The Heavy Duty project; pictures are back 10 21 11, nearing completion

[Allen-frame]

Let's see. Where do I start? O.K. I guess this project started with a
stainless 45 Colt cylinder. I bought 2 years ago for $50 bucks at a small
show inOakland park.
Then, a mountain gun barrel on Gone broker for $36.

11-3150 Smith & Wesson 625-5 45LC 3-3/4" barrel : Barrels at GunBroker.com

So now where to find a gun in need of a 45 Colt conversion.
They are few and far between. Believe me. Especially in stainless.

So, now I remembers. An old Heavy Duty that I paid way too much for.
This was one of those deals we learn from. And learn hard.

Here was S89285, a 4" H.D. that had been reamed to 357 Magnum,
over buffed and rust blued badly. Top it off it has a ring in the bore.
Then to add insult to injury the trigger rebound slide PIN breaks off.

Sheesh. It has sat in the bottom of the safe for 5 years now.
I've always dreamed of sending it to Clements for a caliber conversion
but the $600. price tag to end up with a H.D. was just too much.

Then my brain puts the two of these ideas together.
Would the modern stainless parts fit on the old Heavy Duty frame?

We could only try.

1. The donor gun,,,,,,,,,,,

Pretty nasty, huh??

The guts.

The broken off rebound stud.

The 625 barrel and cylinder.

Duct tape to protect the frame.

Big giant crescent wrench to grab the frame.

The old barrel removed.

New barrel initial installation. About 1 5th. turn to go.

Filing the front of the frame to allow barrel to index properly.

New barrel indexed and torqued into place.

Old rebound stud drilled out from outside of frame.

Using a drill bit to create a new rebound stud.

Here is the new rebound stud turned down and ready to go,

.

.........................................................................................................


This is where I stand so far. Lets see if I can make the rest happen.

Good luck to you.

Regards
Allen Frame

 

[JSR III]

Very nice. Are you going to make it a pinto or refinish the gun to one finish?

 

[M29since14]

That's interesting. I understand you are trying to make this a low-budget operation, but I am curious what type of finish you might use, if everything works out OK - or will you just shoot it as-is?

 

[DCWilson]

Fascinating project, Allen. Keep us in the loop! I want to see this one taken all the way to the range report.

 

[Allen-frame]

As far as finish goes it all depends on how it shoots in the end.

As I look at it now , the front sight blade will have to be removed.
Once that is done I'm considering cutting and crowning the barrel to 3.5 inches. Then using the ramp base as the front sight assembly.

Kind of like I did with the model 28 project. Only this ramp will be narrowed
to simulate a fixed sight front sight.

IF ,all goes well I imagine sending it to Cogan custom for a hard chrome job.

We'll just have to see how it shoots.


HERE are some pictures of it as it is now assenbled and functioning.
I am working on breaking in the hand to ratchet relationship and it is tight.
There is no side movement and end play is 3 maybe 4 thousandths.
Easily adjustable with a end shake bushing.

I can not round butt it because the serial number is too far back on the grip frame.

A pair of P.C. Magnas or equivalent will have to do.

A



Regards
Allen

 

[H Richard]

The Pinto idea would intrigue me. A good blue finish on the frame, and hand rub the barrel and cylinder with Mothers Mag Polish to a mirror finish. Keep us posted on the decisions and progress.

 

[keithherrington]

This has got to be one of the most interesting threads I've seen on S-W Forum. Wish there were more like it.
Keith

 

[Allen-frame]

I have to tell you all that I was so angry and sad at myself for buying this H.D. in the first place.
I had no one to blame but myself.
Granted the seller was not the nicest guy, but the old adage; Caveat Emptor" "Buyer beware" was too true here.

IF ,this project resurrects this old H.D., and it shoots, I will be Oh, so> happy.

Regards
Allen F

 

[DCWilson]

I have also made a couple of bad purchases, or at least less good than I thought they were. I never mind experiences that teach me important lessons. Lemons, lemonade, that kind of thing. Looks to me like you are deep into the creation of a pitcher of delicious lemonade.

Will you get a longer ejector rod so the front pin will latch properly? Or you could perhaps just install a ball detente and do away with the need for a front locking assembly altogether. I have a nice 5" M27 barrel that has no front locking pin, but does have a notch for a frame-mounted detente. I'll be installing a ball when I make use of this barrel in a future project.

I agree this one might look nice as a pinto, but the fact is it will look great no matter what you decide to do with it.

Yes, fascinating thread.

 

[keith44spl]

HD Conversions

Allen-Frame,

One of my HD projects started much like your's...

A well used 4" HD

With a 28 cylinder re-chambered to .44Special and a 3" 624 barrel, wa-laa,

Shaved the rib down in height to mate up to the conture of the frame, milled the front sight blade from the ramp, installed a .100 ivory bead.
Applied a soft glass bead finish and black oxide...All there was to it.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[M29since14]

Nice looking job on the front sight, Dave.

 

[Allen-frame]

Yes! That's it. Very nice job Amigo.

Here are the new pictures of IT , as now the barrel has been cut
and ,with a rudimentary crown done, I shot it at my shop this afternoon.

It works!

Now all that is left is setting the headspace and fashioning a
front sight out of the old ramp base.

And yes, I am thinking a full length ejector rod AND a ball detent
lock on the yoke and frame mating point. A La triple lock.

Allen Frame

 

[Raider]

This is my kind of thread. I like saving old war horses.

Charlie

 

[keithherrington]

If you have trouble finding an ejector rod exactly the right length, Hamilton Bowen is supposedly making replacement rods in various lengths.
Keith

 

[WC145]

Great project and thread. Looking forward to seeing the final product.

 

[tennexplorer]

If you have trouble finding an ejector rod exactly the right length, Hamilton Bowen is supposedly making replacement rods in various lengths.
Keith

Since he has installed a cylinder with a left hand thread extractor, a new N-frame factory rod should work. Looks like he has a K-frame in it now, just for fitting.

 

[smokey04]

This is exactly the project I have in mind but I want it in .45 ACP and I want adjustable sights.I just need to find the frame. Nick

 

[Art Doc]

Was grinding the frame the proper way to do that?

 

[scooter123]

It may be bit "out there" but I think the if the frame were flame colored and the barrel and cylinder treated to a high polish you'd have a very interesting looking Pinto. Only issue is I have no idea of the effect of flame coloring the frame on the heat treat, might be an absolute disaster. However S&W did have those flame colored Classics a couple of years back, might be worth a call to see if it's possible and if they are willing to do it for a fee.

 

[Muley Gil]

"However S&W did have those flame colored Classics a couple of years back"

I believe you are referring to the color casehardened frames.