Smolt

[Lt.Donn]

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

WOW! That is sweet... I'll bet she's a tack driver

 

[Lt.Donn]

And they shoot better than they look. Davis was a master with trigger jobs. Even on Rugers.

Davis PPC guns were highly priced in the day

 

[CajunBass]

I've never so much as actually seen one, but it's been a "grail gun" for about 50 years for me. Man, they were COOL back in the day. I drooled over every magazine I saw with a Smolt on the cover.

I doubt now I'd ever buy one (couldn't afford it), but man I sure admire them.

 

[Riposte1]

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.

I bought one and gave it to the son for Christmas some years back - it is a nickel M-19 with a 6" python barrel. Need to take a pic.

Ours was built by Bill Davis in CA. Not sure of the date?

Riposte

 

[Riposte1]

Davis PPC guns were highly priced in the day

There was actually some praticality to the Smolt - the Colt rifling was slightly faster than the typical S&W and was allegedly an improvement on the typical S&W - of course the commercial bull barrels people put in PPC guns could be had in any twist one wished.

Riposte

 

[Rodan]

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.

More detail is necessary for any kind of accurate valuation. 3" original Python barrels, especially stainless, are exceptionally valuable. The 3" Pythons sell for exorbitant prices, and the barrels are sought after for conversions. If it's built with a new Python barrel (not even sure if that's possible) that changes things. The 'smith who did the conversion will also have an effect on the value if that provenance is available. A Davis built gun will bring a premium over a home built gun.

I have not followed the market recently, but a couple of years ago, it was not uncommon for Smolts with provenance to bring $2k+ on the auction sites.

My Smolt is built on a 2.5" M19, and was built by Frank Glenn a few years ago.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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

A few cops I worked with had them. I thought it was a great idea in 1979 but when S&W came out with the L Frame in 1980 it became a moot point.

It is a fond nostalgic memory but I would not buy one today.

 

[Riposte1]

More detail is necessary for any kind of accurate valuation. 3" original Python barrels, especially stainless, are exceptionally valuable. The 3" Pythons sell for exorbitant prices, and the barrels are sought after for conversions. If it's built with a new Python barrel (not even sure if that's possible) that changes things. The 'smith who did the conversion will also have an effect on the value if that provenance is available. A Davis built gun will bring a premium over a home built gun.

I have not followed the market recently, but a couple of years ago, it was not uncommon for Smolts with provenance to bring $2k+ on the auction sites.

My Smolt is built on a 2.5" M19, and was built by Frank Glenn a few years ago.

Old 3" Pythons are pretty rare - I recall an article by one of the guys at Rock Island Auctions back when Pythons went through the roof - he said in the bast year the average price for a 4 or 6" python sold through the aucton was $4000, the average price of a used 3" Python was $12,000!

Of course the prices have come down now that you can buy new Pythons, and the 3" seems to be one of the most popular.

Not the same gun of course but that doesn't seem to matter.

I happen to have a 3" Python, it has a nice trigger but not as nice as my Jerrry Moran 4" which has the duty version which kept the SA feature - it has a 5 lb 2 ounce DA pull!



Riposte

 

[Hondo44]

Since high school 65 years ago my best friend wanted a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a ribbed barrel. He'd had the Ruger SBH for years and it needed a refinish. Six years ago he found an 8 3/8" .44 mag model 29 barrel. we cut down and installed. Now he is very happy with his 6 1/2" "Super Smith"!

We polished it ready for bluing. After 6 years of use the finely polished surface remains the same with only routine cleaning and oiling. He'll never blue it now. It's a great shooter!