help needed on Smolt purchase

1

1911nut

Inactive
Found a Smolt at the local shop. .38 special (model 14, I think) S&W married to a 6 inch Python barrel, Hogue grips. Excellent cosmetic condition, and seems to be in good mechanical condition. Problem is, I can’t fire it before I buy. The trigger is the wide target type and the trigger pull is better than the Python’s that they have. Obviously the trigger has had tuning. The only problem I see is that the S&W rear sight is elevated to the maximum position probably because the Python’s barrel rib puts the front sight so high. I suppose that I could file down the front sight but don’t really want to mess it up.

Questions:

Is there anything particular about the gun that I should be wary of?
Does anyone have an idea of value or desirability?
Aside from (non) collector value, how would a properly done S,olt compare to a Python for durability and accuracy?
I wish it were a .357 (model 19) but it isn’t. Does this make it less desirable to most if I ever wanted to resell it?
I know that these were made by Bill Davis in CA, but how can I be sure who made this one, any ideas? It’s in NJ.

They are asking $300. I may try to get it for $275. Neat gun and great trigger pull, but not sure what I’ll use it for other than punching paper at the range occasionally.

Thanks,

Steve
 
The value of such a gun would be based upon quality of workmanship, overall condition, and how much the market will bear. To me, it sounds like this gun was built for bullseye or PPC shooting. If it is in good condition and the chambers and bore are pristine and the lock up is tight, it should be a great shooter.

As far as finding out who built it, unless they stamped their name on the gun, your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps Bill Davis kept a record of the serial numbers of the guns he modified. Otherwise, who knows?

If you want an unusual gun and if it is in good shape, buy it. Such guns are rarely seen, but seem to have little or no collectors value.
 
Conversions were performed by the Davis Company of Sacramento back in the early '80s (82-86). Cost to the customer was $200 and could also be had on the Ruger (Couger). Is it worth $275-300. I think so. Cost of a standard used revolver is about $200 and for an extra $75-100, you get a custom gun. When S&W introduced the M586/686 (circa 1986 or so), it killed the conversion business.
 
Custom guns usually hard to sell. The reason for the Python barrel wasn't just looks. Colt bores its barrels about .001 tighter than does S&W. This means the Colts usually shoot a little better. But some people hate the long trigger system on Colt and prefer the S&W. Hence, a Colt barrel on a S&W action.

I suspect the gun will shoot great. Rear sight elevation may be a problem. Talk to a gunsmith to see if whole sight could be raised a tad.
 
Smolts

Trapper Gun up in Michigan I think produced these in the '80's, too. I don't know if they are still in business.

Jim
 
davis did not mark their smolt, or smithon, conversions. he closed shop awhile back and i doubt he or son jeff kept records (it would have to be a work order)

all the smith conversion i saw had been done on a m-19 and none had the wide target trigger (doesn't mean it didn't happen, after all it was a custom conversion). the smith action tune was an additional charge.

if you don't want to file on the front sight blade, you could always get a replacement blade. they are only held in by two pins.
 
Thanks to all who commented. For what it's worth, I must correct myself, the base gun was a S&W model 15 not 14. (Not sure of the difference.)

Steve
 
ok...here we go

a m-15 differs from the m-14 in a tapered barrel, lack of trigger stop and narrower top rib. the m-14 was a " K-38 masterpiece" while the m-15 was the "combat masterpiece" (the m-19 was the combat magnum)

davis had a bunch of police surplus m-15 at the store for >$100, so you could get a smolt for about what a m-19 would cost.

with the python's 1-14" rifling twist and the K-38 shorter chamber, the smolt should be an shockingly accurate piece. :cool:
 
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