Modify my Model 10 Frame question

That would be number 33 from my list of answers to most frequently asked questions.

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33. Trying to turn the gun you have into the gun you want is never a good idea. It will be cheaper, faster and easier to sell the gun you don’t want and buy the one you do want rather than try to alter or convert your gun into a different configuration.

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If you want a round butt M10 go buy one rather than butcher the gun you currently own.

+1
It can & has been done.

But you end up with a non-standard grip nobody makes grips to fit.

And a gun nobody wants if you decide to sell or trade it later on.

Bad deal all the way around!

rcmodel

To add to what the above have said, a lot of material needs to be removed from a square butt to convert it. See thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=409390&highlight=carry+progress

"Pimp my Model 10."

JUST SAY NO!

I have rounded the front and rear corners of S&W model 10 revolvers to get sort of a Colt Detective Special configuration/look. Doing this is neither dangerous nor difficult so long as you are careful.

On the negative side, to make the work look reasonably good you will need to refinish the frame and attached barrel, the stocks will also have to modified and refinished, or replaced.

And considering how well the work is done, or not as the case may be, the resale value may drop anywhere from a little to a lot.

So it's your choice.

A model 10 is to nice of a gun to do this to. why not buy a new model 10. they are round butt.

Brownells used to offer a jig that will allow you to grind the frame to a round butt configuration, not sure if they still do.
It is your gun, do what you want with it.

OK... are you asking about keeping it a square butt... and rounding the front part of the frame and grips?
Something of a round/square butt hybrid?


Jim

If your problem is not with the backstrap, as you said, then try using a grip adapter. This will position your "upper" fingers further forward, and reduce the stress on your pinky (which is what I understand from your post you are complaining about). Tyler T-grips are still made, and pachmayer and mershon made units that are long out of production but available via gun broker or ebay. This would be a better first step than hacking on your grip frame.

I agree with Old Fluff - converting a square butt S&W to round butt is easy. But I also agree with SaxonPig and RCmodel, don't go try to re-invent the wheel - selling it and buying what you want is usually best, unless you know you are holding in your hand the perfect revolver and a round butt is all it takes to make it that way.

I have various frame sizes and butt configurations, as also do SaxonPig, RCmodel, and OldFluff. Try some different grips before you hack on your frame! It sounds like you have oversize targets on the gun and are working them down? Did you just try putting some magna grips on it and trying it that way?