INDY Gun

Hey Gunny, did you ever see one of those Webley automatics? They were supposed to be very well made, you would admire the machining and mechanical functioning no doubt, but they were also supposed to be pretty accurate. The automatic revolver is difinitely a rarity. Chris

 Gunsmith: I was wondering why you decided to recreate a gun like the INDY gun? Were you a consultant or anything or just a fan of the movies or that particular gun? I am interested in the various things that you listed as being done to the gun to refine it, and why you felt they were necessary. I think you should give us an account of how you got started on this gun and what led to it's final completion. Also you talk a lot about the problems with current S&W guns and I was wondering what you considered to be the worst problems with them right now that would be a "Must" to correct if one was being purchased.  Chris

aA customer cvame to me and asked me do do a converversion for him, He is a great Indy fan. I thought it was strange, but he was willing to pay good money, and I need good money, so the project progressed. I found out that this ws a good gun, one Smith should have made, but did not. The ramp sight is very nice, and works well with the fixed rear groove. Several others wanted guns just kike it, so the business began to grow. All for Indy fans with lots of money. We also make the holster out of heavy leather, one that would take the beating that someone of Indys business would want.  All screen correct.
As far as the current Smiths, first look at a Pre War Smith. See how the recoil shield is cut away for the cartridges when they are not under the firing pin. This inshures a non biding rotation, and ele\iminates the possibility of 2 rounds going off at one time. See how the cylinder is counter bored for the cartrige rims. and how tight the headspace is (the distance between the recoil sheild/firing pin area, and the back of the cartidge. about 3 thou. is the normal.  See how the extra screw on the top of the side plate supports the sideplate,frame joint. THis is for the flezing that takes place when the gun is fired. Yes the entire gun is stressed, twists, and deforms when all hell breaks loose. It just happens very fast. See how the front supporting lock is fitted into the barrel, and how it locks the ejector rod into place, so the cylinder is held tighter in battery. This is very neccesary,as the gun is trying to come open when a smith is operated. The cylinder does not go into batter like a Colt, but rotates out of battery. The finest Smiths were the ones with the v shped mainspring. These are discussed by Keith in SIxguns. I have handled one, and the tigger has to be operated to be beleived. Solik, but light. Perfect in all respects. NOt the mushy feeling you get with a new one. You would have to feel it, to understand. THe bes I can saay is feel the trigger on a Colt Python, that ihas not been tinkered with by some jack leg gunsmith. But the Smith trigger even feels better than this. 
Next is the abortion of a fame,barrel joint. THe threads are tapered in the frame, so they can tighten the barrel down, and keep it tight without a pin. This makes the rear of the barrel smaller than the rest of the barrel, causing the bullet to swage down to fit the constriction, and then rattal down the rest of the barrel undersixed.  The pined guns will always shoot better than the new ones, no matter if they put Proformance Center on them or not. THis is just a gimmick as far as I can see, to make more money. All the guns sould be fitted by a copetant gunsmith, not just the ones that cost more. 
The fit of the grips are abismal, and the rubber ones are terrible. How can anyone think that rubber on the sides of the grip will cusion recoil. All it does is make the thin backstrap pound on your hand, as the rest moved because it is soft. Palm fitting grips, of solid walnut, or rosewood are what is needed in a good gun..THis distributes the recoil over a larger area, and softens the blow to the hand.
The lock is an abortion, that should never have seen the light of day in the first place. A good gun is never politically correct. It is moraly sound, and mechanically perfect for the job it is to do. To make a polical statment, or a lawyers dream come true out of one, is to indager the ultimated users of the gun, and deminish the effectiveness of same when the schips are all the way down, and the hand has been called.
Smith is far too involvwed in making a profit, and not enough in making the finest revolvers in the would any more. The 500 is proof of that.
Just as usual my 10 ccents worth of rambling.
 

sorry abut my foor spelling, and doulbe hits. It is very late,a nd I had had too much coffee. Never drink coffee at 12 o clock at knght. expeccally double stringht. Oh Al. Did you ever put my blackhawk pictures on the forum? Just asking. I thought the guy would like to see what I think a good gun should look like, ever if it has a lot of wear.

...not sure what blackhawk pictures, so I don't know if I posted them. Please re-send.
Al

...appreciates the explanation, Gunny. I was never much of a Smith fan and never experienced the fine ones made in the old days like the triple lock. I am a Python fan and have treasured mine for many years and I know how the trigger feels. My Python is a fine example of a mechanical masterpiece brought to fruition by a company that prided itself on craftsmanship. I don't know about the products produced by Colt now as I haven't purchased a gun since the 80's and I surely don't know much about S&W before or now so I am relying on your experience and opinion on Smiths, but I won't be buying one anyway since I surely have too many now, at least according to my better half! Chris

They used to say  He who has the most toys wins. In gun collecting it is  He who has the best toys, and knows how to use them wins
My wife just won a Lewis Hostage Target at the NRA convention. What a wonderful peice of machinery. Solid as a rock, and perhaps indestructable.  I know I am going to put some serious lead down range at it.

The blackhawk pictures are the ones with all the cylinders loaded, You remember that one.

...on my phone!
Looked through all my PM's and emails, wasn't till I goy the grips photo you just sent, then I figured it out. Take me hrs to find a cable to hook my phone to my compter, can you email them?
AL