Need advice on a modification idea 1937 S@W .45

royc38

I currently have a Brazilian contract 1937 .45 auto cal revolver 5 1/2 barrel. Parkerized finish, checkered grips, mismatched serial numbers (cylinder/Frame). I have been toying with the idea of maybe altering it with a smaller 4 inch barrel for ease of carry purposes. My questions are: 1 the value of this gun is decent but not earth shattering and would messing with it be worth it at all? 2. does anyone make a 4 inch or maybe even a 3 1/2 barrel for this pistol?

ruger41

Since it's already mismatched any value after you alter it into a carry piece will be gone. You will have more into it than you will most likely get out of it. Having said that if you plan on keeping it the only limit is your wallet. I have seen a few of these S&W's turned into carry guns. Usually the barrels are just cut down and the front sight put back on. You can also have it cerakoted to any color you want.

rufe-snow

I had it done to a Model 25, years ago. It was purchased with a 6 1/2" barrel, and I had it refitted with a 4". Waste of time and money, IMHO. The square butt frame is so large just putting on a shorter barrel. Doesn't make it appreciably easier or more compact to carry or conceal.

royc38

You guys once again are spot on. I started this inquiry due to the fact that ammo being what it is these days price wise, I am no fan of steel case ammo. Having said that steel case has no bearing on shooting it in this revolver. The gun is a nice shooter and I thought (rather unwisely) that maybe with a shorter barrel it would somehow make a nice carry gun and casual shooter. I am a big fan of the .45 caliber and was hoping it wouldnt be a big deal. But it sounds like I would be wasting my money in the long run. Thanks for your timely advice.

317wc

quote:Originally posted by dcs shooters
I'd look for a 4" barrel to put in it [;)]
Like this, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smith-Wesson-38-44-Outdoorsman-38-Special-Barrel-N-Frame-/111212753683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e4cbf313




DCS that barrel is for a 38/44, not a .45 M1917.

Personally, I would keep it as is. As noted, you will probably;ly never get your money out of it if you decide to sell it. These guns are large and a shorter barrel will make it somewhat handier, but not enough to justify the price of work. They were meant be carried openly as a sidearm. Not concealed. If its in rough shape you might think about having it nicely refinished. It already is mismatched, you will not hurt the value much that way. If it is in nice shape, I would keep it as is, military sidearms will rarely go down in value, especially a M1917,

gunnut505

IBTL

'member what the Cap'n said...

62fuelie

I had a Model 25-5 in .45 Colt that had been badly abused. I had it cut just in front of the underlug, had the butt rounded to match the N frame round butt - didn't touch the serial number. Then I had two detent balls inlet into the top surface of the crane and matching detents machined in the underside of the frame under the forcing cone. When it was done I put a dark matte gray finish on it and it came out exactly like I wanted it. It is an excellent "Yessir!!" gun. You look at the muzzle and it looks like a piece of sewer pipe and the person looking at it is strongly motivated to say "Yessir" to anything you tell him to do.