Army Conversion in 44 Colt

[Buffalo Bruce]

Pards:

Anyone know if anybody make a conversion in 44 Colt in the authentic size, not the one's made to fire 45 Colt. Also anyone know who makes the parts to do my own conversion from an 1860.

Buffalo Bruce

[Raven]

Hi Buffalo Bruce,

The 1st Model Richards that we build is in .44 Colt and not available in .45 Colt. It will require healed bullets to be accurate.

We can also supply a parts kit.....Keep in mind that this is not a "Drop in" the revolver will require extensive machining to install the parts. The Kit (Cylinder, Ring, and Ejector flange and housing) is $600.

If we build the gun for you the price starts at $1500 on the gun you supply. We prefer to build them on 2nd and 3rd Gen Colts but will also build them on Uberties. If you want it on a Pietta we would be glad to sell you the Kit and you can do it yourself.

Raven
AKA Jay Strite
Kirst Konverter LLC
254-248-0663

[Raven]

Oh! and you could always buy an Uberti Richards Mason in .44 Colt

Raven

[Buffalo Bruce]

Raven: Thanks for the info. I am trying to find an an Army or Navy conversion that is properly sized. Didn't know you could buy one. Will call you this week. Buffalo Bruce

[Mako]

Raven: Thanks for the info. I am trying to find an an Army or Navy conversion that is properly sized. Didn't know you could buy one. Will call you this week. Buffalo Bruce

Bruce,
The Navy model Ubertis are basically correct in size.  The frames haven't been messed with since they are .38's.  All of the Army size Uberti frames are scaled larger.

If you want a Navy Richards-Mason then you can buy an out of the box Uberti.  They are chambered for the the modern internal bullet in the case Ø.358 bullets, instead of the heel base bullets with an outside diameter of Ø.376.  If you want an Army model you could look for one of the old ASM Richards 1st Models in .44 Colt or .38 spl.  They are sized sort of correct in the frame dimensions and over all cylinder diameter is correct, but the cylinder is not rebated like the originals and they use modern internal case bullets.

This is Strawhat's ASM in .44Colt:



This is my ASM in .38 Spl.:
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/Mako_CAS/Odds%20and%20Ends/ASM.jpg

Army model conversions in the correct size are hard to find, impossible to buy as new.  You either have to convert your own, or have someone like Raven to convert one for you.

If you want to shoot heel base bullets there are molds and crimping dies available from Bernie at Old West Moulds:

http://www.oldwestbulletmoulds.com/

I like the original bullets and configurations...

~Mako

[Long Johns Wolf]

FWIW: when I owned one of the ASM Richards Armies in .44 Colt a few years back I could attach the barrel of my Uberti RM Army in .44 Colt to the ASM conversion frame/cylinder assembly. The 12 o'clock chamber and the bore were properly aligned. This would indicate that my ASM Richards is beefed up some, similar to the Uberti. However, I cannot reproduce this little exercise since I traded the ASM conversion.
To the best of my knowledged newly made Colt Army conversions of correct dimensions are only available as customs conversions but not of the replica industry rack.
I own one of the Uberti 1851 Navy RM conversions in .38 cal. which is a nice and reliable shooter. I don't own an Uberti 1851 Navy percussion pistol. However, have 2 2nd gen Colt ones which are said to be made by Uberti. I cannot get one of their C&B cylinders to slide on the conversion's arbor, or to fix the Colt C&B barrel to it. I did not do comparative measurements but the dia of the conversion cylinder looks bigger compared to the C&B cylinder. Same applies to the the hight of the conversion barrel compared to the percussion barrel.
Long Johns Wolf

[Hoof Hearted]

Bruce

While this is not in 44 Colt it does give you another option......






This is one I recently built but you can do by yourself at a moderate cost or have Jay or I do it for you......
All parts necessary are available through me or from Jay Strite.
See them here: http://www.kirstkonverter.com/coltarmy.html

While I have not measured any of my pistols, I will tell you that this is a Pietta and it is very close in size to an original Colt with minor variances in grip shape. The idea of copying an original is noble but they do come at a high cost and can be troublesome. To quote Jay Strite, from a recent conversation, Colt fixed the issues the conversions had by producing the Single Action Army..........

HH

[Fox Creek Kid]

...To quote Jay Strite, from a recent conversation, Colt fixed the issues the conversions had by producing the Single Action Army..........

HH

Interesting to note that the Colt '72 Open Top bested the Colt SAA in the Military trials.    The Military however was dead set on a solid frame and the rest is history.

[Hoof Hearted]

Also interesting that an Open Top IS NOT a conversion

[Fox Creek Kid]

Gee, thanks for pointing that out. I guess I oughta pay more attention to a bonafide conversion "expert" such as yourself making all those "authentic" Piettas.   

[Hoof Hearted]

Gee, thanks for pointing that out. I guess I oughta pay more attention to a bonafide conversion "expert" such as yourself making all those "authentic" Piettas.   

Nice..........VERY NICE!

[RebHolister]

HH that sure is a good looking piece.  You did a great job with it.
I am going to have to have one of those.  I would much rather have one of those than the overbloated Uberti that self destructs when you try to shoot it. 

[Marshal Deadwood]

I would much rather have one of those than the overbloated Uberti that self destructs when you try to shoot it.

Would you care to elaborate farther on that statement ?

MD

[Raven]

I would assume he is alluding to the cracking in the barrel caused by the addition of a Gas Ring.

Raven

[Marshal Deadwood]

Isn't that cracking more common in the .45colt offering ?

Could you explain how the gas ring causes the cracking ?

thank you.
Just curious.

MD

[Raven]

Isn't that cracking more common in the .45colt offering ?

Could you explain how the gas ring causes the cracking ?

thank you.
Just curious.

MD

Your right it is the .45 Colt
In order to fit a cylinder with a Gas Ring in the gun, clearance must be cut into the bottom side of the barrel making for a very thin wall between the Bore and the Gas Ring.

Raven

[Harley Starr]

Bruce

While this is not in 44 Colt it does give you another option......






This is one I recently built but you can do by yourself at a moderate cost or have Jay or I do it for you......
All parts necessary are available through me or from Jay Strite.
See them here: http://www.kirstkonverter.com/coltarmy.html

While I have not measured any of my pistols, I will tell you that this is a Pietta and it is very close in size to an original Colt with minor variances in grip shape. The idea of copying an original is noble but they do come at a high cost and can be troublesome. To quote Jay Strite, from a recent conversation, Colt fixed the issues the conversions had by producing the Single Action Army..........

HH

Nice gun Hoof.

[Hoof Hearted]

Nice gun Hoof.

Thanks! Pretty easy to do with Kirst parts and hand tools..............

[StrawHat]

Interesting to note that the Colt '72 Open Top bested the Colt SAA in the Military trials.    The Military however was dead set on a solid frame and the rest is history.

That is what I recalled also.  Is there a link or can you direct me to that source?  I recall it from reading in my youth but that was more than a few weeks ago and I can no longer find the source.

Thanks.

[StrawHat]

Bruce

While this is not in 44 Colt it does give you another option...... HH

For what cartridge is that chambered?