S&W purists... look away... ugly gun gets lipstick... how'd I do ???

Magnum Wheel Man · August 29, 2014, 06:56 AM

before... antique S&W #2... barrel was cut by some former owner to make it more concealable, & ugly wood grip added... this gun was carried way more than shot, as the function is perfect... cosmetics... err... not so much... BTW... I used this gun to re-qualify for my last CCW renewal, & out shot a lot of the newbies with their bottom feeders

after... 6 months wait, which was worth the while ( IMO ) what little nickel left was stripped, the gun was polished out & blued to what they called master blue... I added a serration to the top sight rib, prior to the cosmetic work, to remove the 1/2 factory stamping on the barrel rib, they did a gold filled 38 S&W engraved on the side cover, & gold plated hammer & spur trigger... oh... & I had these grips I ran across a while back ( the grips were actually worth more than the gun to start with )

how does she look today??? my 1st "painted lady"

kutz · August 29, 2014, 07:03 AM

WOW !

CWKahrFan · August 29, 2014, 07:25 AM

Now there's a one-of-a-kind unique gun... Like it!

smee78 · August 29, 2014, 07:44 AM

That looks good, I think it is better in its current state than before, you just finished the job someone started

.

lee n. field · August 29, 2014, 08:47 AM

Everything's in good shape and functional? heck, go for it!

Black powder, or smokeless?

Quote:

BTW... I used this gun to re-qualify for my last CCW renewal, & out shot a lot of the newbies with their bottom feeders

<snicker> Just thinking about the befuddlement of others present as clouds of BP smoke waft downwind.

Magnum Wheel Man · August 29, 2014, 08:59 AM

Thanks for all the positive comments... I know this had little collectability, with the barrel chopped, so I didn't feel guilty with the custom work I did... I actually prefer to collect old custom guns, S&W made 1000's in the factory configuration... I think something that someone customized to make it a better CCW gun is cool...

this was / is a black powder cartridge gun, but I have several loads I've shot it with over the several years I've owned it, using Trailboss ( this gun has actually fired all 3 load levels of my 38 S&W handloads using Trailboss ) I think now that she's pretty, I won't feed her any of the hotter loads any more... only pop gun, & general range use, no dedicated self defense loads anymore

Ozzieman · August 29, 2014, 12:40 PM

You took a gun that at one time had a high value but that value was taken away before you purchased it,
You took that ugggly beast and made it into a very handsome gun. The value now must be much higher and not just for you.
Nice work

Salmoneye · August 29, 2014, 12:51 PM

I'd take her to the dance...

James K · August 29, 2014, 12:52 PM

I have used that trick of putting J-frame grips on older S&W's and I don't think they are that ugly, but the new grips look a lot better. Since the gun was ruined as a collectible, the final result was good.

Is such a gun a good carry gun? It is slower than a DA revolver or most auto pistols, but it is very concealable and adequately powerful.

Jim

Bob Wright · August 29, 2014, 01:18 PM

I like that very much.

Makes me a little jealous.

Bob Wright

357 Python · August 29, 2014, 05:54 PM

Beautiful reserection. The only thing I might have done differently would have been to put the 38 S&W on the right side of the barrel instead of the sideplate. Either way, outstanding.

bedbugbilly · August 29, 2014, 08:03 PM

Hey . . . I think it looks terrific! I love it when someone rescues these "oldies" that otherwise would probably be parted out. That is one nice little revolver and you did a beautiful job! I would imagine it is a fun little gun to shoot as well. Thanks for posting the photos - I love good "gun ****" of more "matte" models!

Webleymkv · August 29, 2014, 10:55 PM

That's quite a classy little gun. If you don't mind my asking, who did the refinishing work for you (I was under the impression that S&W would no longer work on guns that old due to parts availability).

loknload · August 30, 2014, 07:57 AM

Looks great!

Enjoy!

Driftwood Johnson · August 30, 2014, 12:03 PM

Howdy

At least it wasn't a Baby Russian. 38 Single Action, 2nd Model. Here's mine. Not quite so pretty as yours, but everything is original.

Magnum Wheel Man · September 2, 2014, 06:21 AM

Thanks for the positive comments guys... WEBLEY... the gun functioned perfectly, so no parts were needed... the cosmetic work was done by Ahlman's in Morristown MN

DRIFTWOOD... I have a long barrel #2 ( 6" ) in very similar shape as the one you pictured... also have a S&W #1.5 that is very similar to my pictured #2 ( nickel is better ) but also had the barrel shortened... for that one, I found some 60-70's Gil Scottie Redwood grips, I added some nickel S&W medallions to those grips... after I get a couple others done, lil brother will go in, & also get a master blue, nickel hammer & trigger, & silver filled 32 S&W on the side cover... ( I went with gold accents on the 38, because of the brass S&W medallions... will go with silver accents on the 32 because of the nickel medallions ) I think the pair will be quite stunning...

but I have 2 other guns in line for work, before the lil 32... one of which is my Walker cartridge conversion gun

skoro · September 2, 2014, 09:06 AM

MWM -

That's a real nice job of renewing an old shooter that still has some life left to it.

Enjoy!

August 29, 2014, 07:25 AM	#3
CWKahrFan Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2010 Posts: 2,016	Now there's a one-of-a-kind unique gun... Like it! __________________ What did Mrs. Bullet say to Mr. Bullet? ... "We're having a BeeBee!"... IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!... IF THE GUN FITS, SHOOT IT! "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

August 29, 2014, 07:44 AM	#4
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	That looks good, I think it is better in its current state than before, you just finished the job someone started . __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

August 29, 2014, 08:59 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Thanks for all the positive comments... I know this had little collectability, with the barrel chopped, so I didn't feel guilty with the custom work I did... I actually prefer to collect old custom guns, S&W made 1000's in the factory configuration... I think something that someone customized to make it a better CCW gun is cool... this was / is a black powder cartridge gun, but I have several loads I've shot it with over the several years I've owned it, using Trailboss ( this gun has actually fired all 3 load levels of my 38 S&W handloads using Trailboss ) I think now that she's pretty, I won't feed her any of the hotter loads any more... only pop gun, & general range use, no dedicated self defense loads anymore __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

August 29, 2014, 12:40 PM	#7
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	You took a gun that at one time had a high value but that value was taken away before you purchased it, You took that ugggly beast and made it into a very handsome gun. The value now must be much higher and not just for you. Nice work __________________ It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe. Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe.

August 29, 2014, 01:18 PM	#10
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	I like that very much. Makes me a little jealous. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

August 29, 2014, 07:03 AM	#2
kutz Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 393	WOW !

August 29, 2014, 12:51 PM	#8
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	I'd take her to the dance...

August 29, 2014, 12:52 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have used that trick of putting J-frame grips on older S&W's and I don't think they are that ugly, but the new grips look a lot better. Since the gun was ruined as a collectible, the final result was good. Is such a gun a good carry gun? It is slower than a DA revolver or most auto pistols, but it is very concealable and adequately powerful. Jim

August 29, 2014, 05:54 PM	#11
357 Python Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 941	Beautiful reserection. The only thing I might have done differently would have been to put the 38 S&W on the right side of the barrel instead of the sideplate. Either way, outstanding.

August 29, 2014, 08:03 PM	#12
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Hey . . . I think it looks terrific! I love it when someone rescues these "oldies" that otherwise would probably be parted out. That is one nice little revolver and you did a beautiful job! I would imagine it is a fun little gun to shoot as well. Thanks for posting the photos - I love good "gun ****" of more "matte" models! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

August 29, 2014, 10:55 PM	#13
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	That's quite a classy little gun. If you don't mind my asking, who did the refinishing work for you (I was under the impression that S&W would no longer work on guns that old due to parts availability).

August 30, 2014, 07:57 AM	#14
loknload Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 1999 Location: PA. USA Posts: 1,869	Looks great! Enjoy!

August 30, 2014, 12:03 PM	#15
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy At least it wasn't a Baby Russian. 38 Single Action, 2nd Model. Here's mine. Not quite so pretty as yours, but everything is original.

September 2, 2014, 06:21 AM	#16
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Thanks for the positive comments guys... WEBLEY... the gun functioned perfectly, so no parts were needed... the cosmetic work was done by Ahlman's in Morristown MN DRIFTWOOD... I have a long barrel #2 ( 6" ) in very similar shape as the one you pictured... also have a S&W #1.5 that is very similar to my pictured #2 ( nickel is better ) but also had the barrel shortened... for that one, I found some 60-70's Gil Scottie Redwood grips, I added some nickel S&W medallions to those grips... after I get a couple others done, lil brother will go in, & also get a master blue, nickel hammer & trigger, & silver filled 32 S&W on the side cover... ( I went with gold accents on the 38, because of the brass S&W medallions... will go with silver accents on the 32 because of the nickel medallions ) I think the pair will be quite stunning... but I have 2 other guns in line for work, before the lil 32... one of which is my Walker cartridge conversion gun __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; September 2, 2014 at 07:08 AM.

September 2, 2014, 09:06 AM	#17
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	MWM - That's a real nice job of renewing an old shooter that still has some life left to it. Enjoy!