This post is in the form of a photo-essay. Sort of. This is a 1949-production S&W M&P (the model that later was called a Model 10.) This ongoing project has the purpose of turning this old gun into the best concealed-carry fighting revolver I can devise. Sure, the very concept is dated, but it’s all in good fun. Without further ado-
Here’s the current state of the gun, dare I say it’s final form? Perhaps. Note that the trigger guard is cut away on the right side for faster access to the trigger from the safe position on the top of the frame.The barrel is cut to 3″ and the hammer bobbed; It’s really meant for 99.9% double-action.The Wonder Sight is a low-profile no-gunsmithing adjustable sight. This was mounted on my M1917, but the base-plate is the wrong size for an N-Frame, which allowed it to tilt under recoil. On the K-frame it bears against the blast shield as it should, holding it firmly in place.I really should have cleaned the gun before before photographing it… Anyway, the custom front-sight has been modified with a brass insert silver-soldered to the top, and 40 LPI grooves cut across it. Quick to acquire, and it shows up well in a variety of lighting conditions.40 Line Per Inch grooves are cut into the top of the frame to reduce glare. I probably should have cleaned the gun before I photographed it…20 LPI grooves are cut into the bottom of the trigger guard. I use a very high-and-tight grip, so the index finger of my left-hand is pressed firmly against the trigger guard, and the effect of these grooves is surprising. They genuinely help anchor the gun when using a two-hand grip.The hammer has 20 LPI grooves across the top to facilitate thumb-cocking. I expect I’ll use this feature rarely if ever; the trigger much be pressed part-way to start the hammer back before these grooves are accessible, I don’t really recommend it, but it’s there if I need it.The Birdseye Maple grip is fitted to my hand specifically, and while it might appear to be a two-finger grip it actually isn’t. My pinky-finger curls around the bottom of the frame, and the sides of the grip are relieved to accommodate it. The chambers are lightly beveled, just enough to break the edge to facilitate reloading. I tried to photograph this, but it just doesn’t look like anything, so no pics.
So there you have it, and I hope you all enjoyed looking at this gun. While it’s mostly in good fun, this is a very capable gun, and I have every intention of carrying it when conditions and circumstances permit.
