The Hummingbird

[45Wheelgun]

Experts say, based on what we know of aerodynamics and flight, a hummingbird should not be able to fly and yet it does.

This is my S&W Hummingbird.

The barrel is dark and the rifling weak. When the barrel was cut, it was a straight cut, there is no crown to the barrel. At some point someone reamed the cylinder and now a .45acp round will drop right through. While a 45colt round will fit, the cylinder will not close as they stick out just a bit. Now a gun with weak rifling, no crown and a reamed cylinder shouldn't shoot worth a darn.

And yet it does.

The targets below show what it will do at 25' off hand. The top target is single action with a called flyer (I did it, not the gun) the lower target double action. The targets on the left were shot by SMITH357 with his Model 14-3.

The gun itself is rather interesting don't you think? Merry Fitz-mis to me!

 

[Iggy]

That's a good lookin' "workin' gun" and you and it make a pretty good team.

I keep looking for a prospect for something just like that.

Thanks for posting.

 

[DCWilson]

The mind boggles.

I do not believe that I have ever in my entire life seen a gun with both a cut-away trigger guard AND a trigger shoe.

That hammer looks like it was made by the same guy who did the customized hammer for that Heavy Duty over in its own thread.

So at some point this 1917 was snubbed, had the trigger guard cut, got an adjustable rear sight mounted as well as a red ramp front of a configuration that I don't immediately recognize, and was tricked out with a welded-up hammer and a trigger appliance.

And the whole thing actually shoots where it aims. Consistently. Will wonders never cease!

That gets about 9.8 on the coolness scale.

By the way, I haven't been able to hit things as well with a K-38 Masterpiece as I have with fixed-sight N-frames. Must be something defective in the Masterpiece design.

 

[A10]

This one looks like something that was fairly common with the post-war 1917's, making them into a pocket gun (pretty big pocket!). The trigger guard cutaway was supposed to make you faster on the trigger, guess I don't quite understand that one either....I was told this by an old-school gunsmith that had a shop in the Washington Tri-Cities in the late 70's. The guy was an artist, one of the few I ever trusted with my .45

 

[Art Doc]

I can hang with everything except the chopped trigger guard. Can't deal with that. Never understood why it was done and frankly find it an abomination. All the other modifications make it interesting, but the hacksaw work kills the deal for me.

 

[bettis1]

The mind boggles.

I do not believe that I have ever in my entire life seen a gun with both a cut-away trigger guard AND a trigger shoe.

That gets about 9.8 on the coolness scale.

I agree about the coolness scale...and also about the TG and shoe. It would probably be hard NOT to shoot yourself in the leg with that one. Best advice would be to just carry it around hooked to the end of your arm.

Bob

 

[Dave T]

Curiosity makes me ask...wonder what a smith would charge to build a trigger guard on there? Sure would like it better if it could be fixed. (smile)

Dave

 

[4864]

If the shoe fitz wear it!

 

[45Wheelgun]

So at some point this 1917 was snubbed, had the trigger guard cut, got an adjustable rear sight mounted as well as a red ramp front of a configuration that I don't immediately recognize, and was tricked out with a welded-up hammer and a trigger appliance.

Very good explanation of what happened to it.

A couple of things you couldn't see in the pictures. It is a 1917 Commercial. Note the S&W logo below the cylinder release. The cylinder is numbered to the gun, the barrel and grips are not.

The rear sight is from a M27 and was really well done. I removed it for cleaning and it is milled into the frame just like my M25 is. A very professional job - Unlike the hammer modification. It is almost as if two different people worked on this gun.

 

[Iggy]

It is clear that someone knew what he wanted to get the job done.

That is one cool gun.

I wouldn't clip the trigger guard myself, but the rest of the mod's are strictly business.

 

[29aholic]

Dang...I knew I shoulda bought that thing. Glad it shoots Dave, now you just gotta fancy it up a little.

 

[Plottman Pops]

David,
I've wondered how that gun would shoot since I held it at Tulsa. Glad it does so good, it sure has a lot of personality.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Just because I'm anal, it's the bumble bee that isn't supposed to be able fly, not the hummingbird.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Just because I'm anal, it's the bumble bee that isn't supposed to be able fly, not the hummingbird.

I think we both may be right, I have heard that about bees as well. I am far from an expert. According to popsci.com:

"The hummingbird is an animal that by all rights shouldn't be able to fly. Its wing movements are not at all like that of other birds. But not only can they fly, they're so good at it that they're the only species which can fly backward. "

 

[45Wheelgun]

Dang...I knew I shoulda bought that thing. Glad it shoots Dave, now you just gotta fancy it up a little.

I'm just glad you bird-dogged it for me. As far as fancy goes, it is going to get a new set of grips, but after shooting it, I may just leave it as is.

Before I shot it, when I assumed it wasn't going to shoot well, I had contemplated getting a 3" nickle barrel from Numrich and a new cylinder, have it plated and make a pinto out of it. Now? I don't think I am going to touch it.

 

[moosedog]

That Hummingbird has a bite to it, and a pretty accurate one at that.
Very cool.

 

[153]

I wouldn't be surprised if the target hammer, trigger shoe and sights were additions AFTER the trigger guard was "fitzed" and the barrel cuff off...

 

[Mickey Rat]

I always wanted a S&W or a Colt 1917 but I couldn't afford one (or maybe justify it) or didn't really want one that bad.

Here is my "butchered" Colt New Service in 455 Eley. The S&W rear sight and the ramp front sight are a nice touch (to me) because I can see them. It also has a trigger shoe and shoots great! It was $400.00 out the door. I did have to do a little work cleaning up the rear of the cylinder where it had been faced off for moon clips. Full moon clips wouldn't quite seat. I still have to champher the cylinder for the moon clips to just drop in.

[/IMG]

 

[gizamo]

It's interesting ~ a Target Fitz...

 

[handejector]

That appears to be a hammer spur from a factory Target hammer.

Maybe Lew Horton's granpa and Fitz were havin' a few drinks one afternoon......