Received my new USFA 12/22 SAA Revolver today. . .

Capt. John Fitzgerald · January 20, 2011, 11:42:18 AM

Gary,
Thanks for keeping us updated on your project.
CJF

Charlie Bison · January 20, 2011, 05:49:05 PM

Quote from: Garys4598 on January 19, 2011, 07:43:10 PM
I received great news this afternoon. David Clements informed me that he will be able to install the rimfire firing pin into the currently configured centerfire Birdshead hammer. He said I should have the hammer back within two weeks time. FANTASTIC!

How much$$$

Garys4598 · January 21, 2011, 08:29:22 AM

Quote from: Charlie Bison on January 20, 2011, 05:49:05 PM
How much$$$

FWIW, I consider such $$$ questions posed in an open forum as being relatively inappropriate. If you'd really like to know, then send me a PM or an email.

Point being: my 'open' response would essentially become a matter of record months or longer from now, and David Clements may increase his price point for such custom work after performing the customization on my hammer (or of course, he might perform the work for less).

I contacted several gunsmiths and companies trying to find someone competent and willing to perform this firing pin reconfiguration modification. . . and Mr. Clements was the only one willing to entertain it, and during telephone conversation(s) he definitely left me with the impression that although he had never done this specific task before, he was confident about how to go about attacking it. The discussion left me with full confidence in his abilities and expertise.

Heck, for all I know after completing the requested work Mr. Clements may never want to perform this modification again; he may decide that it falls within a "too hard to do; not cost effective" category.

$:-\$

Garys4598 · January 21, 2011, 03:51:56 PM

UPDATE:
I received an email from David Clements this afternoon, informing me that he had completed the hammer modification and that "it came out well." Said he would be shipping it to me in a day or two. For David to claim that he feels it "came out well". . . speaks bucket-loads.

Next post from me will contain images of the completed revolver (providing I don't encounter issues with reassembling the revolver once the hammer arrives $:-\$ ).

~Gary

argolfer · January 27, 2011, 05:17:37 PM

That is a beautiful pistol garys. I have not seen one that is case hardened. May I ask where you got it from? I'm actually looking at a 4 1/2 blue one, but really like that CH a lot.

Thanks.

Garys4598 · January 27, 2011, 09:29:25 PM

Quote from: argolfer on January 27, 2011, 05:17:37 PM
That is a beautiful pistol garys. I have not seen one that is case hardened. May I ask where you got it from? I'm actually looking at a 4 1/2 blue one, but really like that CH a lot.

Thanks.

I purchased it new off of GunBroker.com. . . from Gary Granger. So, it came from the USFA factory with the color case hardening (by way of Turnbull Mfg. Co., I think).

~Gary

Garys4598 · January 29, 2011, 03:02:48 PM

This week, I received my USFA Birdshead hammer back from David Clements after he installed the rimfire firing pin. I gotta say, David did a truly remarkable job on it and I could not be more pleased! Nonetheless, when it came time to reassembling the SA revolver, I noticed that the newly installed rimfire firing pin was ever so slighty not perfectly aligned with my revolver's firing pin hole in the back of the gun's frame.

Mind you, Mr. Clements had the OEM slab-side 12/22 rimfire hammer to reference when determining precisely where and at what angle to drill the hole into the Birdshead hammer's face for the rimfire configuration. The fact that after receiving the hammer back from him, the firing pin didn't perfectly align itself into the frame's hole is not indicative of any lack of skill on Mr. Clement's part. IMHO, he would have had to be "inhuman" to have nailed it perfectly the first time, the precision tolerances/dimensions and hole alignment are simply that precise with the hammer's firing pin.

So. . . to fix the situation I simply got out my trusty jeweler's metal files and small diameter dremel grinding bit and my dremel, and every-so-slightly and slowly and carefully, removed material from the frame's beveled firing pin hole (while periodically checking for fit and rub/contact points of the firing pin to the frame). . . until I achieved perfection! Prior to filing and grinding the frame's firing pin hole, the Birdshead hammer's firing pin was making contact with the bottom portion of the frame's hole. The left and right side of the firing pin's alignment were perfect.

Anyway, the point I'm striving to make is, Mr. Clements performed the rimfire firing pin relocation and installation as humanly perfect as possible, without having my USFA Model 12/22 revolver to refer to. Again, I could not be more pleased with his execution of the hammer's modification.

Without further discussion, below are photos of my reassembled USFA Model 12/22 with the Birdshead hammer installed:

Here's a close up side view of the Birdshead hammer cocked in the 3rd position (i.e., fully cocked), for those that may be interesed in seeing how much clearance exists between the hammer's spur and the revolver's back strap/grip:

And a few more photos:

After getting the revolver completely back together again and manipulating the Birdshead hammer. . . I absolutely, positively could not be more thrilled with the gun's ergonomics and comfort!!! No BS!

For me, this custom modification was completely worth every penny. I know that for years to come a small grin of pleasure will momentarily wash across my face when I fire the first few rounds from my USFA Model 12/22 revolver each and every time, out at my local firing range.

~Gary

wileycoyote · January 30, 2011, 12:13:39 PM

that's the first CH 12/22 i've seen. and with the BHH its truly stunning. what a beauty. VERY NICE!!!!!!

Garys4598 · January 30, 2011, 02:37:58 PM

wileycoyote -- Thank you! I appreciate the kind words.

I took her out to the firing range this morning, to test fire her and to make sure she functions as well as I hoped (after installing the new Birdshead hammer with the reconfigured/modified rimfire firing pin). Additionally, while I was reassembling her the other evening, I swapped-out her OEM mainspring for a Wolff 'reduced power' mainspring. . . so I needed to be sure the slightly lighter firing pin strikes were not an issue.

I'm ecstatic to report that while putting 100 rounds of CCI Blazer .22LR through her, not a single FTF occurred. She performed flawlessly!

Below are the spent .22LR casings from this morning, indicating precisely where the newly installed firing pin was striking:

Below is a close-up of the flush fit of the top of the Birdshead hammer's face to the rear of the frame (no rounds in the cylinder):

And this is the hammer's rest position immediately after firing a cartridge, while the spent casing was still in the cylinder:

I simply could not be more pleased with this project's completion and how my USFA Model 12/22 revolver ultimately turned out. I'm looking forward to many years to come with her out on the firing line, and sharing her with interested friends and family.

~Gary

Doc Sunrise · January 30, 2011, 05:35:16 PM

Sweet Revolver! I don't care how many USFA firearms you own or handle, each one renews your feeling to a new height of pleasure. Beautiful gun!

wileycoyote · January 31, 2011, 10:31:21 AM

gary, your photos speak volumes. extremely helpful.

you've built yourself a winner there buddy, enjoy!!!!!

Garys4598 · February 21, 2011, 01:05:01 PM

Buck Duane · February 23, 2011, 11:40:34 PM

Thanks Marshall Deadwood, you answered my question before I asked it. I just asked this very question on a new thread. Today I looked at a used USFA with dual scratches and inquired if this was the cause.

I'm gonna buy a lottery ticket, have numbers handy?

Quote from: Marshal Deadwood on December 05, 2010, 08:15:39 PM
When you half cock your single action,,,pull it to full cock before you lower the hammer,,,or you will get a cylinder ring. Never let the pressure off and let it down from half cock.
MD

Garys4598 · October 19, 2012, 04:42:20 PM

Wow. . . it has been a very, very loooooooooooooooonng time since I last logged into the CasCity.com forum to see what's been going on. How hugely disappointing it is to learn that USFA has apparently closed its doors. . . for possibly forever! Scanning several of the forum posts here I gotta say, I'm stunned by this turn of events and USFA's decision.

Guess my 12/22 SAA Revolver is now something of a unique heirloom piece. I sure as heck do not intend to ever sell it.

I really hope USFA opens its doors sometime in the near future. IMHO their quality was simply second to none.

Pictured below is how I decided many months ago to display my semi-custom 12/22 SAA Revolver. I'm very pleased with how the stand ultimately came out.

wileycoyote · October 19, 2012, 05:09:59 PM

stunning. hey Gary, you're lucky to have purchased one when you did. i wish i had... enjoy!!!

ps - i do love that birdshead hammer. woof!

Capt. John Fitzgerald · October 20, 2012, 02:29:34 AM

Gary,
Great to see you back here!!! Things at USFA are looking pretty bleak - bottom line is nobody really knows what is going on and USFA isn't telling.

North Bender · October 21, 2012, 12:16:30 AM

You bought a stunning pistol at the right time. That hand gun is beautiful!

Garys4598 · November 24, 2012, 08:47:36 PM

Well, I got kinda lucky a couple of weeks ago when I noticed a "like new" USFA Double Eagle in .44 Special up for auction on gunbroker. I've enjoyed my USFA 12/22 so much that. . . I couldn't let the Double Eagle get away. Figured my 12/22 would enjoy having a big brother around as well.

Took the Double Eagle out to the pistol range this morning and put 15 rounds through her and. . . WOW, she was incredibly enjoyable to shoot!