Crazy S&W barrel idea

[deadcoyote]

So I like the smith model 69, but think it'd be a lot better in a 3" flavor instead of 4.25". My understanding is the model 69 is identical to the now discontinued 696 except the changed where some of the machining was in the cylinder to ensure enough strength for 44 mag as opposed to the 696 which was 44 special only (excuse my lack of nomenclature for whatever you call the small scalloped stops in the rear sides of the cylinder).

The 696s were all 3", if I could get my hands on a 696 barrel you gunsmiths think it'd go on a model 69?

[MrOrange]

The 69 has the new & improved (chuckle) two-piece barrel. If it's like the 620's et al, 1. It's a PITA to remove, ostensibly requiring special tools that the factory won't sell you and 2. You'd need to mill off the lug on the frame. Some gunsmiths have replaced the two-piecers with old style barrels, but it's not a casual problem.

IIRC one of the regular contributors to American Handgunner (Ted Yost?) has done it with an okie-rigged way to get the barrel off.

And yeah I'm with you on the 3" barrel being much preferable.

[MrOrange]

Found it!

It was in the Jan/Feb 2008 issue, Alex Hamilton. He plugged the breech end of the barrel, filled it with Cerrosafe, and embedded a 1/4" allen wrench in the mix. When it cooled, he turned out the barrel with the wrench. (For a .44, maybe use a slightly bigger allen?) As for the barrel locating studs on the frame, he simply filed those off.

I'm thinking by this time there must be more than a couple 'smiths doing this, since a lot of handgunners hate the two-piece barrels.