I got my Smith! A question...

Magnum · Post by **Magnum** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:48 pm

I just received the Smith & Wesson HE2 that I ordered from Bob Adams. It is an excellent gun and is truly an Indyesque piece. It is not pristine, but I didn't want a pristine gun. The barrel is approximately 5 1/2 inches currently, so I need to get that cut down by a gunsmith. Does anyone have the specifics on getting the gun cut down? Does Indy's gun have a three or four inch barrel, because Lee Kepler's resin replica has a three inch barrel? Thanks in advance and I'll try and get pics up soon.

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:55 pm

Contact Lee directly at ROTLA007@aol.com. He can give you those details. To be nosey, how are you measuring Lee's version? Barrel length is measured from the back of the forcing cone (directly in front of the cylinder) to the end of the barrel, not from the frame where the barrels scews in, to the end of the barrel. Regards. Michaelson

MK · Post by MK » Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:00 pm

Can you post some pics of your new prize? How much was it?

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:28 pm

Call a gunshop and ask where to get replacement barrels. I wouldn't cut it down. That's what the guys at the gunshop told me and it makes sense. There is a periodical that lists vintage guns, parts and whole. Check into it.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:38 pm

This is from Lee and the guy who he recommends:

Jack DeVore in Flagstaff, AZ. He did most of the work at Reeder Custom Guns(www.reedercustomguns.com) and is now on his own. He's working on an 1895 Marlin for me right now.

Give Jack a call at 928-526-7718 and tell him Lee Keppler sent you

-Sergei

MaryonRavenwood · Post by **MaryonRavenwood** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 1:16 pm

4" barrel. What HJS is going to do with his is not have the barrel cut down, but have another, shorter one installed so as not to damage the original barrel.
Regards--Maryon

Magnum · Post by **Magnum** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 4:38 pm

Maryon,

Where is HJS going to get the replacement barrel from? Thanks.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 5:00 pm

Magnum,
I would probably let the gunsmith take care of finding one for you.

-S

Henry Jones Sr. · Post by **Henry Jones Sr.** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:33 pm

Magnum wrote:Where is HJS going to get the replacement barrel from?

Magnum:

I'm planning on going with Lee's suggestion of Jack DeVore. If Lee says to give this guy a call "and tell him Lee Keppler sent you", I'd take that as a "Good Gunkeeping Seal of Approval"! I'm reluctant to let my baby out of my possession for whatever time it will require, but I know I'll be guaranteed of getting what I'm looking for.

You might also want to check with Minnesota. He also purchased from Bob Adams, but from the last I heard, he seemed to be leaning towards going with a local gunsmith recommended to him. I've been out of the COW loop for about a month (not to mention short on Indy funds in the wake of the holidays...

), so my barrel conversion may not be happening for a little while. Let me know if you hear of any other information not posted here! Good luck! I look forward to comparing our (modified) cannons sometime soon!

Sincere regards,

Henry Jones Sr.

MK · Post by MK » Tue Feb 18, 2003 12:01 am

I have been considering getting a Smith from Bob. I have just been waiting to get a picture e-mailed to me of a gun he has to sell. He keeps saying in a couple of days.....it has been a couple of weeks. The man has no sense of time. I want to order from him but to do so sight unseen goes against my better judgement.

Could someone please post a pic of their Smith from Bob? Does yours look anything like that photo on his web site? Help me out guys.

Thanks.

Minnesota Jones · Post by **Minnesota Jones** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:22 am

Mine looks exactly like the one on the site. I ordered quick when they came up and wanted excellent, and got excellent. Unfortunately, I can't post pics but I can snail mail them to someone who can or to you directly MK if you want. It's a beauty. I did take the pics with the S&W Lee replica and a replica of a Webley. With the full length barrel still on it, it's actually BIGGER (length-wise) than the Webley....

But as for how clean the gun is, just a little blue coming off near the end of the barrel, and a little scuff here and there on the wood grip. But otherwise, I see almost no pitting compared to the replica S&W, and seriously it looks like it was almost never fired, and that's all from a gun now 86 years old.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:45 am

What about the grips, MJ? Where they the checkered wood, gold medallion? Just curious. -S

Minnesota Jones · Post by **Minnesota Jones** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:56 am

Gold Medallion, and very pretty ones at that!

MK · Post by MK » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:43 pm

Was yours the $250 or $350 gun? How long did it take for him to get it to you?

Minnesota Jones · Post by **Minnesota Jones** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:11 pm

Mine was one of the $450 ones in excellent. Took a little while to get it, he didn't get back to me very quick on notes, but it did arrive. My local shop also didn't notify me quickly when it did arrive so I can't say the whole wait was Adam's guns. I think the $450's are all gone now, but it's been awhile since I checked his website.

Magnum · Post by **Magnum** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:24 pm

I ordered one of the $350 guns from Mr. Adams. It took about two weeks to get and it is PERFECT. I wanted a 'shooter' that was still in very good condition, and that is exactly what I got. There is some holster wear on the end of the barrel and some wear in other places, but there is no rust or pitting. The gun is just great. The gold medallion grips that it comes with are very nice. The gun also has all the markings that Lee's replica has and is exactly what I had hoped to get. I took pictures with my camera, and I'm getting them developed. I'll scan them in and post them as soon as possible because I don't have a digital camera. Until then, the picture that Mr. Adams has on his website is nearly identical to the gun I received. Hope this helps.

Now, one question of my own. Where can I get some .455 ammo and do I want .455 Webley or .455 Colt? Does it matter? Thanks.

MaryonRavenwood · Post by **MaryonRavenwood** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:39 pm

You can order the ammo from the Old West Scrounger:
http://www.ows-ammo.com
Regards--Maryon

Magnum · Post by **Magnum** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 10:29 pm

Do I want the .455 Colt, the .455 Webley Revolver, or the .455 Webley 262gr RN Lead from the Old West Scrounger? Thanks.

MaryonRavenwood · Post by **MaryonRavenwood** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 2:55 am

I think the 3rd option--the other 2 molds for making your own, I think...
I'll have to find out from HJS (or maybe he'll see this)--he'd know better than I would.
Regards--Maryon