Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

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

Moderator: Cajunkraut

Post Reply
User avatar
zhund
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:04 am

Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by zhund »

Greetings all. I just bought this specimen on GunBroker and am considering shortening the barrel. I am alright with keeping the current grips because they have character, but the shorter barrel (more "Stembridge-like") would be my preference. I know many of you have done similar things and I have enjoyed reading about them in the other threads, so I'd like to hear your thoughts.

It's worth mentioning that I haven't even taken possession of it yet, I just won the bid yesterday and expect to have it shipped in early December.

Image Image
Image Image

Thanks and regards,

KZ
User avatar
Solent MKIII
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1332
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 7:42 am
Location: Sharing living space with a near-sighted scrap pile

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by Solent MKIII »

VERY, VERY nice! :clap: I will echo what others have said about shortening the barrel on one of these - keep the original barrel intact ( and the gun's value ) and find a replacement barrel to use for the Indy-chop. Congrats again on a great pickup! :D :TOH:
micsteam
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:33 am
Location: South Florida

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by micsteam »

Very nice revolver !! MHO I'm with Solent MKIII, buy a replacement barrel and have that one cut down, this way you maintain the integrity and value of the gun. Enjoy !! :TOH:
User avatar
zhund
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:04 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by zhund »

Thanks very much to you both. I'm looking for a spare barrel but I'm guessing this will be a long term effort, which I'm OK with.

Cheers,
KZ
User avatar
Indiana89
Archaeology Student
Archaeology Student
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:45 pm

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by Indiana89 »

very beautiful gun! ;)
User avatar
ChrisMD
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 3453
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:23 pm
Location: Northern Colorado

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by ChrisMD »

Very nice. Once again PLEASE DONT CHOP IT. Find a short barrel, and have a qualified smith make the swap and then store the old one. Pretty please!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44486
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by Michaelson »

Considering that was posted last November, what ever is done is done. ;)

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
zhund
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:04 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by zhund »

The pistol above actually had to go back, it had an unmatched yoke that was badly done and rendered the pistol unsafe. Since then, I acquired the Smith & Wesson model 22 of 1917 remake from several years ago along with a US Govt marked S&W 1917 and a S&W 455 Eley. My plan is to have Cylinder & Slide from Freemont, NE take the model 22 and a spare original NOS 1917 barrel and turn that into the Stembridge and then have the 455 Eley cut and made into the Bapty. The 455 Eley has some strange sight on the front anyway so I don't feel bad cutting it down. I'll take some photos of the before and after and post them up, but I'm still out of the country for a few weeks. I have a few sets of grips that I ordered for each to try and get them more accurate, but we'll see how it works out. There's a waiting period for the gunsmith of about a year, so nothing is happening any time soon. (I don't have the heart to chop the other old 1917 I found, so I'm planning on leaving that one as-is.)

On a side note, I also acquired an Inglis Hi Power, so I'll post some photos of that as well.

Thanks for the comments!

Kevin Z.
User avatar
ChrisMD
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 3453
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:23 pm
Location: Northern Colorado

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by ChrisMD »

Michaelson wrote:Considering that was posted last November, what ever is done is done. ;)

Regards! Michaelson
Shoot I just read the comment above me and OP without regard to date. Some detective I am! ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
zhund
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:04 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by zhund »

The latest commercial S&W HE, which is in the process of becoming the Stembridge. I found a NOS M1917 barrel with no S/N and am saving the barrel you see on the pistol here.

Image
Image

Should turn out nice!

Regards,
KZ
User avatar
cm289
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 428
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:57 am
Location: New (improved?) Mexico

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by cm289 »

Gorgeous piece


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
zhund
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:04 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 5-Screw Commercial .45 Hand Ejector

Post by zhund »

cm289 wrote:Gorgeous piece


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks very much! I am assuming it was sitting in someone's sock drawer for 50+ years to still look that good.
Post Reply