Time for a model 65 project. 4in. to 3 and round butt. No LadySmith.

[Allen-frame]

Greetings fellow forum friends and SmithaHolics.

, I bought a model 65 LadySmith barrel back in JUne and have
been looking for a donor gun ever since.

I did not want to dismember a perfectly good 3" model 65, just to have
the shrouded ejector rod barrel installed.

So, that left a 4" gun for a donor to the project.
I wanted the finish and fit to be good quality and inexpensive
would be good too.


Here is the auction: Model 65-3 Smith & Wesson Stainless .357 357 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com
Complete with bad flash pictures of a really clean gun.

Am I nuts to disassemble a perfectly functional 4" square model 65
just to build a 3 inch round butt shrouded without
, , the LADYSMITH' on the side plate.??

I found the donor on Gone Broker and it arrived yesterday.
Nice gun. Buggered sideplate screws and worn service grips.
I did my usual K frame action job and it would be a perfectly good
shooter.

But , , , Here is my plan ;;

Round butt.

The grip frame is not serrated on the M&Ps so that is not a concern.

The serial # is centered so it will remain perfectly intact.

Replace the strain screw with a Allen-Head capscrew so no trouble
with the front of the grip frame.

Then , change out the barrel. The hardest part.
Then polish the barrel to
match the original finish of the gun.
NOT beadblast the gun to match the barrel.

I'll keep you all posted here on the progress.


Good luck

Allen Frame

 

[pj151]

The donor gun looks great as is but it's your time and money. They did make a crapload of SB 4" 65 so no one will feel bad if this was converted.

Cool project and I hope it works out nice.

 

[wnc wheelgun]

I can not wait to see the finished project! Sounds like a great project and what better way to get a 3 inch K. Post pictures when you finish this conversion.

 

[Engine49guy]

Allen from this angle it appears the shoulders of the K frame taper slightly,
Will that barrel mate flush to that frame or will you need something similar to a Model 66 or Model 14 style taper at the front?

If you do the barrel job first please post pics as a SB before RBing it.

 

[Allen-frame]

AND,,,,,,,,,,,, just like that, the round butting is done.



Hacksaw,,

Sanding with 80 then 220 with the frame masked off with duct tape.

Little bench grinder/polisher.

sand a pair of Magnas to fit the grip frame,,

And there she is.

Allen

 

[pj151]

Really? Hacksaw was strong enough to go through the metal on the frame? Looking great so far.

 

[bgrafsr]

I like it, looks very nice so far.

 

[Ashlander]

Allen: This a really cool -- thanks for all the photos.

 

[617X10]

Chopped and channeled! That's going to be a great looking gun when finished.

 

[357larry]

I think this is going to be a really cool gun when finished. The RB conversion is easier to do than people think. Post more pics when you get the barrel work done.

 

[Allen-frame]

I couldn't sleep. ( I work nights at the hotel.)


So I called Bubba and asked if I could use his vise.
He said come on over as he was followin' the thread and wanted to find out
how it ends.

Here are MORE pictures.



Bubbas shop.

barrel in vise in leather.

Gun was actually wrapped in duct tape and leather bound to protect it.

The new barrel indexed into place with reasonable force.

Actually this is a testimony to Smith and Wessons machining processes.

To think a barrel originally for a -5 engineering change gun will fit,
and index properly to, an earlier -3 is nothing short of fantastic.

Nothing used on the threads but a drop of oil.

Here it is completed except for the final polishing to give the finish consistency.


Not too bad for an afternoods work.

Notice the hammer has been 1/2 bobbed. Just the way I like it on a carry gun.

With the original 4 inch barrel. For sale by the way.

Sight picture.

Next to its cousin a model 65-5.

Barrel profile comparisons. 65-5 heavy ,and LadySmith 65-5.

With the Shado gun leather holster. From Rays holsters, Largo Fl.

May all YOUR project dreams come true!


regards
Allen Frame

 

[Engine49guy]

Allen it really is SWEET!
My OCD was trying to figure out why the frame and ejector shroud didnt line up perfectly when compared my Model 66 snub,
Then I remembered the 2nd ed had a picture of the M65 LS.

Surprised to find that the 65LS isnt a perfect mate either...

 

[C Islander]

Beautiful revolver, and nice job. I want one just like it. I think the 3" 65 is the grail of revolvers.

 

[Continental Op]

That's incredible. I'm really impressed, Allen-frame!

 

[Beachcomber]

Nice job Allen-frame and thanks for the pictorial step-by-step.

 

[BubbaBlades]

This project gun came out better than the pictures indicate. The barrel index was perfect for cylinder lock-up with about a 2/1000 gap. The action is very smooth. Allen and I have a bet going concerning the possible freeze-up of the action due to repeated magnum loads impacting the tight barrel to cylinder gap. That concern is scheduled to be investigated later this morning at the range. I'm sure that a range report will follow.
Mark aka Bubba

 

[SAFireman]

Allen,

Looks like a really neat conversion....instead of thinking if it as a 'Lady Smith', why not a 'Hunter'? there were very few of those made, and they used the same barrel

Great job, the 3" 65's are some of my favorite totin guns.

 

[Bat Guano]

Beautiful.

 

[twomoons]

great work allen
thanks for the narrative also

 

[Robert Finegan]

Nice project , thanks for sharing

-Robert