New Avenging Angel finished- in .38 S&W

[Tinker Pearce]

Last year I was boring a Pietta 1860 cylinder for .44 Colt and broke through the locking notch. I cussed a little and set it aside... but then I noticed the bored-through chambers were nearly the exact diameter of a section of .357 barrel-liner I had lying around... I went ahead and lined the cylinders, reamed out the rifling and ran a 9mm chamber-reamer in. I was a little worried about running full-strength 9mm, and it seemed kinda' odd to make a cartridge conversion in that caliber- but .38 S&W fit just fine...

A few weeks back I ran across a Lyman 1860 Army reproduction that was missing the loading-lever latch and wedge for $50, and I was in business. Trimmed and lined the barrel, made a breech-plate from some 1/4 5160 spring steel, installed a rebounding firing-pin and cut a loading port in the frame.  The front-sight is made from 3/16" brass rod with the sides trimmed away to make it a blade.  I cut nail-nicks at the edges of the chambers to make it easier to remove spent brass. I also straightened the trigger some to give more clearance for my finger.

Likely I'll do a little work on the trigger; it's a bit of a hair-trigger for my taste. Other than that, though, the gun is pretty much finished. I cobbled up a cartridge box just for grins.



A couple people have asked, 'Why .38 S&W?'  Well, it is a 19th C. cartridge, and I already reload it to shoot in my antiques so it was convenient. It's also low-pressure enough that I wasn't worried about over-stressing the gun. Yes, it uses a .361 bullet and it's a .357 bore, but I am shooting soft lead and did a bit of work on the forcing cone, so it doesn't seem to care.

Anyway it came out well and it's nice to shoot, so I'm happy.

[Major 2]

very nice great talent ....I also load 38 S&W for my Safety model ....

Now , my creative juices are churning again     ( I have been messing in Mil-Serp  Rifles { Berthier & Krag }  but now I'm open to another Angel...Hmmmm  must seek a donor !

[Professor Marvel]

Mmmmmmm.
Angels
Snubby Goodness

Well done My Dear Tinker!

yhs
prof marvel

[Coal Creek Griff]

That is so cool! Thanks for letting us see it.

Your neighbor to the south,

CC Griff

[dusty texian]

I agree , Tinker you are talented , could you show a pic. of your retracting pin design ? Thanks for showing your latest .,,,DT

[dusty texian]

May should have said re-bounding firing pin , DT

[Coffinmaker]

Ah Knutz.  The good Professor Marvel and Major 2 have both turned my poor widdo head.  It's been entirely too long since I built myself a pair of Snubbies.  I'm starting to have tremors.  Unfortunately, my sock drawer is plumb empty.  I should have to rob banks (tempted) were I to afford a new project.  I'm thinking on it.

[Abilene]

Another very cool project Tinker.

[Tinker Pearce]

May should have said re-bounding firing pin , DT

It's not a great picture-

[dusty texian]

Thanks for the pic. Tinker, simple and effective . ,,,DT

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Wow Talented Man !
Beautiful work .
Rooster Ron Wayne