Shortening a revolver barrel

[Dixiejack]

I have a S-W revolver with a 6" full lug barrel that I want the barrel cut dow to 5", recrowned, and front sight reinstalled.  I want a professional job and all I have within a 50 mile radius of me are parts replacers and shade tree gunsmiths.  S-W won't do the work and they don't make a 5" barrel that fits my model revolver.  All that to say is that I am looking for a competent professional pistol smith to do the work.  Anybody have any suggestions?

[Nobade]

Hamilton Bowen.

[Dixiejack]

Thanks for the heads up.  He has some beautiful guns and his work is outstanding. 

[Dixiejack]

I got in touch with Mr. Bowen and he emailed me the next day.  I got detailed instructions on his procedure. He is very professional and nice to communicate with.  I will go with Mr. Bowen as soon as I save up some gun money.  Probably going to let him cut my Model 586 back to 5" inches, too.


I emailed S&W gunshop and was told they couldn't shorten my Model 17 barrel because the finished barrel was heat treated.


I emailed Pinnacle about 10 days ago and haven't gotten a reply. 

[gunnut69]

I didn't know the barrel on a 22 pistol would be hardened but should be shortenable even if hardened..

[Dixiejack]

That's what I don't understand.  S-W could have just told me that they don't do custom barrel work.

[Graybeard]

I don't think any factory will shorten an existing barrel for you. They will replace it with one they have in stock and generally at a very reasonable price. I once had Ruger put a 9.5" barrel on a .32 Magnum I had. Sadly it shot no better than the shorter one and so I let it go.

[Dixiejack]

Graybeard, I am sure you're right.  Probably has to do with liability that individual gunsmiths don't have to contend with.  I had a 5" Model 28 S-W that was perfectly balanced that I  thought that one day I would get my Model 17 and Model 586  barrels shortened to 5 inches.  Both have full lug 6" barrels on them now. 

[gunnut69]

I've shortened a few revolver barrels. A very close friend of mine was also wild for the 5 inch smiths. but I didn't do S&W's, I did a couple of Colt peacemaker clones. Even reset the front sight as per the factory. That's where I learned about cape chisels.. Really though the hardest part of such a task is replacing the front sight.