Forcing cone crack, fixable?

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That is sad, but it's probably impossible to do a shootable repair to that barrel. I wouldn't attempt it.
 
The barrel is pinned and the frame is milled to match the rib on the barrel.
Yes the barrel can be replaced BUT it will cost much more than the value of the gun.
I would do as others have said put it in display case, it is part of your family history.
 
That gun can be fixed but you may not want to pay bill on it. It comes down to the money in cases like this. Hamilton Bowen has the gunsmithing and engraving skills needed to install a new barrel and recreate the engraving on it. While he is heavily into the Ruger revolvers he occasionally will take some non Ruger work. And if he didn't take the job on I'm sure he could recommend someone capable of restoring that gun for you. http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/
 
Thank you all for your replies, you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. The engraving was an inexpensive job he had done in Japan while in the navy. It probably would be worth more with out it, but its it's what defined it as being my dads. I think I'll just keep it as is.
 
I think those grips and that engraving enhance the gun both monetarily and in class. One option you might consider is to rebarrel it to shooting condition. Keep the original barrel, and put $10 or $20 back in a jar or something every payday. You'll have enough to have the engraving replicated before you know it. You may not have that exact front sight setup, but I think it would keep it in the spirit of what your father did.
 
Gumby0961 said:
Thank you all for your replies, you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. The engraving was an inexpensive job he had done in Japan while in the navy. It probably would be worth more with out it, but its it's what defined it as being my dads. I think I'll just keep it as is.
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That's the decision I would have made if I were in your shoes..
 
If you are pretty handy it is possible to electro etch the engraving. It would take patients and time to get the etching to a visual depth but it can be done. Copying the etching symmetrically is the hardest part.
 
Modern welding techniques might be able to save that. I'm not a welder or a metallurgist. You have to take the barrel off anyway. find out what steel S&W used and talk to a experienced welder.
 
MikeInOr said:
Can you put a barrel liner in a revolver???
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Not really because the chamber is in the cylinder.

I suppose if you were really good with a lathe, you could cut off the cracked portion, turn down the barrel, rethread the extension, and retime the sight blade- but even then getting a decent cylinder gap would be tough. Plus the outer taper profile would look strange. And you would have to do something about the shorter ejector rod.

For all that trouble, might as well replace the barrel.
 
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Guys, the barrel has expanded over its original diameter, it cannot be otherwise with a crack that wide. It may be a struggle to even remove the swollen barrel. It can’t be welded and maintain the correct internal dimensions. The OP has already stated what he intends to do, leave it at that.


.
 
Don’t write it off entirely just yet. I know of a few old rifles that have been lined and reduced to 22LR. Sure it’s no 38, but realistically a shootable gun is a shootable gun. I’m thinking it could possibly be lined and still have some life, even if it’s just to go make some noise at the range every now and then and think about your dad. I haven’t seen a revolver barrel lined, but I’m certain that a competent person exists that could line it and the chambers at the same time, possibly even line-bore the cylinder and make a really nice plinker.

I wasn’t thinking about extraction... might need a custom star made as well.
 
WestKentucky said:
Don’t write it off entirely just yet. I know of a few old rifles that have been lined and reduced to 22LR. Sure it’s no 38, but realistically a shootable gun is a shootable gun. I’m thinking it could possibly be lined and still have some life, even if it’s just to go make some noise at the range every now and then and think about your dad. I haven’t seen a revolver barrel lined, but I’m certain that a competent person exists that could line it and the chambers at the same time, possibly even line-bore the cylinder and make a really nice plinker.

I wasn’t thinking about extraction... might need a custom star made as well.
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Ahh, hadnt thought of a .22 conversion. Thats an intriguing idea. My Dad has a '95 Belgian Nagant revolver relined from .32 centerfire to 22 rimfire.

Other than sleeving the bore and cylinder, all it needed was a custom firing pin. Ejection was achieved with a small stick. It wasnt a Bullseye gun by any means, but it would knock over tin cans no problem.
 
I'm no gunsmith but that big of a crack would be a nightmare to fix,get yourself a nice display case and retire the old girl.
 
I have the .22.
When I saw it on the back counter I asked to see it. The dealer said when he took it in trade and cleaned it, he found the barrel bulged. It was fixing to go to Smith for a new barrel. I said to call me when it came back. He did.
It was an early gun with rather flat postwar blue. The new barrel was high polish, an obvious mismatch.
I bought it anyhow (or instructed my Dad to) and am still shooting it 50+ years later. The shiny barrel just proves it is mine.

Barrels readily available, $71 and up. Plus installation.
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1630200

S&W won't work on it.
 
BBBBill said:
That's not quite an accurate statement. That particular revolver has a Bar-Sto barrel with a shroud over the barrel. That is not the same thing s a barrel liner.
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You might be right, but 5:02 he says barsto barrel liner. Whether he means the barrel under the shroud of the 2-piece barrel or a liner in the inner barrel, you'll have to take it up with Jerry or Barsto. I imagine Irv would do custom work for someone like Jerry, but again, you'll have to take it up with Jerry or Barsto to find out exactly what work was done.
 
Personally - which is the answer in Uncle Jerry’s revolver - I’d have it bored and convert the original barrel to a shroud. Call it a liner, call it a shrouded barrel, the reality is largely the same. The original barrel would be bored, and instead of using epoxy to secure the liner within the full length barrel body (meaning the original tenon would have to survive - not feasible in this case) the liner and bore are tapered/flared at the end to create a tension fit, and the liner acts as the new tenon.

“Ain’t no hill for a high stepper,” but you have to REALLY want it to spend the money to get all of that done.
 
There are grades of locktite that will hold with greater strength
than the red stuff. Once a liner is put into place with one of those grades
it is as if the two become one.
 
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