Smolt Smython
- Thread starter Tom_R
- Start date
It's quite feasible but not practical for a production gun.
OP
Tom_R
Member
I actually talked to him and was seriously considering having him do it. He knows what he is doing. I used a local shop to me that does great work. Yours came out really nice.
Protocall_Design
Member
The barrels tapered from .357 at the forcing cone to .355 at the muzzle. All the different barrel lengths were like that. How is that even possible? They were forged with a rifled and tapered mandrel in the bore. There was a different mandrel for each length. Inside done first, then machine the outside. These were production guns. They made thousands.
The Python barrels were more accurate with light target loads because of the tighter twist. The tapered part didn't hurt anything, but I've had PPC guns that shot just as well with a 1 in 10 to 1 in 14 straight bore. I think a 1 in 12 would be about the ideal twist for revos across the board, but no one makes that twist.
Doug M.
Member
I had heard of the K frame conversions, back when PPC ruled the roost. These were made for serious competitors. Most of us mortals cannot shoot well enough for the difference to be worth the money. While I'd not heard of a similar conversion on the L frame, I don't know why it could not be done. I don't much care for the full lug barrels anyway, so not worth it even if I could shoot that well.
FWIW, JoJos has a very good reputation; a prosecutor friend of mine in the area speaks very well of them, as do a couple other folks I know of nearby.
'
FWIW, JoJos has a very good reputation; a prosecutor friend of mine in the area speaks very well of them, as do a couple other folks I know of nearby.
'
OP
Tom_R
Member
JoJos does excellent work.
They are known for their work on 1911s, ARs and Glocks but John and Jody did a lot of revolver work back in the day.
He did an action job on this one for me and it is super smooth.
These were not commonly done on L Frames, but I really like L Frames better then K Frames, and there are so many Pre-Lock 686s out there. So I figured what the heck.
I can’t wait to shoot this some more. I’ll shoot some magnums when I get to an outdoor range.
I bet it will handle magnums with ease.
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StrawHat
Member
I was a competitor in PPC in the decades prior to self loaders becoming common in LE holsters. Most of us used Davis conversions but one fellow used a Travis Strahan and there were a couple others I cannot recall. I do not recall a single Smolt ever, at least not among the top places in the classifications. I do know when I got my 686, 6” for the Distinguished leg that opened my eyes. It was not long before my practice scores were close to my Davis scores. After several thousand cyclings of the action I opened it up and smoothed a few of the “sticking” parts and my scores were pretty much the same with both revolvers. I started using the 686 for both legs and did not notice a difference. Ho the er, when I quit the PPC game the revolvers I sold were the 4” and 6”, 686s and I still have my Davis revolver.
Kevin
Kevin
OP
Tom_R
Member
I’d love to see some pics of your Bill Davis Gun.
StrawHat
Member
I'm a huge fan of Smolts and Cougers. I've had a number of them built over the years, but have kept only these three, a 4" Couger built on a stainless Ruger Security-Six, a 6" Smolt built on a Model 66, and a 4" Smolt built on an old 2" model 15. The Couger and the 6" Smolt were built by Craig Maraviov in Woodland, CA, and the 4" blued Smolt was built by Mark Kearns. Both worked for Bill Davis. All shoot great!
Craig built this 6" Smolt on a 686-4 for me a few years ago. Since the -4 has the new rounded rear sight, I had him mill the rear sight cut to the end of the frame and weld an extension on the sight so it mated perfectly with the rib on the Python barrel. Was a great shooter, but I sold it.
Craig built this 6" Smolt on a 686-4 for me a few years ago. Since the -4 has the new rounded rear sight, I had him mill the rear sight cut to the end of the frame and weld an extension on the sight so it mated perfectly with the rib on the Python barrel. Was a great shooter, but I sold it.
Craig has built a number of Smolts on newer MIM/lock revolvers (L and N frame).
Nice looking gun Tom and nice shooting. Always like the look of a Smolt. Kevin, we need pictures of your Davis, Larry
StrawHat
Member
Not new photos but ones from earlier posts.
Not the stocks. Pachmyer grips shifted and caused two overlapping groups at 50 yards. I took a pair of checkered presentation K frame stocks and removed all that was not appropriate for my hand. This is what was left. I intended to sand them smooth and oil them but never got around to it!
I will try to get better photographs.
Kevin
Not the stocks. Pachmyer grips shifted and caused two overlapping groups at 50 yards. I took a pair of checkered presentation K frame stocks and removed all that was not appropriate for my hand. This is what was left. I intended to sand them smooth and oil them but never got around to it!
I will try to get better photographs.
Kevin
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OP
Tom_R
Member
I'm a huge fan of Smolts and Cougers. I've had a number of them built over the years, but have kept only these three, a 4" Couger built on a stainless Ruger Security-Six, a 6" Smolt built on a Model 66, and a 4" Smolt built on an old 2" model 15. The Couger and the 6" Smolt were built by Craig Maraviov in Woodland, CA, and the 4" blued Smolt was built by Mark Kearns. Both worked for Bill Davis. All shoot great!
Craig built this 6" Smolt on a 686-4 for me a few years ago. Since the -4 has the new rounded rear sight, I had him mill the rear sight cut to the end of the frame and weld an extension on the sight so it mated perfectly with the rib on the Python barrel. Was a great shooter, but I sold it.
These are awesome. I am going to get a rear sight that was meant for 2.5” guns and I believe will cover the full top strap as O have a gap there as well, and I want to close it up.
I also was somehow able to get an L Frame Target hammer for a 686 which Numrich had in stock. So I am going to get that on there too.
Your Smolts and Cuger are most excellent!
Thank You for sharing.
grizz700
Member
Back in the late 70's I had a Smith 27 that I sent to Davis and had a 6" python barrel screwed on to it. Sweetest gun I ever had. Needed family money so it went down the road. I still have a 2" python barrel from that era that I bought to put on a 19, never got around to it.
BubbaBlades
Member
Almost Pythons
The Ruger Security Six and both S&W Model 19s have Colt Python barrels. I hope that the person that built the 3" Smython did not take the barrel off of a factory 3" Python.
I shoot all three guns as well as I shoot a factory Colt Pythons.
The Ruger Security Six and both S&W Model 19s have Colt Python barrels. I hope that the person that built the 3" Smython did not take the barrel off of a factory 3" Python.
I shoot all three guns as well as I shoot a factory Colt Pythons.
StrawHat
Member
Okay, new photo time! I even put on some shoes! On the revolver, not me.
So, without further ado, the revolver.
Kevin
So, without further ado, the revolver.
Kevin
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