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Old January 5, 2013, 08:26 PM   #1
therealtwitch
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Can you custom order j-frames with deferent barrels?

I just sold my lcr357 and loved the gun but the awkward trigger guard made it a pain to find holsters for.

After looking at s&w's website I basically want the 340pd in steel. But the only internal hammer j-frame s&w makes in all steel is the 640 which has a 2.1 inch barrel as opposed to the 1.87 barrel of the more traditional j-frames. I love the look of the 640 but the diffrent barrel worrys me. Something as minuscule as a trigger guard made it a pain to find a good holster for the lcr. I am concerned the barrel will do the same.

So my question is this: does anyone know if s&w will let you custom order the 640 with the 1.87" barrel?

I would mostly be using the gun for pocket carry so the shorter overall legnth would be better for me but one can't rule out belt carry.

Any help would be very appreciated
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Old January 6, 2013, 02:31 PM   #2
P5 Guy
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S&W 640

You are talking a quarter inch shorter barrel. My personal opinion is the grip one picks makes more difference in pocket-ability. And I'd use a pocket holster.
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Old January 6, 2013, 05:17 PM   #3
Shadi Khalil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P5 Guy View Post
You are talking a quarter inch shorter barrel. My personal opinion is the grip one picks makes more difference in pocket-ability. And I'd use a pocket holster.
I agree with P5 and I doubt S&W would sell you one. You might just have to take/send it to a gunsmith who can cut the barrel.
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Old January 6, 2013, 06:04 PM   #4
savit260
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There are wagon loads of holster makers that make nice stuff for the LCR as well as all the J frame lengths.

Contact any one of them , and they will make you what you need.
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Old January 6, 2013, 07:19 PM   #5
Dfariswheel
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The S&W Performance Center is S&W's custom shop.
Contact them and ask. They can do most anything you can pay for.
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Old January 6, 2013, 08:03 PM   #6
savit260
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For the princely sum of $29, you can have a custom made, high quality pocket holster made for your LCR or 640 if you choose.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/order.html

A heck of a lot cheaper than have S&W PC build you a gun with 1/4" shorter barrel.
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Old January 6, 2013, 08:55 PM   #7
therealtwitch
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As I said the lcr is gone. I understand I can order a holster from any number of places. But just about any place that sells hand guns has j-frame holsters in stock without the need to special order. Hence my desire to go the j-frame route this time.

I will be calling s&w but can't until tomorrow. I was just wondering if what I want was unheard of. Kinda sounds like it is.
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Old January 6, 2013, 10:19 PM   #8
Bob Wright
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A few years ago Smith & Wesson would not build a custom ordered gun. Nor would they make a custom made gun in the Custom Shop. They do make custom guns in the Custom Shop, but not to individual specifications. Tried that route myself several years ago.

But, usually your gunsmith will have a number of take-off barrels on hand that he can replace for you. Try this route.

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Old January 7, 2013, 06:20 PM   #9
Nathan
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Most std j frame holsters fit the 640 just fine. My pocket holster has the barrel sticking out 1/8th inch. . .It is a non'issue. The OWB and IWB fit like they were made for it. . .
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Old January 7, 2013, 08:46 PM   #10
therealtwitch
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S&w indeed will not do it.

Thanks nathan that is good to know. I think it will mostly be pocket carried so knowing it will fit a pocket holster helps alot
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Old January 7, 2013, 09:40 PM   #11
Dave T
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I believe you will find that the 1.87" barrel is on the 38 Special version while the 2.1" version is chambered for the 357 Magnum. And, as others have said the difference in barrel length will probably not affect holster fit. Every holster maker in the world builds at least one model for the generic "2 inch" J-frame S&W.

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Old January 8, 2013, 12:12 AM   #12
therealtwitch
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That's not actually the case. What you said is true for the all steel guns. But the 340pd is chambered in .357 with a 1.875" barrel. However it has a scandium frame which I don't care for
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Old January 8, 2013, 05:44 PM   #13
savit260
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Quote:
As I said the lcr is gone. I understand I can order a holster from any number of places. But just about any place that sells hand guns has j-frame holsters in stock without the need to special order. Hence my desire to go the j-frame route this time.
So basicly, you're willing to custom order a gun so it will fit an off the rack holster, but not interested in custom ordering a holster to fit your off the rack gun.... ok.

Seems an odd way to go about it to me, but hey... there's nothing stopping you from going that route.
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Old January 8, 2013, 11:20 PM   #14
therealtwitch
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Actually there is. They won't do it. And yes that is exactly what I would do if I could. The holsters come and go. The gun I plan on keeping around for a while
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Old January 9, 2013, 06:28 PM   #15
savit260
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Any of the better gunsmiths could rebarrel a J frame for you with a custom made barrel.... for a price.

Alan Harton, Hamilton Bowen, Dave Clements, Jim Stroh etc. etc. should be able to do what you want and then some.

Last edited by savit260; January 9, 2013 at 06:34 PM.
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Old January 9, 2013, 06:56 PM   #16
Grant D
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I have a model 36 with a 1.875" barrel, a model 37 with a 1.875" barrel,
a model 637 with a 1.875" barrel,and a model 60 with a 2.125" barrel.

They all fit in the same holster,and I don't notice any difference between them in my pocket either,other than the weight,the 37,and 637 are lighter than the 36, and 60.
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Old January 10, 2013, 11:16 AM   #17
fireman1291
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Have you thought about just buying the M&P340? It has a steel cylinder and having shot both the M&P340 and the 340PD(own it) the M&P is much easier on your hands. After all, it is a carry gun. You can get a clipdraw for it and then you don't even need a darn holster.
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Old January 10, 2013, 11:28 AM   #18
James K
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Unless my on-screen calculator got tired counting Bill Gates' money, 2.125 - 1.875 is .25, or 1/4 inch. There are darned few holsters made that won't allow for 1/4 inch either way. As for any other differences, they would be negligible. Velocity? Sight radius? Weight? No real differences.

Jim
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