My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Need help finding an Indy Gun, want to discuss film used guns...

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Indy30
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My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Indy30 »

My new piece!
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The gun before overhaul....
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The credit goes to gunsmith, Mr. John Duncan!
Many thanks!!!!
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Post by TCS »

Great looking gun. I am considering having this done to my 2nd model HE.
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Post by Solent MKIII »

Very slick. That sucker just screams "Raiders" - congrats! :tup: :junior:
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Post by BOINKFFD »

What are you using to start with? Looks great.
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Post by Indiana Strones »

Perfect!! :tup: :tup: :tup:
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Post by gunsmith »

I am glad it turned out well.
We need to see a target.
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Post by Indy30 »

BOINKFFD wrote:What are you using to start with? Looks great.
It is a .45 ACP Brazilian contract model 1917 S&W and had the 5.5" barrel.
Thanks everyone for the comments! I'm really happy the way it turned out. It shoots great too, dead on! :D
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Post by Indy1024 »

Sick-Nasty and Awesome!
Man, you guys all have these sweet props, and i practically have nothing.
But, then again, I don't have a job, as I'm not even old enough!
Anywayssss, nice gun!
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Post by gunsmith »

check out this link. It is THE WEBLEY GREEN. Good pictures.
http://www.propstore.com/indypistol.htm
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Post by Indiana Jake »

Was this John Duncan of San Marcos CA who modified your pistol? What all did you have him do? Duncan's gun works?

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Post by gunsmith »

I am located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I have no connection with anyone in California, and will not do business with people in California, due to the firearms restrictions.
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Post by chezzy2381 »

wow :clap: That,s one top looking pistol.
I'd love to own something as cool as that ,but with all the (mod edit: please reread the rules as to use of language and working around the word filter.) laws here in the uk, it's just not worth the bother.
You is one lucky fellow,well done :)
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Post by serrecuir »

chezzy2381 wrote:wow :clap: That,s one top looking pistol.
I'd love to own something as cool as that ,but with all the laws here in the uk, it's just not worth the bother.
You is one lucky fellow,well done :)
Chez
Me too! :cry: As John says, the gun laws in CA are terrible. :twisted: Don't even get me started with the "drop test."

Great looking pistol, Indy30!! Congrats!

Kind regards,
Craig
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Post by binkmeisterRick »

Yes, let's do avoid talking gun politics, as described in the section rules, thank you. ;-)
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Post by Canyon »

DR :mrgreen: :mrgreen: L!!!

That is one gorgeous gun. :)
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Post by Indy30 »

Thanks again for the compliments everyone! :)
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Post by gunsmith »

I hope it is shooting well. Have you cleaned it yet? It is probibly due. Get some gun scrubber from Wally World and squirt the begeibers out of it. Then put some Break-Free, from Wally World, and give it a light squirt in the hammer area. Dry fire a few times, put some in the front of the cylinder, and on the extended ejector, and it will be done.
Enjoy.
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Post by Indy30 »

gunsmith wrote:I hope it is shooting well. Have you cleaned it yet? It is probibly due. Get some gun scrubber from Wally World and squirt the begeibers out of it. Then put some Break-Free, from Wally World, and give it a light squirt in the hammer area. Dry fire a few times, put some in the front of the cylinder, and on the extended ejector, and it will be done.
Enjoy.
Thanks for the tip! I'm sorry to say that I've only had it out once to shoot it. I'm hopeing to go to the WV mountains this fall and unload it on some targets again.
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Did you fire it this fall?

Post by gunsmith »

Did you fire it? And why is no one interested in having another built? Did I do something wrong?
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Post by Texas Raider »

You didn't do anything wrong, my friend! The gun is perfect! Just none of us have any funds right now, and there really aren't THAT many gun people on this forum. I will be getting your info as you did an excellent job on that brazillian! Not having a competent gunsmith handy to do this job is one huge thing that's kept me from buying a brazillian long barrel version, but I may be reconsidering now ;-)

TR
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Post by 191145 »

I'm curious as to why the original front sight profile was not maintained as it was in the movie. Why was the 'sharp' sight blade used instead of reusing the original? This feature ruins a perfect cut-down job AFAIC. this sharp point on the leading edge would tear the heck out of a holster on every insertion.
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Post by gunsmith »

The gun you are talking about is the Stembridge,used in the first part of the movie. This gun was a copy of the Bapty, and was the gun used in the rest of the movie. This is what the customer wanted. If you look at the wonderful pictures of the original Bapty, you will see it is the same as what I made.
And no, it does not tear up holsters.
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Post by 191145 »

Hey, the customer is always right, eh?
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Post by misfit »

what front site did you use?
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Post by gunsmith »

I made one from the dimentions given me by the current owner of the Bapty gun. Can't do better than that. Look at the gun on the top and tell me if it does not look like the bapty gun.
If someone wants a Stembridge, I will figure out how to make it correct. Probebly cost more, as the extra lathe work,and milling work. But it can be done. I would need the measurements from the original also.
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Post by Antilles »

Here's mine. This was done a couple yers ago by a smith in AZ. It is a 2nd Mod. in .44 cal.. Your version looks great and appears very screen accurate. The ramp on mine seems to have a higher profile than yours but I cannot file it down any further without compromising accuracy. How does yours fire?
I also have a Brazilian in .45 cal that I am considering modifying to a "Stem" version.

Great handgun!!!

Antilles
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Post by Imahomer »

That's a sweet looking piece.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Canada Jones »

These conversions look fantastic. I love what a skilled craftsman can do.
best
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by gunsmith »

It looks like the Arizona Gunsmith put on a Ruger front sight on the gun, with no mods. I hope he did not get too much money off you, as it only took him 1/2 hour to put the sight on, and the sight only cost him about 12 dollars,from Brownells. It is a sight for a Ruger Blackhawk. Totally not correct. Will shoot low at 25 yards, as it is too high. It is designed for a gun with an adjustable rear sight. This is why the sight on the gun I made had to be made by hand, one file stroke at a time. All the Arizona guy did was cut the barrel, and sweat a front sight on. What a shame.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by jd pilot »

AWESOME job! PMed ya John!
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by tlivin »

Great looking gun. I just got a Brazillian 1917 and I believe I am going to convert it to Bapty.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by M1917 »

Very nicely done! Bravo!!!
:TOH:
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by jlhampton »

gunsmith,

i've been looking to put a sight on my cut down ''classic'' 1917 s&w for some time now. no luck in finding the perfect sight. you say that you had to fabricate the sight on the earlier posted conversion? i'd love to have this done and to find out what it might cost me.

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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by IndianaSean »

Sweet!! Love those 1917's!! :D
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by gunsmith »

I only put them on guns I build. Each one is made by hand. Files, and Micrometers. That and a lot of time.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by tlivin »

Gunsmith, What did you use to shorten the barrel. Hacksaw, lathe? I have just bought a 1917 and Iam thinking about converting it to a Bapty. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by gunsmith »

A lathe, then a muzzle crowning tool. This ensures a square, and burr free muzzle, necessary for accuracy. The tool is about 100 dollars at Brownells. Each arbor for the barrel costs 20 dollars. If you want to try it, go ahead. A lot of money spent for only one job.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Rook »

Great looking "replica" there! Makes me want one... and I'm more
of a Webley kind of guy. :mrgreen:

Russ
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by djd »

Lovely pistol - well done indeed :TOH:
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Indy30 »

Thanks again everyone! :D Time to fire off some more rounds!!!
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Indiana Bond »

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I Just finished my Bapty conversion. Here is the link to the thread:

http://www.indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57568" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Image
Last edited by Indiana Bond on Mon Jul 10, 2023 11:17 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by gunsmith »

The problem with using a Ruger front sight is the hole that is in the bottom, and runs into the blade. It is the same width as the original sight. So you have to make a front sight slightly wider in the blade. Tryed it. Make mine from solid material, so all the dimentions are right. Look at INDY30 compaired to the original bapty. Other than the radius on the top of the sight, it is EXACTLY the same. Hope to have cleared the air on that one. You can try to go the cheap route, but all you will have is something that is close, not right.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Indiana Bond »

gunsmith wrote:So you have to make a front sight slightly wider in the blade.
gunsmith, You are exactly right. Using the Ruger sight does give you a sight with a slightly wider profile compaired to what the original Bapty had. But considering the $8.00 price, the pride I got from being able to shape the sight myself, and the fact that your shop isn't "just down the street" from me, I am none the less very happy. It may not be 100% SA but it is definately 100% SR!!

I've read a lot of posts throughout the forum where there are some others that want to do this conversion. But the problem has been finding a workable replacement sight. Some have even cut down barrels but couldn't get any further with the conversion. Using the Ruger sight is a great option.

Perhaps you should consider making the sights and offering them for sale to the members here. But it seems that, acccording to this statement you made, you are not willing to do that.
gunsmith wrote:I only put them on guns I build. Each one is made by hand. Files, and Micrometers. That and a lot of time.
I think the reason that more people have not used your service is because of the difficulty in shipping a handgun and possibly the cost. Those are the reasons I decided to use the Ruger sight myself.

Also you need to realize the importance in understanding the difference between SA and SR. Please read the following thread:
Screen Accuracy, Screen Reminiscence and our Quest
It may help you understand the mindset of many of us here. Most of us are very happy with 100% SR as attaining 100% SA is almost impossible anyways.

As an example, in my opinion, your sight on Indy30's Brazilian contract 1917 does not make his gun very SA at all. The barrel markings are wrong for a Bapty along with the incorrerct grip medalions. However I think Indy30's Bapty is 100% SR and it is a GREAT Indy SR prop!

Below is a comparison pic of the only completed conversions I could find here on COW. None of them are 100% SA but they are all 100% SR and I'm sure anyone would love to have any of them in their own collection.

Image



Thanks again!

Image
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by Indy30 »

My updated bapty. Found some old gold medallions and put them on some new grips Image

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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by rangertexan »

Does anyone here sell converted Indy sidearms? Thank you.


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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by JPdesign »

Double post
Last edited by JPdesign on Mon Jul 10, 2023 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by JPdesign »

Just need to make a sight for mine.
Unless someone is making them.
IMG_1913.jpeg
IMG_1917.jpeg
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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by rangertexan »

Nice work. Please let me know your front sight plans as I need one too.


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Re: My Bapty conversion!!!!!! (PICS)

Post by bearbeast »

JPdesign wrote: Mon Jul 10, 2023 7:24 pm Just need to make a sight for mine.
Unless someone is making them.

IMG_1913.jpegIMG_1917.jpeg
That's a beautiful handgun! Love the setup of the display too.

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Bear
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