I finally got the S&W back

[9mmepiphany]

But the first thing to do is get a set of gunsmith screw drivers so you don't booger up the screws. And you can find sets of hollow ground screwdrivers at some of the tool stores like Harbour Freight and Northern Tool.

I remember hanging out at a gun shop that specialized in building PPC revolvers many years ago and asking which set of screwdrivers I should get to prevent marring the screws on my guns. I guess my jaw dropped when they all replied Sears.

What they would do is buy Sears screw drivers and grind down the tips to fit whichever screw they were working on...I guess it was fairly common practice in the 80s

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

How was the person's demeanor on the other end of the phone?

 

[MightyJoeYounger]

Nice gun, happy for you that you've got it back into working order. I have several 22's that I practice with but I carry full size SAAs. One is a .44-40 and the others are .44 Mags. I'm like "Dirty Harry" and load the .44s with .44 special. That makes it easier on the recoil.

 

[.38 Special]

I remember hanging out at a gun shop that specialized in building PPC revolvers many years ago and asking which set of screwdrivers I should get to prevent marring the screws on my guns. I guess my jaw dropped when they all replied Sears.

What they would do is buy Sears screw drivers and grind down the tips to fit whichever screw they were working on...I guess it was fairly common practice in the 80s

I once had a conversation with a fellow who specialized in classic British magazine rifles from the likes of Rigby and Westley Richards. He told me that one of his most developed skills was perfectly matching cheap screwdrivers to practically unreplaceable screws.

 

[Edcnh]

Nice looking gun. I also have never worked on revolvers but intend to learn. There is a really good gunsmith about 30 minutes away but he is in his late 70’s so I need to be ready when he decides to retire.

 

[Riomouse911]

Nice looking gun. I also have never worked on revolvers but intend to learn. There is a really good gunsmith about 30 minutes away but he is in his late 70’s so I need to be ready when he decides to retire.

Many of the great ones are aging out of the business, so I fear it’ll be harder to locate a good gunsmith in the future. It probably would behoove me to find a good instructor and learn these guns soon.

Stay safe.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Almost a year ago to the day I won a Gb auction for a nice 6” S&W Model 48-4 in .22 Magnum. I bought it as a companion for my 6” Model 17-3 .22 LR and I’ve since added a 6” 14-3 .38 Spl. to round out a Masterpiece trifecta.

I only got an opportunity to go and shoot this gun twice, the second time in late February 2020 it locked up and refused to cycle.

Naturally Covid hit right about the time I got the idea to send it back to S&W, so I was put off until June before they would issue a RO and take it back to fix.

In June I packed it into a cardboard revolver box from another gun and sent it in and waited. I was told to expect at least a six month turnaround.

In early September I got a repair bill for $192.00, stating they will diagnose and repair the issues. I paid the bill, and waited another seven weeks. Today, four months after I sent it in, it finally came back.

It needs a good wipe down, but so far it looks and feels like new. When I get a chance to shoot it I’ll report on how it does.

View attachment 951677 View attachment 951679 View attachment 951680 View attachment 951682 View attachment 951684

I now feel there there just may be some light at the end of the Covid tunnel...

Stay safe.

What is the "Masterpiece trifecta" ? I'm aware of the Target Masterpiece, Combat Masterpiece, but... what's the last one ?

 

[Riomouse911]

The 6” .32 S&W long Model 16. .22 LR Model 17 and .38 Spl Model 14... would be the official “Masterpiece” trifecta... the 4” Model 15 .38 Spl and Model 18 .22 LR are the official “combat masterpiece” duo.

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/sws-master-pieces/

For fun I added the Model 48 to the Masterpiece lineage because the 6” .22 WMR came upon the scene later and is not officially titled a masterpiece... but it is absolutely identical to the other two (17 &14) that I have in size, shape and operation.

It’s sort of a “Redheaded Stepchild” Masterpiece I guess...

Stay safe.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Masterpiece trifecta were made up of the K-22, K-32, and K-38...prior to getting model numbers in the 1950s...and were designed for Bullseye shooting

The somewhat unique feature of the three models was that they were modified to have the same balance...the barrel rib is much wider on the K-38 than on the K-22.

The M-48 was designed for small game hunting...much like the M-53 CF/RF model (.22Jet/.22LR)

 

[Riomouse911]

The Masterpiece trifecta were made up of the K-22, K-32, and K-38...prior to getting model numbers in the 1950s...and were designed for Bullseye shooting

The somewhat unique feature of the three models was that they were modified to have the same balance...the barrel rib is much wider on the K-38 than on the K-22.

The M-48 was designed for small game hunting...much like the M-53 CF/RF model (.22Jet/.22LR)

It’s sort of odd, most of the Model 53’s I’ve seen were .22 Jet with .22LR inserts... but all the barrels I’ve seen were marked .22 Magnum.

I saw this auction site page that had a nice 4” Model 53 with WMR inserts for sale (I’ve only seen a few of them in person, all with 6”) and a couple with .22 mag extra cylinders rather than inserts (I’ve only seen one of those, the rest had .22 LR or WMR inserts).

https://simpsonltd.com/smith-wesson-53-4/

Ive never held or shot a K-32/Model 16... and based on the price I saw being asked for one on GB I probably never will either.

Stay safe.