I am still wanting a 1861 Navy Colt conversion. I was wondering if I bought an Uberti Richard's conversion in 38 colt, would the barrel off my Uberti 61 Navy would fit on it then I would buy the kirst unloading rod kit. I am afraid to try cutting the loading Chanel in a new gun.

Pappy, the Uberti cartridge gun (conversion and Opentop) barrels will not fit on percussion frames and vice versa.

Abilene answered directly.  I am no expert but I will give you a design explanation.  The OP/Richards are/were dimensionally enlarged from the percussion revolver in order to handle a 45Colt.  I believe they then utilized this same enlarged frame and cylinder for all other calibers.  What that means to your question is the "arbor to barrel mouth" spacing was made longer/wider(whatever you want to call it) in the OP/Richards for the 45Colt cartridge sized cylinder than it is on any percussion revolver.

They will never mix up and then match up.

Much better to go with a percussion gun, add the Kirst gated conversion and an ejector.....much closer to the dimensions of the original.

  Sorry Pappy

The commentary from Abilene, Black River Smith and cheyenne Logan are entirely correct.  The only "interchangeable" barrels are those barrels for the Open Top specific guns and perhaps a .38 barrel from a .38 R/M to an Open Top.

The only practical way to get an 1861 Conversion is to start with an 1861 Percussion Revolver, Add a complete Cartridge conversion (Kirst or Old West conversion) and sculpt an appropriate barrel to mime the 1861 Navy contract conversions.  Taint gonna be cheap.

Yeah building your own, the Kirst is the most expensive part, the barrel work will run about 250 ( I can hook you up ), without refinishing it'll, be in the 900+ range, but will be a better balanced and more accurate representation of a true R-M 1861 Navy conversion.

Howell old west has redesigned their gated Navy conversion ring so that it is no longer attached to the frame with a screw, it's a bit less expensive, but best is for the price of a gated Kirst, you can get a Gated Howell, with a CCH ring and the cylinder with the roll engraving. 

I didn't realize Howell had the roll engraving, that's cool!

  Yepper

Lustrum or so ago I jumped on the Stainless Howell cylinders for my pair of Capt. Schaffer replicants.  The cylinders were complete with the Roll engraving.  Very KOOL!!

Now if Howell Arms would just make a Gated Stainless conversion for my Pietta Marshal guns I would be just absolutely ecstatic I would I would.

  Now if Howell Armms will just make some of the Gated Navy Uberti conversions....they show out of stock, I subscribed to the notificaton list, and contacted then directly, but they have no projected dates.

Quote from: Cheyenne Logan on October 25, 2024, 03:59:40 PM  Now if Howell Armms will just make some of the Gated Navy Uberti conversions....they show out of stock, I subscribed to the notificaton list, and contacted then directly, but they have no projected dates.

  If they have Pietta cylinders get them instead. I always get Kirst Pietta length cylinders for my Uberti's.

Mike

Quote from: 45 Dragoon on October 25, 2024, 07:07:21 PMIf they have Pietta cylinders get them instead. I always get Kirst Pietta length cylinders for my Uberti's.

Mike

I'm wondering why?  Are they longer so you can dress the rear of the barrel to fit?  Or shorter so you dress the barrel lugs to fit?  Neither? 

Quote from: Abilene on October 25, 2024, 08:27:19 PMI'm wondering why?  Are they longer so you can dress the rear of the barrel to fit?  Or shorter so you dress the barrel lugs to fit?  Neither? 

  Hey Abilene!  Yessir,  they're longer ( I would think the Howell would be too) so you can dress the FC end of the barrel.  It also let's you load standard length 45C ammo.
  The most important thing about any of the conversion cylinders is that if the chamber throats are correct  (.452") a true fc is mandatory  (I recommend  an 11°) for accuracy and longevity of the revolver.

Mike

Well, the "Other" me is seriously considering a pair of Kirst .45s for the Marshal guns and just sending the Kirst off to be plated.  Or, I can also strip the Blueing off and do a bit of polishing and the Kirst parts will be ringers for the Marshal guns.  Many initially thought the Marshal series and the subsequent guns were stainless, but they are just polished then heat treated.  they do take a little more care than Blue guns, but they are so so neat!!

Even with 45 Colt chamber Kirst, I don't actually own any 45 Colt cases anymore.  All I shoot are 45 Schofield or C45S and 44-40 cases formed to 45 Colt (Just for Rifle).

Guns-R-Fun