Customizing a Model 36- Yes or No?

I have a no dash Model 36. Its your average gun, been carried some, finish is maybe 65-70%. Dated to around 1968. Mechanically its very sound and has a good trigger. Double action is better than my 442 with polishing and Apex kit. No original grips, and my biggest complaint is that its a square butt.

I have been toying with the idea of converting it to round butt, smoothing the serrated trigger, and bobbing the hammer(but leaving a nub to still have the single action option). I would do all the work myself. I'm not a pro, but not useless either. I know if I round-butt it, the work cant effect the serial numbers. I want this gun to be a shooter.

Am I silly to molest this ol' 36? Or should I just buy a newer round butt J to tinker with? Or buy a grip adapter and be done with it?

 

I'd guess the value would drop by $100 to $200 depending on how well the work is done. It's not really a rare gun, nor is it an expensive gun. Modifying it would be cheaper than buying something new. What are you going to do for grips? Modifying the existing grips isn't going to be easy. Modifying the frame so round butt grips fit properly is going to take some seriously detailed work.

I've taken fine grit sandpaper to a trigger before when the serrations were sharper than I liked.

 

I was thinking some sort of standard round butt bantam or boot grip. I think I would have to round the front and back of the butt to achieve that. I have a round butt gun to use as a template.

 

At this point, there isn't much collector value. Your grandkids might curse you, but not likely. It is all shooter value anyway. If it ends up shooting better than standard, then value if selling won't be bad.

I for one will not fault you for customizing YOUR gun.

 

No collector value, set it up any way you like.
I never consider resale value in adapting a gun to MY preferences.
Denis

 

I actually like the square butt on my M36 but I agree you should remove the serrations from the trigger. Whoever thought of that should be flogged for sure lol. I wouldn't touch the hammer, just place your thumb over it when drawing and it will never catch on anything.

BUT, it's your gun and if it makes you happy, do it!

 

fireman 9731

I think the mods you mentioned would make your Model 36 more suitable for your use. Really wouldn't concern myself with the future value of the gun as it's a working gun not a collector's piece. I have both a Tyler T-Grip adapter and a factory S&W boot grip on my snubbies. I also have an older set of Rogers Combat Grips which I use on occasion at the range when I'm testing new loads in my guns. Very comfortable to use but a bit too big for concealed carry.

 

Do not obsess over value. Too many do as if this were some sort of investment. Returns on guns are limited unless they are somehow special...like Elmer Keith’s collection or Patton’s handguns. If you want “collector grade guns”, then buy them for that purpose. Tune this 36 up and refinish it. Make it work for you. Its value to your children will be “This was dad’s carry gun”.

 

If you just want something to keep in your pocket rather than to actually shoot, go ahead. Otherwise I would buy a real snubbie. In any case, I am not picturing enough material in the grip frame to grind it to round butt.

 

All of my 2" 36s and 37s carry guns have bobbed hammers and smooth triggers and are true DAO conversions with no SA notch. As to reshaping the butt, I actually prefer a square butt pistol, with stock grips and a Tyler-T adapter. But if a round butt works for you, do it.

As already stated the mods you envision will make the gun more suitable to your needs and IMO that's all that really matters.

 

Make it how you want it. If you want a collector safe queen you can always find them for sale. I got a mint safe queen ground of the grooves on the trigger, took off the pretty wood grips, and put on Pachmayr Compacts. It shots good and carries good. That’s what I wanted.

 

Same here. My 37 square butt fits my hand very well with an adapter. You might want to try this first. And, as others have said, don't worry about value, instead work towards utility.

 

It would make more sense to try the grip adapter before I commit to a round butt conversion. Then the job of smoothing the trigger and trimming the hammer doesn't seem nearly as invasive as the original plans.

Thanks for the input!

 

Go for it.......

 

Have carried my Mod. 36 round butt for over 30 yrs....IMO, bobbing the hammer might be the best idea. Altering the shape of the butt, not so much.

 

saemetric

Sweet!

Love the heavy 3" barrel on your Model 36! Did a nice job of bobbing the hammer too!

 

No doubt the 36 in 3" trim makes this revolver shine, at least in terms of performance and ease of carry.

 

Old Dog

Back in the day a snubnose Model 36 was sometimes hard to come by (and a Model 60 was nearly impossible, unless of course you had the cash!). But it was easy and relatively inexpensive to find a Model 36 with a 3" barrel. I actually preferred the heavy barrel version as it gave the gun a better balance in my hand and a slightly longer sight radius.

 

My back up/off duty gun for almost 20 years was a M60 with bobbed hammer and Pachmayrs. I had both Compacs and Professionals (I thinks that what they called the boot grips they made). Sadly I traded it for a +P+ rated 640. Great gun but I should have kept the 60 too.

 

Thanks, but the hammer was bobbed by the Factory. I just installed it..

 

That 36 will never be a collector’s gun, hardly any 36 ever will. But the 36 is a great gun. I imagine its value to you as a personal protection gun, a project gun that’ll have some great memories associated with it, and even an heirloom, will be far, far greater than its actual value anyway. I say go for it.