S&W M34-1 2 Inch

I recently got this gun because another blogger, Xavier, had posted about his find in a pawn shop. I don't think I got away as cheaply as Xavier but it is a fine little gun. It came to me with Pachmayr rubber grips but I didn't like them and after trying several others ended up with configuration of the standard grips plus a Tyler "T" grip adapter. That is until that grip set-up was moved to my 642 and the "bananas" went on it (as shown). These feel just like the standard grips with the Tyler-T adapter but are a bit longer.

The "J" frame kit guns were a development from the Bekeart "model". San Francisco gun dealer Philip Bekeart placed a special order with Smith & Wesson for a .22 caliber revolver built on a .32 caliber "heavy frame" with 6" barrel, target sights and a special extended grip. Smith & Wesson obliged and produced a limited run of 1044 revolvers. Philip Bekeart received 292 from this first production and the balance went to other dealers. Later, more "kit" guns were made up on the "I" frame and then when the "I" frame was superseded, on the "J" frame.

I'd wanted one for a long time and had settled for the S&W M422 as more practical/less expensive and the Ruger Single-Six as more useful but still wanted one. Xavier's post sent me over the edge and I actually went looking for one. In the process I learned a lot about some sellers across the country and the vagaries of pricing. I think his post got a lot of others "thinking" too as there were a number of guns available before the post and many fewer after. I'm certain that he drove the price up. Anyway, I found this gun on GunsAmerica and made the necessary arrangements and sent off the money.

I was pretty happy when I got it and couldn't wait to shoot it. First thing through it was some Aguila Super Colibri. That ammo worked pretty well and I was able to keep walnuts rolling at 10-15 yards with no need to wear hearing protection. However, with standard rimfire ammo such as the Winchester PowerPoints or Dynapoints (modified to SGB profile, of course) this gun barks pretty good! However, I never got it to the range until 12 September 2007 when I finally managed to take this gun and my Bearcat to Hite Hollow Range and see how she does with some different types of ammo. Aside from unmodified Dynapoints, I tried some old, Russian-made, steel cased Junior.

Shooting small groups at 25 yards is an exercise with these guns requiring perfect sight alignment and very consistent trigger control. Single action I was able to keep almost all rounds in about a hand's breadth. One unanticipated problem was that the Junior ammo sometimes didn't "go" quite as vigorously. In other words, some rounds didn't have "full power". So, every once in a while, a round will sink considerable away from the group.

One other problem, common to the S&W kit guns is that as the gun got dirty it became harder and harder to extract all cases. This Junior ammo is particularly dirty and sometimes it appeared that I must have a small fire in my hands because the smoke really rolled! Of course that fouled the pistol quickly and so I had to clean it up in order to continue shooting.

As usual with the Winchester PowerPoint ammo, groups were consistent and among the best that this gun delivers. It is hard to tell, but this gun might just give better groups with the Winchester Dynapoints modified to SGB configuration. With this gun's short sight radius there's just enough doubt about my consistency to make me wonder which ammo is best. This is where the use of a rest like the Ransom would give one a definitive answer as to which ammo is more accurate and eliminate that nagging doubt over one's own abilities on any given day.

Links:
Marshall Stanton SGB

Colt's 1911 "Repro"

Colt is making a 1911 just like the 1911s were made. I got to see and handle one today but not even the owner, who carefully unwrapped it after opening the box, has shot it. Good thing it isn't mine. I'd have blasted a few mags through it.

Metal work was beautiful except, the US Property marking stamp apparently bounced producing a shadow effect, like a light double stamp.

The sights were a bit tiny. The stocks were a bit light for my taste. Otherwise, well I quit drooling about 30 minutes after he left.

Colt only plans to make so many and they should be finished about June or July. Better get while the getting is good.

PS. Same friend scored a Triple-lock .44 Spec 4" nickel for $360. Not sure if the the nickel plate was factory but there is flaking on the forward edge between the flutes.

Cleaning Out the Parts Bin

While I've been on enforced house residency this week I've been going through the parts bins looking for stuff to sell to raise money for other stuff to buy. No, I can't help it.

I have found at least 2 old Winchester leveraction rear sights, a rear sight for the Winchester M1906, a couple of generic open sights, and a couple of Marlin open sights, all with elevators. Also, I got out the Lyman #2 coded "B" for the 1892 Marlin and one mounting screw (I'm looking for the other) and a generic type tang sight I originally got for the 1886 SRC but decided against mounting. Several grips, rubber, Pachmayr make for S&W N, K and J frames, Colt DS, along with wooden stocks for the Colt PPS and some un-identified Phillipine made grips for some revolver, possibly a Colt NS or 1917. Also found was a 10-round mag for a Taurus. Of course I've got those never fit to a revolver Herrett Shooting Stars for the post-66 PPS or Detective Special (or Cobra or Agent if it floats your boat).

All of this stuff is for sale and if you are "lucky" enough to read my blog you might as well make me an offer.

I Have GOT to Get a Grip (or My Obsession with Grips)

I have several revolvers and I've been through the all rubber all the time stage of my life. First it was just available (the S&W M629), then it was needed to avoid the sting of recoil (the S&W M13 3" .357 Mag), and then it was to make all the grips the same (the S&W M36) or to make them big enough and "tacky" enough to hold on to (the Ruger SpeedSix and Colt Combat Commander). I even forced Dad into this with Pachmayr grip set for his Ruger MK II 10". Yikes. What is really embarassing is that, over time, I've probably spent enough on grips to buy a couple of good handguns and all these grips were unsatisfactory. I must note the following...

The good things about rubber.

#1 Rubber is available everywhere. If you need a grip you can likely find somebody somewhere who makes a set for your gun.

#2 Rubber is cheap. Relatively. Oh, you might spend $30 for rubber grips but wood will most often cost more.

#3 Rubber is durable. It lasts. It can take a beating and even protect your gun without showing the wear and tear that wood will show under similar circumstances. Unlike some wood finishes, it is unfazed by exposure to the elements.

#4 Rubber is quiet. If you are one of those folks who's constantly bumping into things this might help you avoid embarrassing noises.

The bad things about rubber.

#1 Rubber is ugly, butt ugly (pun intended). Ok, so I'm not so wrapped up in beauty that I'll spend $250+ for stag or fossilized mastodon ivory or some such thing. Wood, even plain old walnut is good enough.

#2 Rubber is too tacky. No, I'm not referring to looks again. I'm referring to how it grabs at my clothing. Let's face facts. Most of my handguns are intended to be at least part time concealed carry pieces. Grips which grab clothing and make it hang funny, ie noticeably different from the norm, are not a good thing.

#3 Rubber grips inevitably seem to be too big or at least bigger than necessary. For my 629, no rubber grip was really usable for my hands. I just could not shoot that gun double action comfortably with any rubber grip. For other guns they bulk up the gun reducing concealability.

So, as you can see, I've figured out that the minuses exceed the positives and I've made some changes. You might also notice some other similarities. Pictured here is a S&W 629 (center), S&W M34 (center bottom) and from there clockwise an S&W M13, S&W M36, and finally my recently oft mentioned Colt Detective Special.

Yes, I've gone back to the factory grips with the addition of a Tyler-T grip adapter. At about $25 each these are not much less than a Pachmayr grip but oh the feeling!

I've done the same to most of my autopistols as well such as with this Colt. No, I've never noticed a lack of control with one exception. The Hogue grips on the 629. That grip is slick. DA shooting is fine but when I change my grip to cock the gun it will slide about. Perhaps I haven't learned the trick to the task. But for every other gun, handling has been improved and I think appearance and the pleasure of ownership has increased as well.

Now I just need to correct my poor Speed-Six's grip and get that MK II a good set of wood. More money I know, but look on eBay for some real deals if you want rubber grips. All mine will be going there soon!