26 Comments
User's avatar
Matthew Donovan's avatar

Couldn't agree more. 3 inches just seems to balance well

Jesse Slater's avatar

One of my "guns that got away" was a 3" round butt Model 13. I've CCW'd a 4" sb Model 10 quite a bit, but never without thinking of that 13. For a covert K on a belt, that's just about perfection. 👌

Brian Kensel's avatar

My first issued revolver was a 3”

M 13 round butt, fixed sights. Great size, combat accurate, and afforded the ability to use either .38 or .357. Was sorry when we had to turn them back in.

Thomas's avatar

Beautiful job, I'm not sure which detail I like best...slab sided barrel, or the stippling and bead blasting on frame, square/round stocks...I'd certainly be proud to carry it!

Matthew Donovan's avatar

Thanks so much. It means a lot when people enjoy what I do.

Flippin’ Jersey's avatar

That’s a beautiful pistol!

NH Rocks's avatar

Good job - thank you for that.

S&W 629PC (2-5/8) works for me. Add a Hogue rubber grip - and your ready right out of the box.

Load you own with a 240 JHP at 1200 fps and as my dad always said: “Nothing fancy - just hit the center of mass”.

Matthew Donovan's avatar

Yeah that would work for sure !

Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

Not a gun guy but I enjoyed the article and come from a motorcycle collecting background.

$200 for a cannibalized carcass seems extravagant. why not shoot for buying one with a round butt and a 3 inch barrel to start with?

How much time and monetary was sunk into the final product?

Matthew Donovan's avatar

I'm a gunsmith so it's not about the time and money. I enjoy the building. As far as cost to repair, I had all the parts I needed on hand, and time, well there was a lot of time with the hand checkered stocks being a large portion of that time. There is 3" options available today but few that don't have a solid under lug, which adds weight and my grip is a half round. It's a small difference but it is something Smith never made. If you enjoy motorcycles I'm sure you understand. Any bike can get you where you want to go but having something a little special is just plain fun.

Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

I get it. Hours spent in solitary focus are hours well spent when the result is yours and the epitome of your desires

Grumpy Libertarian's avatar

Loved the write up. I trend to stock but have never been shy from getting hands dirty and modifying what needed modifying. Getting something like that and having fun creating your spin on it sounds like a blast.

Mark Riggs's avatar

Great article, and even greater job on the modification! And I totally agree agree with you and others on the 3” barrel! Also loved the front sighted the lanyard ring gives it throwback character.

Thomas, an old GI's avatar

That is a handsome k-frame. I am a long time fan of those. (J-frame, too) Nicely done!

Mark Stempski's avatar

great work sir. One does it to learn how things work. I am too old and shaky with bad eyes but like working on the parts of a smith that I can. Partial to N frame 357 myself. Have a snubby N frame 8 shot. I never feel undergunned but always have 3 to 6 Full moon clips.

Bradley Flynn's avatar

Beautiful! I have a 3" Model 10 and a 3" Model 64 that I dearly love, but yours has a touch of class the box stock three inch guns don't have.

Matthew Donovan's avatar

Thanks so much for the compliment.

Dale's avatar

Beautiful work on that ol smith. That rounded grip and stippling would look awesome on my 28-2, and probably improve the fit in my smaller hands. Love the chamfer on the front of the cylinder too. Running 2 boxes of 158 hydrashoks is a work out with the 357Mag.

Matthew Donovan's avatar

Yes I have to admit the stocks and grip feel nice on my gun but hot 38s are pretty punishing on the hands. If I was going to shoot this gun more regularly I would come up with a rubber grip option.

Dale's avatar

The adrenaline from standing in the fireball honestly has me hooked.haha

Mark Gennarelli's avatar

Colt Python 🐍 3” 6 shots

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Apr 6, 2025
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Matthew Donovan's avatar

I'm pretty biased, but I love them. I find that anyone that takes the time to learn to shoot them well gets that way too. It's a style shift from shooting semi autos, but don't get discouraged, it will make you a better shooter all around in the end.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Apr 1, 2025
Comment deleted
Matthew Donovan's avatar

Diamond bits for a rotary tool. It takes some practice otherwise you end up slipping and cutting a trench through your work surface.