Top break S&W barrel swap?

WestKentucky · Feb 17, 2020

On an old S&W Lemon squeezer, are the barrels consistent enough to swap and latch properly? I ask only because I am considering buying a barrel to convert one of my problem child guns to single shot and use a chambered chunk of barrel to simply turn it down, acraglass it into the bore and simply swap the barrel assemblies. I’m thinking 32swl or maybe even 22lr if I can do it off center enough to get reliable ignition from rim strikes.

Col. Harrumph · Feb 18, 2020

Well, considering those were the days of super-skilled hand fitting, and that the barrels were serialed to the frame, I kinda doubt a drop-in swap would "just work."

mnrivrat · Feb 18, 2020

I am having a bit of a problem with the concept of what you want to do . "chambered chunk of barrel" Are you looking at sleeving a chamber in the cylinder and then re-chambering it to a different cartridge ? Then locking the cylinder in place and removing the hand so you have a single shot in a caliber other than your present barrel ? After all there is no such thing as a "chamber" in the barrel of the type of gun you mention. As to the barrel swap that might take a bit of fitting, but they generally are pretty close from gun to gun. If you are talking about changing a center fire caliber to rimfire, then you have a lot of work on your hands, and a much bigger project.

WestKentucky · Feb 18, 2020

mnrivrat said:
I am having a bit of a problem with the concept of what you want to do . "chambered chunk of barrel" Are you looking at sleeving a chamber in the cylinder and then re-chambering it to a different cartridge ? Then locking the cylinder in place and removing the hand so you have a single shot in a caliber other than your present barrel ? After all there is no such thing as a "chamber" in the barrel of the type of gun you mention. As to the barrel swap that might take a bit of fitting, but they generally are pretty close from gun to gun. If you are talking about changing a center fire caliber to rimfire, then you have a lot of work on your hands, and a much bigger project.

No, no cylinder. Just turn a section of barrel down to be a snug or even pressed in fit into the hinged barrel. Leave it shouldered a bit larger for the area where the cylinder would normally be. Chamber that pressed in barrel chunk for 32swl or similar.

Jim Watson · Feb 18, 2020

Well, Smith and Wesson did it, sort of.
The First Model Single Shot was on a revolver frame and combination sets are out there. The .22 barrel was bored off center for the centerfire firing pin to hit the rim of the single .22.

mnrivrat · Feb 18, 2020

Now I got your concept. If you are using a center fire frame then chambering to center fire would not be to hard. You might have some work on fitting the latch, then again you could get lucky. If wanting a RF cartridge on a center fire frame then you got some challenge to make that work out. Your not talking a bunch of money here so go for it. Sounds like a fun project .Post picture when done.

boom boom · Feb 19, 2020

There is an oddball single shot revolver look alike that I saw but can't for the life of me remember exactly who made it and why. Might be able to look around and use that as a model.

mnrivrat · Feb 20, 2020

To be honest I would find a cheap IJ or H&R to do this with. I am positive the OP could find someone to trade his S&W action for a complete gun and I would hate to ruin old S&W parts . I for example have several old IJ's and H&R's that would work for this type project. I also have a barrel assembly and cylinder and other parts for a .32 safety model S&W but they are in mint original condition making them a bit to valuable for the project.

Top break S&W barrel swap?

WestKentucky

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Col. Harrumph

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mnrivrat

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Jim Watson

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boom boom

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