ltwguns.com

I'm looking at what I believe is a "Smolt". It's a M28 frame with an 8" Magna-ported Python barrel on it. The whole thing is hard chromed and the workmanship is very good. Gun was probably originally bought/built in the late '70's to early 80's. Gun has no paperwork.

Can anyone tell me the history of these? Googling hasn't helped much.

Thanks!

I have a buddy on the PD who has 2 K frames with Python BBLS. They were hot in the 70's and early 80's (pre L frame). Guys like the underlug plus the accuracy of the Colt bbl with the easily tuned K action. Never seen on eon an N frame.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

I've never seen one on an 'N' frame either. I did one on a model 66 with a stainless 6" Python tube 3-4 years ago, and it was a good shooter. I don't know if the customer ever shot it though. Last I talked to him after the job, which was 8-9 months, he said he hadn't and didn't know if he would - he just liked the way they looked.
As I understand it, the reason this was originally done was the 1-14 twist rate of the Python barrel stabilized 148 gr. wadcutters better out past 25 yds than the Smith's 1 - 18 3/4 twist rate, which would let them keyhole at times. At this time, I don't know if all the Douglas et. al. barrels were available, and this gave the PPC shooters a bit more weight, a better twist rate, and an available barrel for the Smith action which was thought to have an advantage in this type of shooting. Hope this helps,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Veering off topic see Jim Cerillo for fancy cross-brand barrels including some larger S&W revolvers. Mr. Cerillo of course experimented with different bullet designs in an unusual fashion.

I have a Smolt (S&W 19 with a 4 inch Colt Python Bbl), created by the Davis Co., Sacramento California in April 1981. Carried it daily as my duty weapon for 10 years, until we were allowed to purchase our own DA semi-auto.

This was long before the L-Frame and I wanted the S&W action and the weight of the underlug.

It is the most controllable and accurate revolver I have ever owned.

Cypher1911



Pic added by JDP for Cypher

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If You're Not the Lead Dog, The View Never Changes.

Here's a pic of the gun in question:

It would be interesting to see how that was done, as the 'N' frame barrel threads are considerably bigger than the Python barrel threads. About the only thing I can thing of is that the 'Smith made up a male/female threaded sleeve as an adapter (similar to a heli-coil) to screw them both together.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

These convertions were also known as "Smythons". Bill Jordan was quite found of them.

I built jim his first Custom S&W Douglas bbld revolver witrth a Bo Mar rib, which he shot real well. I have a picture of him aiming it and signed saying, this Behlert gun just keeps winning. Ill put the pic on one of these days. Jim used to stop to my shop about once a month to have me go over it slightly as it didnt have a centerpin lock and was before we put in crane locks. He and his friend Bill Allard spent many hours at my place and were two great guys.

Cypher
Thats is one fine looking revolver. While I am a Glock armorer for my department I have always had a great love for wheel guns, double and single action. H. Bowen and D. Clements web site get visited by me a lot.

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Smolts built by Bill Davis on 19/66 frames and a 4" Python bbl fueled the fire that helped create the L Frame series of Revolvers that S&W built.

Davis was a champion PPC guy and a former cop. I got to shoot one that was owned by Larry Plott an Idaho State Police PPC Champion.

It's no leap to see why Smith redesigned their K Frames after throat erosion became a problem.

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Look up your redemption draweth nigh.

In 1980, I had Bill Davis build me a Smolt .357 on a S & W Model 19 frame with a 6 inch python Barrel. I carried it as a Duty Weapon as a Deputy Sheriff until I went to a City PD that let me carry a Colt Gold Cup .45. The SMOLT is one of my nicest and best shooting revolvers. Bill was a great person and gunsmith.

Well why I was working the gunshow this weekend my buddy walked in wearing his uniform and low and behold if he wasnt still carrying his Smolt (1 of about 20 revolvers left on the 1200 man department). He advised a gunsmith by the name of Steve Veninades (guessing on the spelling) from Tulsa did it in the late 70's. He also used the moniker "The Greek". Anyone familiar with him? My buddy advised at the same time he took a xerox of his hand and sent it to a guy in California who made grips to your hand dimensions. Thought they were called Fuzzy grips but wasnt sure. His show 25+ years of duty wear and he would like to get more if anyone has any suggestions. He is supposed to email me pics of both his Smolts so I can post them.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

That's almost certainly Fuzzy Farrant on the grips - at one time a hot tip and one of the few makers who would bias the grips for one hand or two hands yet leave them useful for the other possibilities unlike a target grip with thumb rest and palm shelf. IIRC he emphasized a palm swell sort of but not really Wundhammer style.

alternate spelling on the Greek. Very likely the same man who is the subject of current comments on 1911Forum:
justjed

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthr ... ight=greek

Fuzzy Farrant was a former LAPD officer who got into grip making. I think they were pretty popular on a lot of the dept carry guns, and my dad still has a set that he had on his 4" model 15. They needed you to cut the corner off the front of the grip frame to fit them, but were pretty comfortable. I've heard that Fuzzy went to his reward some years ago 'tho. I don't know if anyone picked up his designs for grips.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Smolt by "the Greek". A little internet search indicates Fuzzy passed on in 2000 at the young age of 88. Not much on the Greek.

This Smolt was built in the early 80's on a S&W 19. It has been duty carried 25 years or so.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

I like the heavy duty rear sight mod. Looks like the Greek knew what he was doing.

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I hear the Greek is now Nowlins head smith.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

In the late 70's, I had one of the Bicentennial Ruger Security-6 models rebarrelled with a 6" Python barrel (I believe Ron Power's did the work), called a "Cougar". Shot like a house afire, my wife loved it over all autos because she was left handed and for some reason was able to shoot it better. Sold it many years ago due to kid problems (nobody told me they were SO EXPENSIVE to raise) and have been haunting the shops/shows ever since hoping it will turn up.