Winners: Best Modified, Rube & Accessory

[model3sw]

Final Results:

Best Modified / Customized S&W:

S&WCA member volunteer, (anyone jump in please) review votes to make sure correct. Confusing to determine with all the banter.

6 votes for #9 SixgunStrumpet, 1st model 44 DA cut barrel, bobbed hammer, carry.
(5 votes #69 Keith44SPL Three Fifty Seven / Forty Four Spl. / First year Registered Magnum)

First Prize: Choice of the S&WCA embroidered "whatchamacallit" or a "helpful hints" brochure.

......................................................................................

>>>> Best Rube Goldber-esque that started life as a S&W: goes to: Steelslayers post #38

described as: 1937 Brazilian, milled for adjustable sights, 357 cylinder reamed to 45 colt and cut for moon clips to fire 45 acp. grip frame reworked so I could fasten stock and get shape I wanted. 16 1/2" barrel installed. 2 lugs to hold fore stock and it has a front lug for ejector rod. Still needs a trip through the blue tank.

PRIZE: whichever of the 2 main prizes the winner of "Best Modified" does not want.

........................................................................................

and honorable mention for Best Accessory: post #57, SixgunStrumpet's unique, elaborate Roper stocks.


Votes for Best Modified / Customized S&W
Votes for Best Rube Goldberg-esque S&W
Votes for best accessory


ONE VOTE by NUMBER of Post in this thread. If more than one gun posted in that post, describe the winning gun.

>>>>>> Vote starting, May 1, 2018, Voting ends at Midnight 5/1/2018

We all had fun with Dave's ( Thinnes ) contest for the "prettiest" S&W back on 2/26/2018, I thought that we'd go on for another round.

This time, the best MODIFIED / CUSTOMIZED S&W revolver, starting now, ending April 30, 2018.

The most innovative, functional, professional gunsmith or hobbyist MODIFIED / CUSTOMIZED from standard model configuration to the most grotesque, Rube Goldberg-esque, entries are permitted.

UPDATED / AMENDED 4/18/18 (after seeing the Brazilian Rifle conversion. It's going to be tough to beat this one for the Rube award) :

There will be 1 winner for the best, no-nonsense, modified S&W Revolver
... and ...
1 consolation / booby prize (to be determined later) for the best Rube Goldberg-esque S&W.

I will ask members for votes on the best Rube Goldberg-esque S&W. A "Rube" entry can include FrankenGun S&Ws like this one:

Never Yet Melted >> Rube Goldberg's 48-Shot Revolver

but NOT "this" specific gun. You still must currently own or have previously owned it. NO CHEATING in this category, please.

And I will ask the membership to also judge on the best, no-nonsense, modified S&W. (This way I keep the few friends I have)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> HOLD ALL VOTES UNTIL May 1, 2018 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

PRIZE: S&W Helpful Hints brochure (original) Post Paid to the upper 48 United States. Alternate Prize to S&WCA members only: a woven blue S&WCA (emblem attached) belt-hanging pen and goodie holder that I have NO clue as to who made it, where it came from or what the heck the proper definition of this item is.

Rules: Must be a Smith & Wesson revolver you currently own or have owned in the past. At very least, it must have started life as a production model Smith & Wesson.

Modified / Customized could be as simple as a pair of stocks or custom finish to more elaborate reconstructive or enhancement type modifications. including engraving.

Value or rarity of your entry is not a consideration. An old S&W with a value of $200 S&W has the same chance as another worth $20,000, but please, serious entries only.

I reserve the option to ask for votes or to elect a member or members as assistant judge(s) ... or not.

I, being the impartial and sole judge, will not enter to win this worthless, errr, I mean "priceless" S&WCA novelty or a Helpful Hints brochure, that does have value. Good luck !!!

 

[old bear]

Well I don't own this one any longer, but my friend LTJL is giving it a good home. It's a 38/44 that shipped in 1939. At sometime the barrel was shortened to 3 ½", a Patridge front sight was installed along with a white outline in the rear sight, (This work is very similar to the Kings combat package). Then, someone who knew what they were doing did a fantastic action job. The lanyard ring hole was plugged, this made it necessary to re-stamp the factory serial number on the grip frame. Finally, to finish off all the custom work all the roll marks were polished off and the gun was refinished.

If I'm lucky enough to win, please send the prize to LTJL, as it's his gun now.

 

[bengal fan]

Here my favorite..
A 38/44 Transitional modified by King with his Super Police Night Sights.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Okay, Sal, I'll play

I pulled this out of the mailbox this afternoon (I received Craig Spegel's grips for it last week).

38 Chiefs Special (Baby), sn 11920, September 1952 (birth year), 1st style flat latch, smooth ramp front sight.

Smith work done by our very own TheShootest1894.

1. Bobbed hammer; hammer and trigger case hardened (redone)

2. Checkered back strap

3. Partially relieved trigger guard

4. Every so slightly beveled cylinder flutes

5. Extractor rod knob and flat latch reblued

6. Cerekote

7. Etched U.S. Air Force Chief stripes

Craig's work on the boot grips:

1. Specially made from Macassar Ebony to fit the Baby (lots different than a standard J boot due to the short grip handle)

2. Inset a 2000-vintage $5 gold piece (I bought it the year I retired from the 'Force)

A retired Navy Chief friend of mine calls this "taking vanity to a new level." I told him I got the idea from another retired Navy Chief (ISCS YODA) from the work TheShootest1894 did on his Model 64.

 

[LLOYD17]

No mystery that my new favorite is the chopped 1926 I picked up from Red9 recently. This is a W&K first shipment 5" nickel 44 3rd that along the way got chopped, added a RM rear sight with King blade, King-like front reflector sight, and the hammer got quite the custom treatment that really helps in SA cocking.

Once I got the sights adjusted she rewarded me with those middle 6 at 25yds (off a rest cause I aint THAT good).

 

[S&W ucla]

Since you mentioned "Rube" This is one of my favorites. Especially the sight adjustment lever. (50/100yds) Homemade cockeyed hammer, trigger stop, barrel rib drilled and tapped for Lyman 438 scope, some type of shoulder stock attachment. Reg #908 shipped 16 March, 1936 to Harkley & Haywood Vancouver, BC. Registered to O. Rollag Fort St. James, BC

Link to thread on this gun-
REG MAG- In The Arena

 

[Warren Sear]

You did THAT??? To a Smith & Wesson revolver??? !!!

 

[Art Doc]

OK. A 10-5 with full coverage engraving and ivory stocks.

 

[Modified]

I can't but go with this: Model 3, modified in 1943?















The thing is it feels fantastic in the hand. I do need to talk to one of the wood wizards here to see about completing the proper fit of the sandersons on there.

I just love that the gun was cut down, had the sight upgraded, sent back to the factory for a reblue, had some sanderson's adapted to (I would guess later because the trigger guard was also modified after the reblue to be more comfy), and then the big issue with the Model 3 DAs addressed: the hammer.

I especially love the notion that sometime in the 40s someone wanted a really fast reloading man stopper to conceal, and clearly thought that the old model 3 DA needed a few upgrades, and it would fit the bill perfectly. I can't say as they are wrong. Hell, if it weren't so unique I wouldn't have any compunctions about carrying it myself, today.

It's overall one of my favorite guns. I don't have much interest in the other DAs, but this one will be a prized treasure of mine for a long time to come.

 

[80sgyrene]

Started life as a standard 4" square butt 681.

I round butted it
Chopped the bbl and recrowned
Profiled the ejector shroud
Novak tritium front sight dovetailed in.
Hogue cylinder release
VZ grips

 

[model3sw]

I can't but go with this: Model 3, modified in 1943?

It's overall one of my favorite guns. I don't have much interest in the other DAs, but this one will be a prized treasure of mine for a long time to come.

I quit on all the 1st model Single Action .44s 20 years ago but I'd surely make an exception for this one. SWEET !

 

[Lt JL]

Old Bear was right about this .38-44 I bamboozled him out of. The action is like a hot knife through butter in DA, and you'd better be careful about what you're doing in SA. Like almost all Fred's guns, this one has super Grashorn grips, and Pat must have knocked himself out over these. I don't have to tell any of you old timers how it shoots; you know already.

 

[one eye joe]

We all had fun with Dave's ( Thinnes ) contest for the "prettiest" S&W back on 2/26/2018, I thought that we'd go on for another round.

This time, the best MODIFIED / CUSTOMIZED S&W revolver.

The most innovative, functional, professional gunsmith or hobbyist MODIFIED / CUSTOMIZED from standard model configuration to the most Rube Goldberg-esque entries are permitted.

PRIZE: original Helpful Hints brochure (original) Post Paid to the upper 48 United States. Alternate Prize to S&WCA members only: a woven blue S&WCA (emblem attached) belt-hanging pen and goodie holder that I have NO clue as to who made it, where it came from or what the heck the proper definition of this item is.

Rules: Must be a Smith & Wesson revolver you currently own or have owned in the past. At very least, it must have started life as a production model Smith & Wesson.

Modified / Customized could be as simple as a pair of stocks or custom finish to more elaborate reconstructive or enhancement type modifications. including engraving.

Value or rarity of your entry is not a consideration. An old S&W with a value of $200 S&W has the same chance as another worth $20,000, but please, serious entries only.

I reserve the option to ask for votes or to elect a member or members as assistant judge(s) ... or not.

I, being the impartial and sole judge, will not enter to win this worthless, errr, I mean "priceless" S&WCA novelty or a Helpful Hints brochure, that does have value. Good luck !!!

WOW---THIS IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA ! ! !

I WILL BE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THIS THREAD......

 

[model3sw]

Bob, (two-bit Cowboy)
Some might say that it's a butchered baby Smith. I think it's hot and certainly unique. Work looks outstanding.

LLOYD17- That's a hot .38-44 HD Target conversion. Nice !

bengal fan - I like all King conversions but that's really nice.

 

[Wyo]

Sure, I'll play. This began life as a 357 Magnum, 5 screw. Barrel was shortened to 3 1/2" and a King ramp sight off a registered magnum with a square ivory bead added. Rear sight is machined as a single piece, half adjustable - elevation only, not windage. Then the caliber was changed to Colt 45 and the barrel remarked to "45 Long Colt" ('cause the owner liked it that way). Finally, an action job, refinish in bright nickel and a nice set of Keith Brown coke stocks. Finally, credit where credit is due, the artist (and I do mean ARTIST) who did all this is none other than our own keith44spl.

 

[Pef]

I pulled this out of the mailbox this afternoon (I received Craig Spegel's grips for it last week).

38 Chiefs Special (Baby), sn 11920, September 1952 (birth year), 1st style flat latch, smooth ramp front sight.

Smith work done by our very own TheShootest1894.

1. Bobbed hammer; hammer and trigger case hardened (redone)

2. Checkered back strap

3. Partially relieved trigger guard

4. Every so slightly beveled cylinder flutes

5. Extractor rod knob and flat latch reblued

6. Cerekote

7. Etched U.S. Air Force Chief stripes

Craig's work on the boot grips:

1. Specially made from Macassar Ebony to fit the Baby (lots different than a standard J boot due to the short grip handle)

2. Inset a 2000-vintage $5 gold piece (I bought it the year I retired from the 'Force)

A retired Navy Chief friend of mine calls this "taking vanity to a new level." I told him I got the idea from another retired Navy Chief (ISCS YODA) from the work TheShootest1894 did on his Model 64.

There's a lot of examples of nice workmanship in this thread, but I must say the checkered backstrap on that old Chiefs Special is something to see!

 

[lamarw]

This is the only customized one I have, and I just bought it last month. It is a customized Model 10-7 for PPC shooting. It is basically like new, and appears not to of been fired. It came from the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Law Enforcement as a police trade-in. It was customized by Master Gunsmith Ken Eversull featuring a 6" slabbed sided, heavy contour custom barrel and a Bill Davis custom sight rib manufactured by Aristocrat. The rib has rear windage adjustments and front sliding elevation adjustments preset for 7, 25, & 50 yards. It is specially tuned for double action shooting. The hammer has been bobbed and has and installed trigger stop. It weights approx. 3 lbs. & 10 oz.

It want win on looks but if all of you had the chance to pull its trigger, you just might vote for it. I paid $584.00 for the revolver at a Law Enforcement Distributor's Auction. They sold 6 or 7 of them from the same law enforcement agency over about a month's period of time. Not sure what the story was on this group of revolvers. All were either Model 10-6 or 10-7 if I recall correctly. I don't think Mr. Eversull has done this kind of work for many years.

 

[Hondo44]

Sure, I'll play. This began life as a 357 Magnum, 5 screw. Barrel was shortened to 3 1/2" and a King ramp sight off a registered magnum with a square ivory bead added. Rear sight is machined as a single piece, half adjustable - elevation only, not windage. Then the caliber was changed to Colt 45 and the barrel remarked to "45 Long Colt" ('cause the owner liked it that way). Finally, an action job, refinish in bright nickel and a nice set of Keith Brown coke stocks. Finally, credit where credit is due, the artist (and I do mean ARTIST) who did all this is none other than our own keith44spl.

I agree this is another excellent example done by keith44spl, and he has done many! However my vote for the most uniquely modified HE, before it's even shown here, is Dave's "44 Spl Outdoorsman Triple Lock" that he recently created and posted on this forum.

For a sneak peek, go here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...y-target-post-39-a.html?highlight=triple+lock

 

[WCCPHD]

Modified S&W

My only modified gun is this Model 25-2 done by John Jovino, Co. in New York. It began life as a six inch square butt. Barrel cut to 2 5/8 inches, round butted, hammer modified to a "teardrop" and action job.

 

[Grayfox]

Some years ago I came across a bare nekkid Model 28-2 frame. The barrel was originally a 6" 25-2. Added a 25-5 cylinder and various other parts, including A C&S Extreme Duty rear sight to create this .45 Colt belly gun.