'Buying an Indyesque gun in the UK.' (Updated)

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:36 am

Unless you want to own a non-functional replica or decomissioned antique weapon (costing £££'s) probably the best source for an Indyesque gun (which you can get out and have fun with) in the UK is some form of co2 airpistol. There are various options available in the current market; if you wanted to go for the Browning style handgun there are many choices available in that particular style. However, I personally prefer the S&W look as seen during the majority of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Now, no airgun I have found exactly replicates the look of the original Hand Ejector 2, but some come reasonably close. It was also important to me that the gun should be functional, something which I would be able to use in the countryside (with permission to do so of course from the landowner and the local police).

Here is my first option, the S&W 586 co2 revolver:

<img src=http://www.airwarzone.co.uk/images/co2s&wblk42.jpg>

According to the blurb:

CO2 Semi Automatic, 4.5mm (.177) Diabolo, Full Metal construction, Heavyweight, Muzzle velocity of 375 fps, 60+ Shots per Powerlett, Single and double action trigger, 8 Shot Rotary Magazine, fixed front adjustable rear sights, trigger and thumbcatch safety, and a rifled 5" barrel.

Of course, it isn’t screen accurate. Having purchased the revolver, I posed the question:

'Does anyone know where I could find wooden grips to replace the standard rubber ones? I think wood would look a lot more 'period' for 1930's adventurer style.'

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:41 am

I would imagine that you should be able to find some sort of wood grip for this gun... Sadly, you won't be able to fit a vintage set of grips on this baby since the grip design changed a small while back and they can no longer make the square butt revolvers. Let us know what you do find, though. Good luck!

bink

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:50 am

Yeah, the fact that the butt is now rounded is a shame - square was much beter IMO, but I have to work with what I have.

If anyone could direct me toward where a set of wood grips might be found that would be great.

skywlkr · Post by **skywlkr** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:10 pm

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 1:28 pm

I'm beginning to think replacing the rubber grips might not be as easy as I imagined. The model is a 586, but an Airgun version.

The pistol operates on a CO2 system whereby small gas cannisters are placed inside the...grips of the gun.

Is anyone familier with the system employed by S&W with these air pistols? Is it still possible to change the grips to other standard L-frame S&W grips despite the CO2 mechanism being hidden within?

Here's another pic:

<img src=http://www.airsportdirect.com/acatalog/ ... tended.jpg>

Any further advice or info re. the grip issue would be appreciated. As i say, the pistol has an L frame if that helps any.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:19 am

Ok, I'm researching the conversion of this revolver into a much more Indy / period looking gun. I found the following pic of a converted 586 very inspirational!

<img src=http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/ ... irCorp.jpg>

As you can see, the underlug has been 'amputated' using a hacksaw, dremmel and glass paper; the grips have been given the classic 'target' style look (still looking around for alternatives for my c02 model) and I think these modifications give the gun the distinct look I'm going for, without compromising its functionality (the shortening of the underlug will not effect the performance of the c02 version as it has no recoil anyway

)

What do you guys think?

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:24 am

If you're confident in doing this, go for it!

RC Halliburton · Post by **RC Halliburton** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:41 am

That looks really nice! Get some of that "blueing in a bottle", to re-cover the newly cut parts, and your all set! Take "How-To" pictures, too!

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:59 am

Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments.

I'm giving myself a 'crash course' on gun customisation. I've quickly come to the conclusion that the most important factor is SAFETY FIRST, so I certainly won't be attempting anything which could put the safe operation of the revolver at risk- however, certainly the amputation of the underlug is perfectly safe (with a Co2 gun) and relatively straightforward. As the picture above demonstrates, this will go a long way to giving the revolver a 'period look', together with a little light distressing and some touch-up with one of the 'blueing' products widely available.

The most challenging obstacle is the replacement of the grips. I'm really doing my homework on this one and I'll manage it somehow, again bearing in mind the safety aspect at all times.

Once I figure it all out and start work on the revolver, I'll take some 'how to' pictures as I go and post them up here for everyone's perusal.

In the meantime, if anyone has any other thoughts or insights (no pun intended

) please do post them - your knowledge help will be appreciated!

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:12 am

Here are the grips I am thinking of customising to this co2 revolver:

<img src=http://www.angelfire.com/mn/tomfelten/grip.jpg>

As you can see, the grips need a little restoration work on the finish anyway, so they might be good candidates. Once I recieve them, I'll know more. I believe that the co2 S&W's grip placement is slightly different to the standard live-round 586's and the screw hole is located in a different place - this is still workable, but I need to examine the options before proceding.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:23 am

Good luck with the operation, ob1! I'm really excited to see how this turns out. Take plenty of pics of the process.

bink

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:30 am

Thanks Bink - here are another couple of shots of the inner-working's of the co2 -

<img src=http://www.airgun.co.nz/images/ph400_16.jpg>

<img src=http://www.airgun.co.nz/images/ph320_sw-components.jpg>

Cheers

Al

indy81 · Post by **indy81** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:18 am

Hey Ob1, any luck on the progress of the wood grips? Just happened to look in this section and saw your clever idea. I've seen similar air pistols at walmart, but never thought anything of it. If this works I may just attempt to modify one of those myself. I'm not sure if they're S&W air pistols, however, but it would be better to have a air pistol that worked than this resin replica that does nothing. Let us know how it's going.

Regards,
'81

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:30 am

81, I'm still working on it.

The basic problem is, the rubber grips which come as standard on the 586 model house the co2 cartridge inside. The wooden S&W round frame grips (with gold medallions) I purchased do not fit, so the frame is not a standard L-frame revolver. I'm still trying to resolve this problem and seek advice elsewhere. It may be that I need to have some handmade wodden grips fitted to the gun, if so this isn't a major problem, I know just the man who can help me with that.

The second issue is the amputation of the 4" barrel. The barrels on the S&W are interchangeable, and the removal of the front underlug would create a quarter inch gap in the base of the barrel which would need to be filled with JBweld or similar, sanded and blued. This is entirely possible, as the actual .177 gun 'barrel' is housed inside the bigger cosmetic 4" barrel (does that make sense?) so the operation of the revolver would not be effected.

Basically, once the underlug is shortened and I find a solution to the grip problem, I'll post some pictures of the project and a 'how to' guide, if I manage to achieve a satisfactory result.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:34 pm

After removing the correct part of the underlug (this turned out very well - just need a little more wire-wooling then bluing to finish this part of the project) I decided to tackle the grips.

I had a brainwave to cut down the supplied rubber grips in an attempt to replicate the smaller grips of the Indy revolver, intending to customise the altered rubber grips with the addition of some gold S&W medallions - unfortunately, I ran into problems immediately.

The 586 Co2 grips have a thin steel plate inserted into the rubber and running the entire length of the grip. Furthermore, the housing of the cartridge inside the handle means that only 1 grip is actually secured with a screw, the flipside grip being 'clipped' on via a rubber handle surround. Hacking back the rubber to make this discovery has basically ruined the original grips...

Sometimes being a Gearhead isn't easy... I might get a T-shirt made with that slogan....

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:31 am

Ok, another update for anyone interested.

The custom grip option is also out for the 586, due to the aforementioned design problems and the housing of the co2 cartridge. I've managed to get a set of replacement rubber grips as originally supplied with the gun, but after talking to the UK suppliers (who were very helpful indeed!) I have come to the conclusion that there is no way forward in the grips dept.

So my conclusion is that the 586 should not be the airgun of choice for anyone wanting to customise it into an Indygun. The barrel coversion (hacking off the underlug) is achievable, but the grips cannot be replaced.

However, driven by my quest for a period-looking 'Indy style' revolver, and following my conversation with the UK importers, I've just dived into the wallet of doom once more and ordered this:

<img src=http://www.xjsr.co.uk/b-img/CO2/crosd446.jpg>

Like the 586, this is a co2 powered .177 airgun, however the underlug is more Indy-like from the outset (although the barrel is 6" rather than 4") and the grips are obviously more straightforward and can be changed. The particularly nice thing about this gun is the lanyard style ring which in fact doubles as part of the co2 cartridge mechanism.

I'll report back once the new gun arrives.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:35 am

Wow... I wish we could have stuff like this down here...

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 10:31 am

I believe this new revolver is a better 'base' for the HE2-style than the S&W 586 was- take a look at this comparison pic to highlight the similarities (and of course, the differences, particularly the grips again and the rear sights) -I used IndyFils new HE2 as a reference; my revolver is the Daisy 44:

<img src=http://uk.msnusers.com/_Secure/0VQCz*8Y ... 3612597741>

What do you guys think, pretty close?

I'll see what I can do to improve the the Daisy 44's screen accuracy and post pics and an update next week.

Regards

Al

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:17 pm

Well I'm watching this with interest

& that's looks like a much better starting block & a lot easier to work on

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 7:11 pm

Cheers Skippy.

Maybe It's worth mentioning that the new revolver, a Daisy Powerline 44 model, has now ceased production from the US; however I found a reputable UK supplier who still has the gun in stock at a very low price - if anyone is considering picking one up, I'd advise act pretty quickly and drop me a PM (I'll send you the link).

Al

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 7:54 pm

I'm also watching this with interest, Al. The new gun actually looks quite a lot like the 'dollar store' toy revolver you might be familiar with from other threads. If you are able to convert this one in the same manner I'd say you have done a great find. It looks very good to start with!

Good luck, I'll watch your progress too.

Regards,
Swindiana