N-Frame Customization

[Nightcrawler]

I have two N-Frames, both have 6" partial underlug barrels. One is a used/excelleng Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 in .45 Colt, the other a minty Model 57 in .41 Mag. I love both of them dearly, and was shocked when I found the 25-5 for $300 and even moreso when I found the M57 (which is so underused that it doesn't even have the little line around the cylinder...yet) for $350!

However, the 6" barrels are a bit on the long side for my tastes. They look good, and the M25 is light enough (the M57, having more metal to it, is noticably heavier, but this helps with recoil).

Eventually, I'd like to get both of them shortened. When I sent my M25 into S&W to get fixed, they said they didn't have any 4" barrels available for it. I'm unsure about the M57.

So, assuming Smith & Wesson's performance center can't do it, who can turn these two N-Frames into two slightly smaller N-Frames? Looking at about 4" for either of them. 4" full underlug would be fine, as would partial underlug, or just the little nub to protect the ejector rod like the old M58s had. If I only get 'em shortened to 5", though, I'd prefer to stick with a partial underlug.

So, shorten or rebarrel? Who can do it in with a reasonable turnaround time and a fair price? Websites and/or contact info would be helpful.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Couple more N-Frame pictures

Since we all love pictures.

Osama and I.

My friend and student shooting the Model 28 Highway Patrolman I gave her as a wedding present last fall. (Paid a whopping $250 for that one; GREAT deal!)

 

[C.R.Sam]

Well...
You buy em bout right.
That good.
You wanna whack off the bbls.
Makes me weep.

Can't you find shooters with cosmetic damage to cut down ?

Partner found a corrosion display 57, Whacked the barrel back to bout 4" and shortened the under lug a bit, put a new sight on it and done.

He in it under $200 total and it is a joy to shoot.

Sam

 

[Tamara]

Marko bought a 6" square-butt M57, once.

Had gun round-butted and matte-blued. Ordered new 4" .41 tube from Smith, sent tube to MagNaPort. Had sights done w/RR & WO and hammer bobbed. Had sweet action job done. Now it looks like this:

(Oh, and now it lives at my house, too. )

 

[Nightcrawler]

Well, I wouldn't shorten the revolvers I have, except that Model 57s and 25s are very rare in this neck of the woods. And, I've got a feeling that if I had 4" versions of each of these guns I wouldn't shoot the 6"-ers much.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd call Brownells first, then Gun Parts, and start checking the auction sites on a daily basis. It might take awhile, but you'll be able to find shorter barrels. Lots of gunsmiths can swap barrels for you, and many don't even charge much for it.

My model 27-2, purchased new in 1978 or 1979, is now on its fourth barrel.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hey, Tam, lose the ports and keep the hammer spur and you have (one of) my dream revolver(s) right there! [/ENVY]

Standing Wolf, who makes that barrel? Kind of unique looking. What's the length?

 

[Nightcrawler]

bump

So can anyone recommend a good, reputable revolver 'smith?

 

[Tamara]

Well, I let one guy...

...handle all my wheelgun chores: Shannon Jennings here in Knoxville, TN. 865.688.0077

He did the custom work on that Model 57, a trigger job on my PC-13 and numerous other revo jobs for me, and hasn't let me down yet.

 

[Tom C.]

Barrel shortening

I have a Model 25-2 that originally had a 6 1/2" barrel that I had shortened to 5". I feel 5" is the ideal N frame barrel length.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Standing Wolf, who makes that barrel? Kind of unique looking. What's the length?

Nightcrawler:

The barrel on my good old model 27-2 started life as a Clark bull barrel. It was six inches long, beautifully crowned, slightly slab-sided, and way too heavy for what's left of my wrist. My friendly local gunsmith shortened it an inch, turned it so the vertical dimension was nearly a quarter-inch less, and sliced more steel off the sides, then built another front sight and silver-soldered it in place. I'd say it's a trifle heavier than a full-lugged five-inch barrel, but not an awful lot.

Clark's twist rate is much faster than Smith & Wesson's, so the barrel is significantly more accurate with both light .38 special loads in .357 magnum cases and full house factory ammunition. I don't still hot-rod .357 magnum ammunition, but I'd guess the barrel would be more accurate with it, as well. The local folks who reblued the barrel polished it to abso-blooming-lute perfection. It's literally mirror-bright.

http://www.clarkcustomguns.com

 

[C.R.Sam]

Standing Wolf...
Wipe your gun off;
I've been drooling on it.

Nightcrawler...
I could get yu out from under those two six inchers;
That get you capitol for shorter shooters.
What the dash numbers on em ?

Sam

 

[Nightcrawler]

Well, that's the thing. I've been lucky thus far in finding N-Frames, but as of late I haven't seen any of interest in local shops (except for a NIB .44 Mag 629 mountain gun at Gander Mountain, but I'm not especially interested in THAT.)

So, my 25-5 and 57 (no dash) remain not for sale.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Scene:
Sam on knee begging.
Please don't chop those critters.

Sam

 

[Nightcrawler]

Oh, fine, it it'll make you happy. Can't afford it right now anyhoo (nor anytime soon; still have school bills to pay).

This wouldn't be a problem if Smith & Wesson's only current .41 mag wasn't, you know, sporting an eight friggin' inch barrel.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Whew.

 

[Brian Williams]

Way to go Sam
Keep those pristine long barrels

 

[Lloyd Smale]

http://www.clementscustomguns.com/

 

[BigG]

Different strokes for different folks. I prefer the long tubes on S&W MAGGIES.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hey, Sam, would it break your heart as much if I sent the M57 in to Smith & Wesson for a factory rebarrel? Not a chop job, a new barrel. (I asked about a 4" tube for the 25-5 when I had the revolver sent in for repairs; no dice.)

I think they have 4" .41 Mag barrels though. It'd lower the value, but I planned on doing that anyway buy shooting the crap out of it. 'Sides, I only paid $350 for it.

It's just...that gun of Tam's is AWFUL pretty...

 

[Tamara]

Nightcrawler,

You can probably just buy the 4" tube direct from Brownell's or S&W and hold on to it for when you get around to altering the gun. You can save the 6" barrel, too.

 

[Nightcrawler]

You can buy revolver barrels from Brownells?

Huh. Learn something every day.

EDIT: Checked with Brownells. The only 4" .41 barrel they have is nickel. Crap.

I'll probably give Smith a call tomorrow.

 

[ChristopherG]

Smith doesn't have any 4" barrels, as I found when I was in your predicament. I just learned to love the 6" (really, I do--just took a bit of long range shooting).

 

[Nightcrawler]

just took a bit of long range shooting).

You might be onto something with that. I'm very confident that I could easily hit something the size of a human torso at 100 yards with my 57; .41 Mag is flat shooting for a handgun cartridge, and even with the stouter loads (like the Federal 250 grainers) isn't punishing. I actually found Georgia Arms' 210 grain @ 1325FPS to be more hand-hurting than the Federal Hardcast 250s...

 

[kentucky bucky]

DON"T DO IT !!!! Save up and buy a 4", or better yet.............learn to love the 6". One day you will be sorry, I speak from experience.