Gunsmith for old Smith & Wesson

[OAKTOWN]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a gunsmith that specializes in older (pre WWII) Smith & Wessons??

 

[.38 Special]

Hamilton Bowen knows what he's doing.

Well, that's an understatement. Hamilton Bowen is probably the finest gunsmith who has ever lived. And he knows -- and appreciates -- old Smith & Wessons.

 

[Oro]

There are quite a few who still know their business. What do you want done, and where are you? Those things matter, especially with the cost of shipping firearms inter-state if you aren't an FFL.

 

[OAKTOWN]

Well I just picked up a bobbed 1917 that needs some TLC. The timing appears slightly off, there's significant movement of the cylinder on the ejector rod when it's open and the barrel could use a reline.

I'm not into the gun for a lot of money, so I can afford to spend a bit on it. I'll probably get it mechanically sorted and do the cosmetics later to spread the financial pain out a bit. So initially I'm looking for someone to see to the barrel, cylinder and mechanisms.

 

[Moonclip]

Barrel needs a reline? They just didn't cut the original barrel and add a rib? My old modded 1917 .45acp also has a fair amount of movement fron and back like you discribe but it doesn't cause issues.

My only problem was the ejector rod was loose. I easily tightened it myself.

 

[OAKTOWN]

Barrel needs a reline? They just didn't cut the original barrel and add a rib?

The rifling has seen better days. No sense in doing everything else and leaving the bore in a marginal state. I'd prefer to go the liner route so the numbers match, plus chopping a good original 1917 barrel seems kind wrong to me.

 

[Moonclip]

Is the barrel dark and pitted? I think on these guns the rifling is a bit shallow by design.

 

[Old Fuff]

Putting a liner in a 1917 barrel may be difficult if not impossible. The barrel walls are very thin at the front. Therefore any liner is going to have to be very thin walled too. As a second option you might be able to have a .38-44 barrel bored and rifled .45, but none of this would be cheap.

 

[.38 Special]

I know the O.P. is getting a boatload of advice that he doesn't necessarily want, but before pronouncing the bore dead, I'd try shooting it. I've had a number of "bad" bores that shot just fine.

 

[StrawHat]

This fellow and his son specialize in the older S&W revolvers.

Not fast but good

http://www.oldwestgunsmith.com/

 

[OAKTOWN]

Thanks for the advice everybody.

I've been e-mailing various pistolsmiths of note. Mr.Bowen is focusing on package custom stuff right now, but refered me to Brian Cosby. Brian apparently doesn't have e-mail and I haven't had a chance call him yet. Dave Chicoine (oldwestgunsmith.com) is looking like the best choice right now. He's seem very S&W focused. Anyone had work done by him?

 

[machinisttx]

I believe John Taffin wrote something about Cosby in the latest handgunner.

My 1917 has very shallow rifling since that's how they made them. It's also got a couple of pits. Shoots as well as any other 1917 as far as I can tell.