Interesting old S&W. Looks very nicely done. Would be fun to know who did the work. And yes, that is one of the Bowen target-type rear sights on your Ruger. Don't let it get away from you! 
Triple Lock target conversion (not King) - Tulsa, April 2014
- Thread starter Tom K
- Start date
Might as well add another example from this unknown gunsmith. There's a couple others on this board with modified guns from the same individual.
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OP
Might as well add another example from this unknown gunsmith. There's a couple others on this board with modified guns from the same individual.
Not necessarily unknown - information from David Carroll indicates that the gunsmith was Joe Lamping of Cincinnati, in the 1940s and '50s. Copy and paste from post #10, in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...s-w-1917-a.html?highlight=Cincinnati+gunsmith
"Looks similar to the hammer on a gun modified by Cincinnati gunsmith Joe Lamping. Here's some text and pictures from an old auction on Gunbroker by David Carroll (woodlawn boys):
SMITH & WESSON .44 HAND EJECTOR, 2ND MODEL TARGET -- 6 ½" barrel, original blue finish with non-medallion checkered walnut grips. A fabulous 1924-1925 mfg. revolver that was professionally altered in the late 1940's or early 1950's with the installation of a custom-made, solid full-length target-sighted barrel rib. This custom conversion was done by a then well-known Cincinnati, Ohio pistol-smith of the period, Joe Lamping, who was a serious competitive shooter as well. On the new barrel rib Mr. Lamping installed a S&W post-war rear sight assembly and a brass-bead ramp front sight. He also reconfigured the original hammer, added a trigger-stop screw in the trigger guard and honed the action to perfect smoothness. The satin-blue finish is 100% original and shows only light handling and use, the non-medallion grips are original and matching-numbered, the fit and function is flawless and the bore & cylinder chambers are mint. An awesome and very cool post-war period conversion N-frame, done by one of the early master gunsmiths !! Please see the numerous photos for all details and close-up views of the finish condition."
DWalt
Member
Another ancient posting arises from its tomb.
Thank you for the info. I had missed that thread when looking for info on these modified guns.
Modified
Member
I have one of those, whoever did them. Mine is an early 1917.
Never could figure out who did the work though. Only real clue is that the rear sight was dated to the 1950s I think. I forget the criteria, something like the number of grooves on top?
Anyway, this one is mine:
The lockup on it is kind of crazy, its rock solid like a colt. I've never seen someone do that to a S&W outside of this gun.
Edit: Regarding Joe Lamping. I haven't been able to find anything regarding this kind of modification yet. The only picture of his work I have is for a colt woodsman. He does come up a fair bit in old american rifleman articles though:
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
Never could figure out who did the work though. Only real clue is that the rear sight was dated to the 1950s I think. I forget the criteria, something like the number of grooves on top?
Anyway, this one is mine:
The lockup on it is kind of crazy, its rock solid like a colt. I've never seen someone do that to a S&W outside of this gun.
Edit: Regarding Joe Lamping. I haven't been able to find anything regarding this kind of modification yet. The only picture of his work I have is for a colt woodsman. He does come up a fair bit in old american rifleman articles though:
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
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