Ventilated Ribbed Barrels on S&W Revolvers

[Muley Gil]

Gil,

I owned and competed with two L frames, a 6" and a 4". I even qualified with the 4" and carried it on duty for maybe a month before I went to the lighter Model 19. Way to much weight considering the cartridge it fires.

Kevin

My duty sidearms over the years included 1911s, 1917s, both Colt and S&Ws, .44 Specials, a .44 Magnum, .45 Colts and a M625 in .45 ACP.

I figured if I was going to carry a heavy revolver, it would have a big hole in the end of the barrel. Luckily, the department I was with the longest (23 1/2 years) had a policy of .38 special, 9mm or BIGGER.

 

[chief38]

Sort of surprised when S&W came out with the M586/686 that they neglected to produce a ventilated rib barrel. After all - competing with the Python was one of their goals.

Back in the early 1980's when I went to purchase a new Python, I was aghast by the $440.00 price tag! lol When I barked at the price the salesman promptly bought out a then new model S&W M586 for me to look at. I wound up buying that M586 for slightly more than half of what the Python was selling for. I always though that the lock-work and action of the M586 was inherently stronger and better than the old Pythons - but will say the new Pythons are pretty damned great IMHO!

 

[StrawHat]

My duty sidearms over the years included 1911s, 1917s, both Colt and S&Ws, .44 Specials, a .44 Magnum, .45 Colts and a M625 in .45 ACP.

I figured if I was going to carry a heavy revolver, it would have a big hole in the end of the barrel. Luckily, the department I was with the longest (23 1/2 years) had a policy of .38 special, 9mm or BIGGER.

The 45 caliber N frames with a tapered barrel weigh a bit less than the Model 19.

Those big holes add a lot to the mix!

Kevin

 

[stansdds]

Supposedly, the vents help cool the barrel, same as a vent rib on a shotgun. I really doubt that claim. Otherwise, a cool factor.

I prefer the solid rib of the S&Ws. And I agree that a half lug L frame should have been a standard option. I've never owned one, due to the extra weight.

No, ventilated ribs on revolver barrels can help with heat. Many, many years ago, when the GP-100 was new and I bought one with the full length underlug and 6 inch barrel, I tested it against a 6 inch Colt Python that happened to also own. Both were very accurate, the Python had the better trigger, but what I noticed in the sight picture as the tests went on was there was a lot of heat shimmer along the sight plane of the GP-100, not so much with the Python. I was testing by running 6 rounds through one revolver, then 6 rounds through the other, so heat build up would have been pretty much identical in both. In the end, I kept the GP-100 as it was accurate and the lock work was far more stout than that of the old Colt.

 

[Gunz50]

WALTER REGO ;
"Does anyone remember the advertisements in the gun magazines by the Polychoke company for ventilated ribs that were made for Ruger Blackhawks ? I guess they were epoxied on. I found this photo on the internet. Not something I would ever have done but for those who thought it was a good idea ........"

Well I not only remember these revolver/pistol ribs but I put one on my 7.5" Ruger Super BlackHawk that I installed back in the day, several thousand hand loaded rounds later it is still firmly attached and to me still adds a bit of class to the gun. I have another I mounted on a Ruger Mark III bull barrel 22 pistol, I like the look of that one also.

 

[D1911]

I'll throw in a few. First pic has my 6" 66-2 Smolt with my 4" Model 15 Smolt and a 4" Couger that snuck in the pic. Next pic is a 6" 686-4 and the last is a 6" Model 19. Still have the first three but let the last two go.
Shoulda' kept 'em!

 

[Nightowl]

I love those King ribs!! Make a good looking Smith into a great looking Smith!!

 

[Green Frog]

While it doesn't have a rib. This OMM HB and a model 15 are the beginnings of my 32cal smolt. I'm on the lookout for 2 model 17 cylinders. One for 327fed or 32h&r and one for a 32-20.

Be still my itching trigger finger! I'm too old now and still have too many projects left undone, but yours is a wicked-good idea!! I'm going to guess a ball lock on the crane to compensate for the loss of the barrel lug, right? If you get the lockup sufficiently rigid there, you should have a world beater. You might consider an Aristocrat or other rib like we used on bull barreled guns "way back when".

Too bad the old PPC matches for revolvers aren't as common as they were 25 years ago! That would be the huckleberry! BTW, Model 17/K22 cylinders have gone up tremendously… apparently there are a lot of guys out there building K32s of some description. I'm seeing K22 "parts kits" going for what a K22 was bringing just a few years ago. Kinda makes you wish Smith would hear the pleas for reintroduction of a K frame 32, huh?

To the OP, I'm sorry if I got sucked too far off topic, but I am seriously impressed with your King and King-esque offerings. Not to mention how those KB stocks that set my amphibian heart all a flutter! Thanks for starting a neat thread.

Froggie

 

[MuayThaiJJ]

I am a noob to S&W modifications, but I would really like to modify my Model 28-2 6" to look like this:

I like the full sight rib on top, like my old Clark 1911s. Any advice on how to go about modifying my 28-2?

thanks!
N

 

[Muley Gil]

I am a noob to S&W modifications, but I would really like to modify my Model 28-2 6" to look like this:

I like the full sight rib on top, like my old Clark 1911s. Any advice on how to go about modifying my 28-2?

thanks!
N

Welcome to the Forum.

Try Brownells catalog.

 

[Goony]

An article on building a "Smolt": The Custom S&W/Colt Hybrid Smolt Revolver - Gun Digest