I know kind of a LAME title but here goes:
I chose not to remove the barrel on this 5 1/2" Pietta NMA so ya'll could see that it's really not necessary.
The previous owner had ported the frame (I don't like the fact that he ground into the grip shoulder) and bounced a carbide burr on the lower portion of the frame. So I sanded this out with the file wrapped in various grits of sandpaper.
I draw filed the markings off both sides of the barrel and the forward portion of the frame (this is where the proofs were).
I also removed the serial number (I left the grips on and filed them and the frame). All of the above pics are after sanding (1st drawfile, then sand). I have had extensive talks with Walt Kirst and read the codes and since I am making a firearm here out of a non-firearm, I have the right to do this.
Also there is a 4 digit number on the inside of the grip frame. I liked this number so I stamped it on the underneath of the barrel, in the correct position.
Here are some pics with cold blue on the pistol.
In this shot you can see my reshape of the rammer web. I spent some time looking at Police models and except for the sight I think I'll call this an "Army Police".
A couple more:
Ok, so I now need to decide which conversion cylinder I want to use and then smooth it up some, Slight reshape of the hammer and rechecker. I have already silver plated the trigger guard and aged it a bit. Then stamp conversion numbers on the barrel and cylinder and rust blue!