I have found some good deals on 480 Ruger SRH in 9.5" barrels lately. Seems no one likes the 9.5" length. I would like a 5" barrel SRH myself. So who do you recommend to shorten it and reinstall the frt sight? Any idea on cost? I want something longer than a Alaskan model.

Jack Huntington (530/268-6877). He did this one for me (and the conversion), but it has a 5-inch barrel. He is reasonably priced, fast, and does outstanding work.

Thanks Whit, I have your book. It's a great read. That gun is what got me thinking.

I sure wouldn't recommend them over Hunnington, but Wild West Guns in Anchorage AK does a "Toklat" conversion that includes slabsiding & shortening the barrel.
I never liked going in there because the help always considered themselves "pretty important", & I'm sure it's gotten worse since their TV show started. On top of that the owner Jim West is a guide who has multiple illegal guiding charges pending.
BUT I do hear good things about their work.

Thanks for the kind words!

I had a SRH 44 with a 9 1/2" barrel that was very accurate at 100 yds. Got a crazy idea and I had a "gunsmith" shorten and port the barrel and move the front sight back to touch the frame, kinda of like Whitworth's SRH. He did such a bad job, the porting wasn't even, the recrown was off center, and to make it worse, the front sight left the barrel after about six shots. A friend of mine took it off my hands for a snub nose project before the Alaskan model came out.
Make sure you research your gunsmith well and you won't regret it. I have to say that I loved the size and feel of the gun with the shorter barrel. I think Ruger should make it as a standard offering.
Semper Fi.