Should I cut the Schofield?

DeaconKC · April 14, 2021, 03:12:08 PM

Okay, I have a Schofield with the 7" barrel. Very good shooter, but I am annoyed at the headache of holstering the beast. I have been watching for a trade for a 5", but they are rare right now. So, I am considering having the barrel cut to 5".
What do you guys think?

ammodave · April 14, 2021, 03:34:47 PM

Price it out with your local smith. Many yrs ago I had several S&Ws cut to 5" and it cost me about $75-$100 to cut, crown and install a new sight. I'm sure the prices are much higher now. Alternatively you could just buy a replacement barrel for about $400 from someone like VTI and then try to sell your 7" barrel in the classifieds. Maybe you can find someone in the classifieds that would like to swap barrels. I've got a 5" Schofield but I don't want to swap. The 5" suits me just fine.

DeaconKC · April 14, 2021, 03:40:42 PM

Hmm, had considered buying another barrel, but didn't think about then selling the 7", thanks for the idea!

Cap'n Redneck · April 15, 2021, 04:02:30 AM

Have You tried the "Twist-draw" / "Cavalry-draw"...?
I think You will find that human joints, long-barreled pistols and the "butt-forward"-carry go together.
I've personally used it exclusively for years with twin 8" 1860's, 7,5" 1872 Open-Top's etc. shooting Double Duelist and/or Gunfighter.
The other alternative is to go "B-Western" with a low-slung Buscadero-rig.

I mean: James Butler Hickok can't be wrong...!!?

Major 2 · April 15, 2021, 06:42:58 AM

I believe , were it me , I'd get a 5" and keep the OEM 7" (having the option of swapping )

Course , I also use a cross draw and at least with my 6.5 NM #3, I find it natural to draw...
then again I'm quite used to my 7.5 barreled gun in similar fashion .

No help , I suppose just IMHO

Coffinmaker · April 15, 2021, 07:07:20 AM

Deacon

Sorry, butt none of the above!!! Cut!! Cut!! Cut!! Cheapest and simplest option. Except: Twer it me and mine, I'd cut to 4 inches and then ship it off to have TK Enterprises do their Moon Clip VooDoo. Taint Rocket Science ya know.

Stay Safe Out There

1961MJS · April 15, 2021, 09:16:07 AM

HI, I checked VTI and they want $400 for a barrel on a $950 pisitol. Dang
Later

DeaconKC · April 15, 2021, 10:37:16 AM

Yeah, if I go that route, at least I could sell the 7" to re-coup some of the money. I will just have to see which will be cheaper.

Major 2 · April 23, 2021, 07:37:16 PM

Quote from: 1961MJS on April 15, 2021, 09:16:07 AM
HI, I checked VTI and they want $400 for a barrel on a $950 pisitol. Dang
Later

I have to agree $400 is a hit, on the other hand you get a Convertible ... a 7' & a 5"

two guns in one

However, if you cut the 7" you may have taken a goodly hit in the posable future resale $:-\$

Coffinmaker · April 24, 2021, 08:58:04 AM

Oh future smucher (Hi Maj 2

). Future resale only really enters into the picture if we are talking about Chopping and Channeling an Original Sample Example. Current production replicant?? Nah.

I do agree though. A convertible can be an asset. 'Specialy if you have a snappy Red Head seat cover next to ya.

Stay Safe Out There

Major 2 · April 24, 2021, 09:24:31 AM

My convertible statement stands

DeaconKC · April 24, 2021, 12:11:07 PM

Quote from: Coffinmaker on April 24, 2021, 08:58:04 AM
Oh future smucher (Hi Maj 2 ). Future resale only really enters into the picture if we are talking about Chopping and Channeling an Original Sample Example. Current production replicant?? Nah.

I do agree though. A convertible can be an asset. 'Specialy if you have a snappy Red Head seat cover next to ya.

Stay Safe Out There

Nope, my seat cover is a lovely, long legged brunette!

Coffinmaker · April 24, 2021, 02:01:06 PM

Deacon

Ha!! MY seat cover IS a gorgeous Red Head . . . so there

My convertible however, is an early version Uberti Open Top. With . . TA DA . . fitted cylinders and barrels for A). 38 Spl B). 44 Colt (shooting 44 Russian) and C). 45 Schofield. ALL of them have been cut to the Ejector Rod Housing. Results in a barrel length of Four and Seven Sixteenths. Originally, the guns were chambered 45 Schofield.

Personal Opine: If one absolutely MUST shoot suppositories, the Uberti Open Top is THE most versatile gun in CAS. I will reiterate, I DON'T like Uberti. My Open Tops took a lot of work to play CAS.

People can Be Hazardous to Yer Health

Cole Younger · April 29, 2021, 07:47:47 PM

Don't cut it. Sell it and get another. Plenty of short barreled Schofields seemingly available right now.

Oldgold · April 30, 2021, 05:47:03 AM

Options:
Cut it your self. (Cheapest route)
Send to get cut.
Buy a barrel.
Sell and replace.

Me, I'd do it myself and call it a day.

Major 2 · April 30, 2021, 09:35:36 AM

Quote from: Cole Younger on April 29, 2021, 07:47:47 PM
Don't cut it. Sell it and get another. Plenty of short barreled Schofields seemingly available right now.

Kinda my slant too

My thoughts would lean to,
Buy a 5.5 barrel ( have two barrels ) or another = 2nd gun with the a 5.5 ,..... my way last choice would be a chop job

my 2 cents

DeaconKC · April 30, 2021, 09:52:31 AM

Trying to buy a 5" right now. Cross your fingers for me!

Coffinmaker · April 30, 2021, 10:33:20 AM

Deacon ! ! !

DON'T DO IT!!! The coolest barrel on the planet for a Schofield is 3 1/2 inches!! Might take a special order, and waiting till you retire to get it, but strictly WOWZERS.

Stay Safe Out There

Major 2 · April 30, 2021, 10:46:47 AM

Finger crossed..... new gun vicariously .... that's cool too

Professor Marvel · April 30, 2021, 06:35:18 PM

My Good Deacon

In my callow youth, being ~~cheap~~ frugal and all, I would madly cut anything down into whatever I thought I wanted at the moment...

Lately, I have noticed a number of things that I had cut down, would be worth a small ransom now if I had only left them alone... To wit ... A 1917 Remington Eddystone, an original percussion double barrel, several early ( pre 1920 ) 1911 slides ... At the time they were cheap and plentiful ... Now ... Somehow they are far more desirable in the original, even blemished or professionally reblued, condition.

I have ALWAYS wanted snubbies... So I chopped a lot of stuff.

One of my most recent desires has been a snubby Webly. I lucked into a .38-200 service pistol years ago
But set it aside (thank gawd) , later gave it to my Dad, who wanted a Webly, and recently it came back to me from Mia Poppa ( I got too much crap, he said) ....

Plus, it is a Real Webly, not an Enfield.

And I got lucky again, after several years of diligent searching and scored a complete Webly barrel and cylinder assembly! So now I can safely cut the ickiest one, and have a lovely boxed two barrel set which will achieve my Sherlock Holmes fantasy desires... I already have the Calabash Meerschuam and only need a Dearstalker. Now I need a good 200 gr .360 mold...

As Coffin keeps saying, it's your gun, have fun, get the hacksaw!

But lately I am thinking
Always modify the cheapest part
Get a replacement first, and mod the replacement
Take your time, the part will eventually show up - even if it is from one of the outfits that sells chopped up gun parts on GB.

and a two-barrel cased set is soooooooo much cooler!

yhs
prof mumbles