I have the exact same project in the works right now. The 2.5" early 686s are the only way to get a RB with the old style sight assemblies so they match up to the python rib correctly.

 

[Green Frog]

Not my cup of coffee, but as others have said, it should be a fine shooter. Also mentioned previously, you really have to please yourself. I’ve done it on a couple of guns and never looked back.
Of course you’re 25-30 years late for the PPC revolver craze… it would have been fun in that venue!
Froggie

 

[Patrick L]

No flogging here. Should be awesome.

Smolts are cool. And although I'm not in that crowd, if you firmly believe " those Colts go out of time, and the DA stacks so bad you can't shoot tbem!" then this solves the "problem."

 

[410bore]

My current 6” and the proposed 4”, it’s at the gunsmith and should be completed shortly

 

[CH4]

My current 6” and the proposed 4”, it’s at the gunsmith and should be completed shortly

Very nice!

Both 686?

Who’s doing the work?
Cost?