What Would You Do?

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


A while back, I purchase a No. 3, 2nd. model and the barrel
was hacked off and I don't like the look. Personally, I am in-
clined to redo the end and make it look more like the way
S&W did it.

Now I understand about preserving History and all that but I
wouldn't consider this a major infraction. How do you see it?


Cheers!
Webb

 

[Patbar]

Webb, you should redo right away because this muzzle end is really ugly !

 

[otis24]

If it has already been hacked, someone else has already ruined its history. Redoing as best as possible is simply mitigating the damage and righting a wrong!

 

[gwpercle]

Re-crown the barrel , make it look good ... like factory crown .

Clean , lubricate and as the Swamp People would say ...

... Choot 'Em !
Gary

 

[murphydog]

I see no problem in making an altered muzzle look factory-like again. Others should be along with advice on how to do that, or a gunsmith recommendation.

 

[Patbar]

If possible you should also buff out the remnants of the engraving at the muzzle.

 

[mm93]

I'd prefer an original barrel length, but if properly crowned a shortened barrel isn't a deal breaker for me. I'd give it a proper crown, and touch up the redone crown and be happy with it.

 

[Boulder350]

Webb,

What does the top of the barrel look like? How far from the patents is the front sight?

I would crown it and make the end of the barrel engraving look like it was not cut off too. It would look better if it looked like it was professionally cut of, in my opinion. Beautiful engraving!

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


Thanks for the replies. I can see most of you are of the same
opinion as I am.

The Barrel was shortened twice (from what I can determine).
The front sight is just beyond the "WESSON" in the top legend.
The slot for the front sight nicks the crown. It is this that
makes me think it was shortened a second time.

I remember there was a member here that did restoration
engraving. After I re-crown the muzzle, I would like to dis-
cuss what possible touch-up work could be done to make it
less obvious it was cut off. Or at least, make it more pleasing
to the eye.

Here is a pic of the whole revolver.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[mmaher94087]

Webb, you might consider lopping another 1/2" off the barrel and then re-crowning it. That would remove that pesky engraved scroll work but won't help with the barrel address issue. Noce revolver.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Definitely needs recrowned and some cleanup. But what a fun project.

 

[mm93]

Seeing the whole gun now I'm even more inclined to fix the crown and then leave it alone. I'm sure if the engraving were all restored the engraving would look great. But then do you stop there, or restore the whole gun? In my opinion I'd stop at fixing the crown.
I think it's a lovely old Smith, and has a lot of character too.