Is this revolver possible? Or does it exist?

[Kind of Blued]

It was my idea in the "Dream Revolver" thread.

It's a blued .357 Model 49 Bodyguard but with a 3" barrel.

I was imagining it being color case hardened, and get some grips made out of a light exotic wood, like box elder burl, but that would be done later.

As far as I know, the only .357 J-frames are either stainless (M60) or Scandium. Was there ever a blued steel .357 J-frame, or is a blued gun weaker than a stainless gun?

I wish I was good enough with photoshop to make a picture of it...

It may be a dumb question; I'm still baffled by the vast number of S&W models. Is there something close? Or would one have to piece it together? Would it have to be a .38?

 

[Coal Dragger]

There may have been a blued J frame .357 I don't know. There is no reason there could not have been though as there is no practical difference in strength between stainless steel and chrome moly steel.

 

[Kind of Blued]

no practical difference in strength between

That's what I was thinking...

I'm not sure how difficult it is to switch barrels, but one could do this gun in .38 using a blued M49 and slapping a 3" M36 barrel on it. Maybe even +P... the newer M36 barrels are marked for it, although it probably has everything to do with the cylinder.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Yeah +P is all about cylinder and frame strength.

 

[ugaarguy]

Take a 649 (2" Stainless Steel 357 Mag Bodyguard), rebarrel with a 3" Model 60 bbl, and then Duracoat it to look like blued steel. Someone who's really artistic could probably even do the Duracoat to look like case hardening. As for the grips, get a set of original plastic hip grips and send them to a custom maker as a pattern. I haven't seen Kimson Vu on much lately, but you might send him a PM. I'm pretty sure he could do the grips, and he's very reasonable on prices.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I know color case hardening is based upon the carbon content of steel. I'll do some research, but I'm not sure why a stainless gun (essentially "naked steel" as I understand) couldn't be CCH'd through some (dual step) process.

 

[hexidismal]

I wish I was good enough with photoshop to make a picture of it...

I did a quick and dirty one. If there were such a beast , I think it would look something like this. ( this is actually a Mod 36 cheifs special in 2". I added the inch to the barrel and the "bodyguard hump" shrouded hammer. ) Mind you, this wasn't intended to be a masterpeice.. for free, you get what you get .. hehe

 

[Kind of Blued]

Wow! Thanks Hex!

It looks like a classy Cadillac hearse from the '50s. I like it! I think the Bodyguard J-frame is proof that ugly things become beautiful if you see them often enough and view them as a practical tool.

A good color case hardening job, some blonde burl grips, and a Tyler T-grip, and I think we'd have a real beauty. I might really try to put such a thing together once I have some spare dough.

Thanks again. I saved it for inspiration.

 

[sgt127]

hexidismal:

If you stretch that box out a little so the gun will fit and pop over the S&W Forum, I think you can have a little fun....Before they come after you with pitchforks and ban you, of course....

 

[orchidhunter]

There was a 3" Bodyguard made at one time. orchidhunter

 

[hexidismal]

There was a 3" Bodyguard made at one time. orchidhunter

Actually, I just found something about one on Xavier's blog. Interesting stuff.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/09/s-bodyguard.html

 

[GoodKat]

I think my dream revolver would be an titanium 10mm version of this with the aluminum aristocrat sight and porting on the top with afzelia xylay grips.

Oh, and remove the internal lock of course...

 

[Kind of Blued]

Holy carp! It's alive!

CCH it and slap some fancy grips on it, and you have my dream carry revolver, or "dream B.U.G. #1" carried crossdraw.

 

[Noxx]

That's "quick and dirty?".

Hell I can't even crop my photos right without removing someones ear, you could post that sucker on just about any forum and reel in fish all day.