Smolt

[H30]

Is anyone familiar with the Smolt?
I have run across one for sale. It's a 66-1 with a 3in colt barrel. I understand they were supposed to be more accurate because of the twist rate of the colt barrel being faster. Is any of that true? It appears to be in very good shape.

 

[Beju]

The claim that I've read was that the Colt barrels were more accurate with 148 gr wadcutters. How much of that gain was inherent to the Colt barrels, and how much was due to being built by skilled gunsmiths, I couldn't say since I've never seen one in person, let alone fired one.

The heavier, full underlug barrel was also considered to be a plus for PPC competition.

 

[AudieMurphy]

heres mine..... I fit a 7 shot cylinder in it with python grips

 

[AudieMurphy]

Mines on a 686 frame......some day I'll get it nickle plated...just polished now

 

[Protocall_Design]

I've built a few over the years. The Colt barrel has a 1 in 14 twist, and it does help with accuracy and group size, especially with light (slow) target loads. The ones I made were either 4" or 6" barrels. I call it a Smython, others call it a Smolt.

 

[Venom6]

Also called the Smython, first built by Davis to include the front locking point. Idea was to combine the Python barrel, which featured a "choke bore" barrel which tapered .001" from breach to muzzle, supposedly increasing accuracy, with the S&W action which most preferred due to its consistent pull through double action versus the Colt's "stacking" action. Others mimicked the platform. Mine was done by Lin "Trapper" Alexiou and replaced the end-of-ejector-rod lock with a crane-mounted ball lock; in theory but not practice similar to current S&W design.

 

[Gunhohulk]

I have an 8" nickel Python barrel that I want to put on a 19-5 blued frame to make a pinto Smolt. Just haven't found the right donor 19 or a P&R 19 cylinder yet.

 

[Sevens]

From the same era came the "Cougar" or "Rython", the net result of a Python barrel mounted to a Ruger double action revolver.

Here is mine:


This was also built by Bill Davis as you can see here:



Built on a 1980-made Police Service Six. I have thusly named it PUGER… because I can!

 

[Printrep]

I've built a few of these, currently have a 4" & 6" made by Craig Maraviov Gunsmithing in Woodland, CA. Craig worked for Bill Davis originally. Here's my 6" based off a 66-3 with Culina Cocobolo grips.

 

[D1911]

I'm a big fan of the Smolt and Couger and have had a few built over the years by Marks Kearns and Craig Maraviov, both former Bill Davis smiths. I have three now, a Model 15 Smolt built by Mark, and a 66-2 Smolt and Security-Six Couger built by Craig. I'd still like to have an N frame built eventually. All are great shooting guns.

 

[H30]

My next question is for those that have them, is, do you like the gun? Was it worth the investment?

 

[H30]

I've built a few over the years. The Colt barrel has a 1 in 14 twist, and it does help with accuracy and group size, especially with light (slow) target loads. The ones I made were either 4" or 6" barrels. I call it a Smython, others call it a Smolt.

Could you give me and idea what a fair price would be on the one I mentioned in my first post??
When I looked at the gun I didn't ask how much.

 

[Bobafett]

please nobody call it (GP100/Python) a Groupon

 

[Sevens]

That's funny but I don't believe I have yet seen a Python barrel mounted to a GP-100. In Rugers, I have only seen them on the Service and Security Six.

 

[AudieMurphy]

Could you give me and idea what a fair price would be on the one I mentioned in my first post??
When I looked at the gun I didn't ask how much.

a price without a picture or actually examining it?

 

[H30]

a price without a picture or actually examining it?

I'm not sure what you're asking me.

 

[AudieMurphy]

I'm not sure what you're asking me.

I meant its difficult to price without a picture...sorry for any confusion

 

[mmande]

Several years ago I had Ten Ring Precision mount a 6" .22 Diamondback barrel on a model 18 frame. Of course when they do that everything is precision hand fit. It is one of the most accurate .22 revolvers I have ever shot and is now my main bullseye gun for the .22 portion. I also have a model 19 Smolt but prefer my 14-2 just because.
They just have a "cool" factor to us old timers. i.e. best of both worlds.
Mike

 

[H30]

I meant its difficult to price without a picture...sorry for any confusion

I would say it's looks as good as the one you have in post #3. Let's use that as an example.

 

[Yendor357]

Mike Heffron is going to put a 6 inch Python barrel on my old 686 No dash. But Mike is about 3 years behind….

So I did the only logical thing, I bought a second 686 no dash. Mike can take his time.

 

[tug700]

Jim Clark, founder of Clark Custom Guns, built the first SMOLT, or one of the first. Jim had a close working relationship with Smith and Wesson and a very good working relationship with Colt. Consequently, he had ready access to parts to assemble the original Smolt. Which I believe was the predecessor to the Smith 586/686 series.

 

[AudieMurphy]

I would say it's looks as good as the one you have in post #3. Let's use that as an example.

I'd say about $1,000 with the gun,barrel and labor of a gunsmith...I built mine by myself. But if calculated hours into what a gunsmith would charge at least a grand

 

[H30]

I'd say about $1,000 with the gun,barrel and labor of a gunsmith...I built mine by myself. But if calculated hours into what a gunsmith would charge at least a grand

Thanks.

 

[H30]

I'm going to guess that the thread pitch on the Colt barrel is different than S&W frame. What gets changed, the barrel, the frame, both?

 

[D1911]

heres mine.....View attachment 787148View attachment 787149 I fit a 7 shot cylinder in it with python grips

Any chance we can have a shot of the top strap of that gun? Looks like a Python top strap grafted on an S&W frame.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I'm going to guess that the thread pitch on the Colt barrel is different than S&W frame. What gets changed, the barrel, the frame, both?

The barrel gets re threaded from 32 to 36 threads per inch. I have only done older barrels with the 2 pin front sight. Some sources say that the newer 1 pin front sight barrels have the same threads as S&W. I don't have 1st hand knowledge if that is correct.

 

[H30]

The barrel gets re threaded from 32 to 36 threads per inch. I have only done older barrels with the 2 pin front sight. Some sources say that the newer 1 pin front sight barrels have the same threads as S&W. I don't have 1st hand knowledge if that is correct.

Ok, thanks.
I asked your thoughts on the price of this gun in post # 12. Did you miss the post, or choose not to reply?

 

[Protocall_Design]

It's hard to give an estimate without even a picture to go by. Not enough information.

 

[AudieMurphy]

Any chance we can have a shot of the top strap of that gun? Looks like a Python top strap grafted on an S&W frame.

yea, No problem...If you noticed on some of these builds the spot where the barrel meets the frame, the radius's are not straight across. They're uneven....I wanted mine to lookright.

 

[AudieMurphy]

yea, No problem...If you noticed on some of these builds the spot where the barrel meets the frame, the radius's are not straight across. They're uneven....I wanted mine to lookright.