Extending pistol barrels...

[wp6529]

Since it appears that there are no aftermarket extended threaded barrels available for my favorite S&W 5906, can someone point me to a tutorial on the accepted method(s) for extending a pistol barrel? I have a general machining concept of ways it might be accomplished, but not being a "real" gunsmith I'd like to learn the accepted / traditional method or methods.

Thanks

[doubloon]

IIRC the S&W 5906 has an hourglass style dent near the muzzle.

If this is correct, there are may be no "traditional" methods for adapting threading a barrel like this. It's been done but as far as I know it requires quite a bit of finesse and skill.

[wp6529]

Yes, it does have the hourglass. I have a pretty well equipped shop, and basic replacement barrels aren't too expensive so I'm not overly concerned from that angle.

I can see two possible ways to extend it:

- Turn down the front portion of the barrel, make an extension to fit over and silver braze it in place (lower temp, but has to be held for longer).

- TIG weld an extension directly to the front (higher temp, but could possibly be localized and limited if welded in a series of short welds with cool down time between welds).

With either method I'd of course be concerned with changes to the heat treat and the temp details if I were to re-heat treat it myself.

[kc0myg]

wp6529;
If you search thru some of my past posts there is sone info on how I extend and then thread them. Posted about doing Sig P938 and P238 barrels. Yours would be much the same. Just know the trumpet/bell on muzzle must be restored for weapon to function propperly.
If thats not helpful just ask more questions...
Martin

[LavaRed]

Speaking of which, has anyone tried to extend/thread a Kel Tec P3AT barrel?

[doubloon]

The KT barrels is the comparison I was making. Nobody I talked to would touch a P3AT but neither would they touch a Kahr380 which has a constant thickness barrel profile.

I saw a picture once of a KT P̶F̶-̶9̶ P-11 sporting a suppressor but as I recall it was at a KT sponsored shoot and on a KT display table so I believe it was done by someone at KT. That's the only pinched barrel gun I recall seeing with a suppressor and it was only in a picture.

Oh ... and there was a TV show once that propped a KT P-11 with a suppressor but there is no way to know if it was functional or attached with pixie stix and duct tape.

ETA: sorry, looks like that was a P-11 on the table and not a PF-9 ...