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To: Ramius; g'nad; osagebowman; Lost Dutchman; Squantos; Corin Stormhands; JenB; TalonDJ; ExGeeEye; ...
The SHOT Show is just about history now, and all the major manufacturers swear that they have truckloads of warez ready to ship. It's all supposed to arrive in February (probably Feb. 28, which was IBM promised things). Meanwhile, little items are leaking out onto the web.

If you're a fan of S&W J-frames, this item from the Ergo people might amuse you.

An obviously new concept in grips for snubbies, it's supposed to automatically position the revolver perfectly, so you're looking down a perfect sight picture, no matter how you draw your weapon. It's also supposed to give you a secure grip, no matter what.

As Murphy's Law says, "if a thing sounds dumb, but it works, it's not dumb". I can afford $20 to try one out, but I thought I'd give everybody else an early warning to be on the look-out in case one ever appears in front of you. :)

Meanwhile, my rehabilitation efforts with the 90+ year-old S&W M1917 have paid off. After staring at its innards for two days, the problem, and solution, hit me in the face like a wet salami. The total overall length of the extractor assembly was about .001" inch longer than the allowable maximum. This forced the extractor assemble to bend ever-so-slightly at each position of the cylinder, but also transmitted weird off-axis forces throughout the inner workings of the revolver. Removing about .001" from the knob on the end of the extractor rod brought everything into spec, and allowed me to do my usual nanolube break-in, because there were no off-axis forces trying to push all the parts out through the side of the frame. That old warhorse turned out to be a 90-year-old stud colt that is just starting to show his inherent talents after one box of ammo.

Disclaimer: I put on some modern rubber grips on the frame before firing, because the old-time stuff, especially with heavy recoil, tends to slam the back of the trigger guard against my fingers. But for photo purposes, the originals went on. Trigger pull is within spec at 11 and 7 pounds DA/SA, and it might go a pound lower when things start to break in. Only now are drag marks starting to appear, because only now are the parts fitting like they should.

The equine equivalent would be taking a nail file, make a tiny pass over a tiny part of a hoof, and curing everything. When I recognized the problem, and the fix, my face-palm reverberated through throughout the basement for several seconds. I wonder how many people looked at this weapon over the last 90 years, including the S&W and Army inspectors who officially blessed it, and then just set it aside? The S&W craftsman, the final seller, and probably several armorers glanced at it during those decades, only to put it on some out-of-the-way shelf or drawer. Unintentionally, they put it into stasis, leaving me with a brand-new 90-year-old revolver that should be good for at least another hundred years. I'll have to look up the inspector's marks so I can discover their names, and give them some belated thanks for their unintentional foresight. :)

4,243 posted on 01/19/2014 3:32:11 AM PST by 300winmag (Whatever CAN go wrong has already happened. We just don't know about it yet.)
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To: 300winmag

I’ll be curious to see the results of your Ergo range report. That is one funky looking grip.


4,245 posted on 01/19/2014 12:31:19 PM PST by Professional Engineer (I am not cynical. /s)
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To: 300winmag; Squantos; g'nad

Excellent diagnosis and correction on the venerable old Smith. Those are great revolvers and the proof is on the target. You done good. Kudos Win Mag.

You’re correct on the use of ‘aftermarket’ grips on the Smith N Frame, well most Smiths. I found a old pair of Pac Presentation grips for a N-frame I’ve kept around for shooting the odd old Smiths I’ve had a chance to shoot. Very effective.

Back from the BP range, warm day that means snapping caps and burning powder. The ROAs were present and active.


4,246 posted on 01/19/2014 2:38:57 PM PST by osagebowman
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