Toying with guns

Posted on Tue Jun 2nd, 2020 @ 4:13am by Alliance Alice LeMat

Mission: Bright and Shiny things
Location: Marshal Office
Timeline: concurrant

ON

LeMat had gone to the Merchant side of things; the guns and ammo shops asking to look through the discarded and damaged guns that were to be scrapped. WHile he got look that were 'strange' to say the least, he had a good half dozen that were just given to him. Two of them had damaged barrels, four had some mechanical issues so it would be a nice little bit of hobby work. His father designed specialty guns; LeMat was just good at repairing and following the plans to assemble the specialty guns. His skills were in the adapting of guns and making good out of bad.

The most easy one that he decided would be the beginning was a .44 long barrel revolver that the barrel over heated and expanded the barrel slightly. An easy fix actually; any gunsmith could handle it but the effort might not always be worth the time and money. Quick repairs and resales is the Bread and Butter in the Gun trade. Not that LeMat really cared; it was just relaxing hobby work for him. The nickel plated barrel was still of some use; a simple Barrel bore of .50 the barrel length and then insert a .357 barrel and heat the new Barrell Tube and some inserts to the cylinder converted the weapon to a new caliber and with barrel insert made the weapon heavier than most guns designed in that caliber but add a sight mount and it becomes a good range weapon, the added weight to counter balance a .44 compared to a .357 make just that little less kick and allows for more precision shots. LeMat put on the Synthetic softer grips for comfort and a extended counterweight onto the bottom of the barrel made it a big bore target gun.

That little experiment was a good six hous matching the rifling and hot smelting the cylinder to proper specs. He took care ; as Father taught him, and LeMat would use every weapon he modifies, that way he never regrets if the gun ends up in a friend's hands or traded for something.

The weight is not as much a concern for LeMat; he used heavier guns so his draw speed is not as a 'man of Lightning' yet faster than most. He is quick even with a long gun. Had he the usual 5-6 inch barrel he might be considered damn fast with his focus always in hitting the center of mass. You can be fastest man alive but without a degree of accuracy you might as well just do fast draw side shows and exhibitions. You can intimidate with your speed and hope they hesitate, otherwise an average draw of an accurate shot would kill you.

The .45 revolver, single action had dirt of some obstruction at the end of the barrel that look like a five pedal flower with maybe half the barrel salvageable. He found only about a third of it had survived well enough to be of worth. He added an insert for a Suppressor on the end as an extension. The gun was now quieter and the standard length but slightly wider outer radius of the barrel with added feature it did not make half the noise and the heat was better handled so the barrel would not 'flower.' The reliability of a Single action and quiet capability for more rounds through the barrel in a prolonged gun fight. Cutting a barrel and inserting the new with Forge welding the barrel extension took less time as it remained same caliber and just match grooving to get it right.

One thing he did was add the "elongated 'Spoon style hammer for good thumb work and 'Fanning' for the single actions. It was his own little 'Signature' for the guns he worked.

That little number he will have to take in the left hip holster for a bit see if practical, the .357 on the right with his favorite pistols in the double shoulder rig his next time making the rounds. Nothing felt so good on a day off that playing with some Toys that he could put to use. Maybe when he tinkered with the other four he might offer one to Mackenzie.

End