Can a gun be "unported"?

[apowell]

My dad gave me a couple of his pistols that he didn't shoot anymore, but both have been ported (he was on a porting spree). I'm wondering if there is a cost effective solution to this other than having the barrels replaced. One is a S&W perfomance center 4" stainless 357 (with way to light a single action trigger pull - double is good) and the other is an S&W airweight/light (aluminum, not titanium or sc) blue ~1.5" 38 spcl with the mostly concealed hammer (not +P but it does have a nice trigger job).

I don't mind shooting/having a ported gun, but I don't want to carry it, nor do I want my wife to carry it for obvious reasons. (I don't want her catching her hair on fire to avoid having her purse stolen.) They are good guns, and I hate to just leave them in the safe.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

 

[Steve F]

I can't answer your question,but I could swear there was a 4" S&W barrel for sale down below in the classifieds here less than a month ago.Maybe with a search you might find it and have it installed by a gunsmith and be on your way

Good Luck,Steve

 

[brickeyee]

Not really. There is no practical way to restore the rifling after welding up the holes.
A take off barrel is likely the best choice.

 

[dfariswheel]

You cannot "un-port" a barrel.
Once steel is removed, there's no practical way to "un-remove" it.

This is especially the case in a gun barrel that's rifled.
Your best bet is to send the guns in to the S&W factory for new barrels.

They have the right parts, and will do a good factory-quality job, with NO risk of damaging the guns, and they'll do it at a price that's usually what you'd pay a local who just MIGHT damage the guns..

 

[Jim K]

Hear, hear!

Jim

 

[Sunray]

"...her hair on fire..." That absolutely isn't going to happen. What you need to do is go shoot them. Porting doesn't mean flame thrower. It means less muzzle jump and reduced felt recoil. An unported revolver has the same amount of muzzle flash. It's just in a different direction.

 

[apowell]

I appreciate the info. I figured there probably wasn't an easy/cheap fix, but if you don't ask you don't know.

I have shot them and no, it probably wouldn't actually catch her hair on fire but the flash is substantial and I wouldn't want to have to fire them from a close in position.

Thanks again for the help. I knew someone here would have the answer, even if I didn't like it.