Custom shop for revolvers?

jwise · November 29, 2018, 10:38 PM

I have an idea I would like to see happen. I want to buy a 6.5” S&W 629 and send it off for the following work:

-Bright stainless polish job
-black ionbond finish over the high polish job
-ported barrel
-tritium/fiber optic front sight

S&W Performance Center can do the bright polish job for $275. I don’t know about the front sight or porting. They won’t do the ionbond finish.

Is there anywhere that can do all of the above?

DPris · November 29, 2018, 10:53 PM

Call Cylinder & Slide and ask.
Denis

1stmar · November 29, 2018, 10:57 PM

For revolver work my first thought is always hamilton bowen. Though this is pretty routine work. Jim Milks from innovative custom guns is superb to deal with and does great work.

GeauxTide · December 1, 2018, 02:47 AM

Gallagher Guns in Jasper, AL is splendid.

T. O'Heir · December 1, 2018, 02:29 PM

Why pay for the polishing if you're going to cover it? Just curious. High polish is important for a hot bluing job, but not for a coating.
"...ported barrel..." Net search Mag-Na-port.

AK103K · December 1, 2018, 05:03 PM

Id suggest trying a gun thats been ported before you have it done. Ive had two .44's (a 4" 29 and a 3" 696) that were done by Mag Na Port, and I think its a waste, and more so, and annoyance.

I saw no benefit in muzzle flip reduction, and the fouling from the ports quickly fouls the front sight.

The only thing impressive about it, is the big "V" flash you get in lower light when the gun is fired.

reddog81 · December 1, 2018, 06:10 PM

Any halfway decent gunsmith can do the front sight. The rest of its probably going to cost as much as the gun if done using reputable vendors.

Whats the point ionbond on a stainless steel gun?

Jim Watson · December 1, 2018, 08:41 PM

As said, Magnaporting will quickly smoke up any colored front sight.
Smith has made some revolvers with a barrel port in front of the sight, that would have a better chance of staying clean. Maybe you could find one.

I have seen pictures of ionbonded polished autos, no reason it can't be done to a revolver.

D. Reichard, dba Sandburr Ranch, will have a revolver ionbonded but does not say how bright. For $650 it darned well ought to be as shiny as you like.

buck460XVR · December 2, 2018, 01:05 PM

For about what you would pay for a stock 629 and all the customizing you want to do, you could buy one from the Performance Center with similar features and be done with it

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...-magnum-hunter

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...stealth-hunter

WC145 · December 2, 2018, 05:58 PM

I'll bet Mag-na-port could do that job for you, and arrange for Ionbond to finish it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. O'Heir

Why pay for the polishing if you're going to cover it? Just curious. High polish is important for a hot bluing job, but not for a coating.
"...ported barrel..." Net search Mag-Na-port.

DLC, such as Ionbond's coating, doesn't mask the metal surface prep, it doesn't have a texture of it's own. If the metal surface is polished before being coated it will still show the polish afterwards. It looks a lot like very dark bluing.

This Colt 1911 has mirror polished flats and is coated in Ionbond DLC-

KEYBEAR · December 4, 2018, 07:19 PM

jwise You were going good until you got to Porting . I have two Rugers that are Ported one i will never shoot the other I would give $200 bucks if it was not .

DPris · December 4, 2018, 07:46 PM

I have a Ruger GP that's ported & quite like it.

Denis

AK103K · December 4, 2018, 08:19 PM

This is my main complaint.....

Thats a couple of cylinders full, about 10 rounds, of LSWC's through my 696. Theres a red ramp in there if you look just above the serrations.

You have to constantly keep wiping the front sight off as you shoot, if you want a decent sight picture.

DPris · December 5, 2018, 01:15 AM

It only has to bother you if you let it bother you.

Denis

AK103K · December 5, 2018, 07:49 AM

Well, it is nice to have a decent sight picture once in a while when you shoot.

Its more of an annoyance than anything else, and especially since the porting (at least in Mag Na Ports case) really doesnt seem to have any effect or do anything to keep the muzzle down.

DPris · December 5, 2018, 01:01 PM

My 3-inch GP in .357 has a black front blade, I've never bothered to do an insert.
It still shoots quite well, and powder residue isn't a problem.

I do find the MagnaPorting helps in recoil control in that gun.
Others don't.

I don't regret going with ports at all, and this was my regular carry gun after retiring for a bit, till 9-11 when I switched back to an auto for capacity.

I also explored several different premium defensive rounds till I found one that was accurate in that gun & had flash-retardant powders.

You're not stuck with the old-fashioned .357 fireball, just find a round with a retardant powder.

I'm not trying to sell anybody on porting, just giving another opinion based on personal experience to add to the info for decision-making.
Denis

jwise · December 8, 2018, 02:21 AM

I have a .357 snub nose that’s ported, and it handles recoil very nicely. I just thought a ported 6.5” 629 would feel like a pussycat (even with full power loads.)

I have a custom Colt 1911 with black ionbond over polish. It’s spectacular. I don’t care much for stainless. I prefer a blued appearance.

ThomasT · December 10, 2018, 10:45 PM

A few years ago my local gun shop had a model 19 with 6" barrel that had been Magna ported. He had to lower the price by $100 just to sell it. Nobody wanted a ported gun.

Bottom Gun · December 11, 2018, 07:12 PM

A guy let me shoot his Sig P220 once that had some sort of compensator on the muzzle. It directed the blast to the rear to supposedly help with recoil, muzzle flip, etc. I could feel a strong blast of air on my forehead each time I pulled the trigger. I didn’t like that at all. It was an unwelcome distraction. I really couldn’t tell if the device lightened felt recoil or not. I didn’t like it.

November 29, 2018, 10:38 PM	#1
jwise Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 677	Custom shop for revolvers? I have an idea I would like to see happen. I want to buy a 6.5” S&W 629 and send it off for the following work: -Bright stainless polish job -black ionbond finish over the high polish job -ported barrel -tritium/fiber optic front sight S&W Performance Center can do the bright polish job for $275. I don’t know about the front sight or porting. They won’t do the ionbond finish. Is there anywhere that can do all of the above?

December 1, 2018, 02:29 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Why pay for the polishing if you're going to cover it? Just curious. High polish is important for a hot bluing job, but not for a coating. "...ported barrel..." Net search Mag-Na-port. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

December 11, 2018, 07:12 PM	#19
Bottom Gun Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: Arizona Territory Posts: 1,092	A guy let me shoot his Sig P220 once that had some sort of compensator on the muzzle. It directed the blast to the rear to supposedly help with recoil, muzzle flip, etc. I could feel a strong blast of air on my forehead each time I pulled the trigger. I didn’t like that at all. It was an unwelcome distraction. I really couldn’t tell if the device lightened felt recoil or not. I didn’t like it. __________________ NRA Life Member Mechanical engineers have their moments.

November 29, 2018, 10:53 PM	#2
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Call Cylinder & Slide and ask. Denis

November 29, 2018, 10:57 PM	#3
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	For revolver work my first thought is always hamilton bowen. Though this is pretty routine work. Jim Milks from innovative custom guns is superb to deal with and does great work.

December 1, 2018, 02:47 AM	#4
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Gallagher Guns in Jasper, AL is splendid.

December 1, 2018, 05:03 PM	#6
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Id suggest trying a gun thats been ported before you have it done. Ive had two .44's (a 4" 29 and a 3" 696) that were done by Mag Na Port, and I think its a waste, and more so, and annoyance. I saw no benefit in muzzle flip reduction, and the fouling from the ports quickly fouls the front sight. The only thing impressive about it, is the big "V" flash you get in lower light when the gun is fired.

December 1, 2018, 06:10 PM	#7
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Any halfway decent gunsmith can do the front sight. The rest of its probably going to cost as much as the gun if done using reputable vendors. Whats the point ionbond on a stainless steel gun?

December 1, 2018, 08:41 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	As said, Magnaporting will quickly smoke up any colored front sight. Smith has made some revolvers with a barrel port in front of the sight, that would have a better chance of staying clean. Maybe you could find one. I have seen pictures of ionbonded polished autos, no reason it can't be done to a revolver. D. Reichard, dba Sandburr Ranch, will have a revolver ionbonded but does not say how bright. For $650 it darned well ought to be as shiny as you like.

December 2, 2018, 01:05 PM	#9
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	For about what you would pay for a stock 629 and all the customizing you want to do, you could buy one from the Performance Center with similar features and be done with it https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...-magnum-hunter https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearm...stealth-hunter

December 4, 2018, 07:19 PM	#11
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	jwise You were going good until you got to Porting . I have two Rugers that are Ported one i will never shoot the other I would give $200 bucks if it was not .

December 4, 2018, 07:46 PM	#12
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	I have a Ruger GP that's ported & quite like it. Denis

December 4, 2018, 08:19 PM	#13
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	This is my main complaint..... Thats a couple of cylinders full, about 10 rounds, of LSWC's through my 696. Theres a red ramp in there if you look just above the serrations. You have to constantly keep wiping the front sight off as you shoot, if you want a decent sight picture.

December 5, 2018, 01:15 AM	#14
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	It only has to bother you if you let it bother you. Denis

December 5, 2018, 07:49 AM	#15
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Well, it is nice to have a decent sight picture once in a while when you shoot. Its more of an annoyance than anything else, and especially since the porting (at least in Mag Na Ports case) really doesnt seem to have any effect or do anything to keep the muzzle down.

December 5, 2018, 01:01 PM	#16
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	My 3-inch GP in .357 has a black front blade, I've never bothered to do an insert. It still shoots quite well, and powder residue isn't a problem. I do find the MagnaPorting helps in recoil control in that gun. Others don't. I don't regret going with ports at all, and this was my regular carry gun after retiring for a bit, till 9-11 when I switched back to an auto for capacity. I also explored several different premium defensive rounds till I found one that was accurate in that gun & had flash-retardant powders. You're not stuck with the old-fashioned .357 fireball, just find a round with a retardant powder. I'm not trying to sell anybody on porting, just giving another opinion based on personal experience to add to the info for decision-making. Denis

December 8, 2018, 02:21 AM	#17
jwise Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 677	I have a .357 snub nose that’s ported, and it handles recoil very nicely. I just thought a ported 6.5” 629 would feel like a pussycat (even with full power loads.) I have a custom Colt 1911 with black ionbond over polish. It’s spectacular. I don’t care much for stainless. I prefer a blued appearance.

December 10, 2018, 10:45 PM	#18
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	A few years ago my local gun shop had a model 19 with 6" barrel that had been Magna ported. He had to lower the price by $100 just to sell it. Nobody wanted a ported gun.