S&W square butt to round butt conversion- anyone seen it done?

[Z06corvette]

I'm planning on cutting my trusty 6'' 686 down to 4.2'' and am thinking about modifying the frame to a round butt configuration. Does anyone here have any experience with this? I picked it up used at WSS Calgary about 13 years ago and don't have much invested so I'm not worried about devalueing a classic, these things are everywhere. I've seen photos of a short stainless 686 with a nice wood round butt handle and would like to convert this one rather than trying to find exactly what I want. AFAIK S&W doesn't even sell a 'Canada legal 4 inch' like the current run of Ruger GP100's.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Diligence]

Well, I have a model 10 square butt, and I'm pretty certain I could remove enough material so that it looks like a round butt without too much trouble. If you look at Hogue's website, they show a comparison photo of what the round butt compared to the square butt looks like...under their, monogrip section.....that's what I used to convert a round butt hogue monogrip into something that would fit my square butt model 10.

hope that suggestion is worth more than the paper it's not written on...lol

 

[tjhaile]

All 686s were made in the round butt configuration starting in 1996. It might be easier to sell or trade your current 686 and find another one with a round butt. That said, I would try the following to see if they do that kind of work:

-M.D. Charlton
-Dlask
-Armco
-Bits of Pieces
-Stefan at The Shooting Edge

I wouldn't feel to guilty about modifying the gun to your preferences, despite what some naysayers might say. 686s are fairly common.

 

[tekarra]

I have a model 65 3" RB and a model 65 4" SB. Took the grips off the RB, put them on the SB and scribed a line along the grips on both sides. Got out a grinder, some files and emery cloth and went to work for a couple of hours; slowly and carefully.

A couple of things to watch for. Make sure you do not touch the serial number on the butt. Look at the back strap, it is rounded not flat. Carefully work the back strap to maintain the original contour from the untouched part down to the bottom of the frame. Keep checking the progress by putting on the RB grips. The front strap also needs to have material removed and you may have to shorten or replace the strain screw.

Having trouble with photobucket, will try a photo by PM.