View Full Version : your thoughts on upgrading an inherited gun
osok-308
02-13-2015, 17:46
So a family member of mine recently passed away and left me with my choice of either a Smith and Wesson 686-3 or a Smith and Wesson 629-1both with 6" barrels. Now here is my question. I greatly prefer the look of the 686 because it has the full underlug barrel and the 629 does not. If I were to choose the 629, would anyone recommend that I alter it to have a full underlug barrel in the future, or should I leave it as is? I am curious as to what you guys think in regard to altering a firearm inherited from a family member. Thank you guys for the insight.
buffalobo
02-13-2015, 17:53
When my heirs get my guns, they are welcome to do whatever makes it their own.
But they are gonna need scuba gear.
Boat sank dontcha know.
funkymonkey1111
02-13-2015, 18:07
it's your gun now. in this case, neither are unique in any way other than the sentimental value you may attach to it. so, if you're going to keep it for a long time, set it up how you want it.
the relative left you to gun to enjoy it. if that means changing the barrel, change it. you're still enjoying the gift left to you.
I would alter it any way you want. I did some upgrades to my dads 10/22. Luckily he's still alive but he didn't care either way.
I have a 1903 Springfield (sporterized- manufactured 1918). It is just as it was the day it was taken from my grandpa's truck. Scope is foggy, stock is ugly, and the barrel crown is worn to an angle from being muzzle down in the floorboard of a pickup for a few decades. I have considered it, but have chosen to leave it as is. Still shoot it though from time to time.
mcantar18c
02-13-2015, 19:16
I have a Ruger Security Six and a Berretta Jetfire from my grandparents... neither will be sold or altered in any way. Doesn't seem right to me.
I wouldn't, but that's just me. Can't see anything wrong with making it "your own". Anything I leave for my heirs will come with no strings attached. I would want them to enjoy them. That means make any changes you want.
BPTactical
02-13-2015, 19:44
I have a Ruger Security Six and a Berretta Jetfire from my grandparents... neither will be sold or altered in any way. Doesn't seem right to me.
This
TheBelly
02-13-2015, 20:40
I have great-grandpa's Lee Enfield that he brought back from WWI. It will never see anything other than a DCOA every other year by someone that can appreciate it.
Get the 629 and shoot it a few dozen times, you might like it just the way it is. Can you even get an underlug barrel for those? If so and that's what you want, and can afford to have it done, I don't see any big crime in doing so just because it's inherited. Putting a different S&W barrel on a S&W pistol, no harm no foul to me.
IMO, it's a far bigger crime to Bubba an inherited gun in some hideous fashion, or sell it for the first cash offer to buy beer or drugs, or "pay a bill". God knows I still grieve for my inherited guns that I had to sell to pay friggin' bills.....
That 686 would sure be tempting though.....no chance you can get both?
osok-308
02-13-2015, 20:54
Thank you guys for the input. I asked because I was feeling some reservations about attempting to change the revolver to the point where it could not be put the way it originally was. I definitely would change grips, because I know that those can be changed quickly and painlessly. I just want to avoid ten years from now thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"
Get the 629 and shoot it a few dozen times, you might like it just the way it is. Can you even get an underlug barrel for those? If so and that's what you want, and can afford to have it done, I don't see any big crime in doing so just because it's inherited. Putting a different S&W barrel on a S&W pistol, no harm no foul to me.
IMO, it's a far bigger crime to Bubba an inherited gun in some hideous fashion, or sell it for the first cash offer to buy beer or drugs, or "pay a bill". God knows I still grieve for my inherited guns that I had to sell to pay friggin' bills.....
That 686 would sure be tempting though.....no chance you can get both?
No chance, the other will go to another family member. I am still undecided and am leaning towards the 686 though, because of its sheer beauty.
56295
JohnnyEgo
02-14-2015, 00:36
My father got into guns after I did, and has similar tastes, so any guns I am likely to inherit would be of the more modern variety. If something had a lengthy provenance, I wouldn't alter it in any way. If it had some super rare or special meaning, likewise. Otherwise, if it's a mass production gun of which there are thousands on the market, like, say, a 686, modify away. I'm sure your family member would have rather you keep shooting the gun, and if tasteful modification allows you to do that, go for it. Who knows, whoever inherits it from you might find added meaning in the fact that it you cared about it enough to modify it to your tastes.
buffalobo
02-14-2015, 00:49
My father got into guns after I did, and has similar tastes, so any guns I am likely to inherit would be of the more modern variety. If something had a lengthy provenance, I wouldn't alter it in any way. If it had some super rare or special meaning, likewise. Otherwise, if it's a mass production gun of which there are thousands on the market, like, say, a 686, modify away. I'm sure your family member would have rather you keep shooting the gun, and if tasteful modification allows you to do that, go for it. Who knows, whoever inherits it from you might find added meaning in the fact that it you cared about it enough to modify it to your tastes.
After talking to dad this evening, ^^^this is answer.
Limited GM
02-14-2015, 10:07
I refinished my Grandmothers .22 she left me. It turned out fine.
but I sure wish I'd left it alone. Each and every scratch use to bring back memories, now not so much.
Zombie Steve
02-14-2015, 11:00
If you go with the 629, leave it alone. That's the way it's supposed to look.
I say if you do anything take the 629 and have a 3" or 4" factory barrel installed. Would almost double the value and make a great mountain carry gun. If you want full barrel under lug then just get the 686 and shoot it. If you put a full under lug 6" barrel on the 629 you will need a trailer to haul it around.
Zombie Steve
02-14-2015, 12:00
Not to mention if you wear that on your hip and get in open flat country, you'll probably walk in circles.
Zundfolge
02-14-2015, 13:28
Neither gun is of tremendous value (monetarily or historically) so if they don't have tremendous sentimental value as they are I'd go ahead and do what you want. Now if this was a pinned and recessed model 29 I'd tell you to leave that thing as stock as possible.
If I was going to re barrel a 629, I'd look into upgrading with a Slab Side Hunter or Competitor barrel (or any other barrel with a rail on the top for optics ... a .44 with a good sight on it is a lot of fun knocking down steel pigs and rams at over 100 yards ...or for that matter taking game).
Unless you already know a good gun smith for S&W revolvers, just send it to S&W's Performance Center for whatever work you want done.
Not to mention if you wear that on your hip and get in open flat country, you'll probably walk in circles.
Yeah, get a chest rig for that .44
wctriumph
02-14-2015, 16:57
Find a way to get both.
If it was me, I would go with the 629 as it has the 6" barrel. I prefer the 606 with the 4 inch.
Find a way to get both.
wctriumph
02-14-2015, 16:59
Or, if the other family member is recoil sensitive, take the 686 and go shooting and when the .44 recoil is too much, then you can have both.
[Coffee]
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