T bar K New Belly Popper

Big T · July 02, 2011, 03:12:48 PM

Here is a new project I just got done with , I took an ol cheapo I picked up nib for about 65. richards BP 44 ,Brass frame Modified it Made the barrel 2.5 in (Needed to be 2 7/8 for cyl removal without detaching the brass pc on the end ), but its no big deal ,it had some pretty bad casting pits in it I covered up with with some decoration it was unfinished when i got it , I dovetailed both sight an rod holder in so they can be moved or removed with fibre punch an hammer , Havent shot it yet but the last one i did like this shot more accurate than the original configuration ,hope you enjoy

Dick Dastardly · July 02, 2011, 06:41:14 PM

Sure a pretty one. Where does it fit in SASS shooting? Main match? Side match? I'd be proud to own a stubby like that.

DD-DLoS

Jamie · July 02, 2011, 06:56:16 PM

Love it! The stippling (?) is particularly sharp - could you let us know how you did it? The stag grip is gorgeous, and the presence of the rammer topped off with the brass catch really makes the gun!
Jamie

pony express · July 02, 2011, 11:51:07 PM

Quote from: Dick Dastardly on July 02, 2011, 06:41:14 PM
Sure a pretty one. Where does it fit in SASS shooting? Main match? Side match? I'd be proud to own a stubby like that.

DD-DLoS

It'd still be a main match gun, since it's still a full size frame pistol. I think SASS rules say a full size frame(Colt SAA) can't be a pocket pistol, so I suppose that would apply to a Remington .44 too.

Big T · July 03, 2011, 04:21:45 PM

Well Main match 44 to complete a set I use for frontier cartrige , I use a 44 mag marlin an western marxhal 44 an been looking for another western marshal but thought i would use this till i got the other one , I have a set of 45 LC I use regularly but dont realy want to use the 45 set for BP , , mainly just for fun an testing my skills as a tinkerer , I have done a couple of them an every one has become more accurate after the mods at 25 yds or closer , I havent fired them further than that , thanks for the kind words on it ,t

Big T · July 03, 2011, 04:30:06 PM

Quote from: Jamie on July 02, 2011, 06:56:16 PM
Love it! The stippling (?) is particularly sharp - could you let us know how you did it? The stag grip is gorgeous, and the presence of the rammer topped off with the brass catch really makes the gun!
Jamie

Not sure what you mean by Stippling , if you mean the decorative thing I did it with a carbide dremet bit to cover up some rough casting marks i couldnt get out ,I simply outlined it with a sharpi an just jigged it with the dremel tool I seen some in the pics I need ot go back over an get more accurate but I been doing that on some of my knife bolsters as well ,ou need to be strong in the wrist area to control it well so it dont skip off an mess somthing up bit a little practice an its not a big deal , if you mean the dovetails I had a cutter made awhile back so i can clamp in a vice on my milling machine an cut everything square with 1 shot accross , I made all the other extra parts out of scraps i had in my knife shop ,t

WaddWatsonEllis · July 03, 2011, 09:40:33 PM

I would like to add a bit to T-Bar's ability with Stag grips

Below are the after pics of a S&W Model 4 that T-Bar put grips on for me.

The fit was very good and I am thoroughly enjoying the pistol; the second pic is a pic I took of the pistol in a holster I adapted to match tho ones for my Schofields

Big T · July 04, 2011, 10:14:27 AM

Thanks WW , I appreciate it , I picked up a new looking iver johnson in 32 S&W as well last month I been thinking about Staggin up as well but the grips on it are so good I hate to take em off bt I will eventualy maybe I will do a before during an after on it now I got my camera back up an working good , t

Lucky R. K. · July 04, 2011, 01:11:57 PM

I have seen several very nice pistols converted to "Sheriff's Models" here so I tried one for myself. I used a 5-1/2" Pietta 1858 and made the following changes.

Shortened the barrel to 3-1/2". Shortened and re-shaped the loading lever. Re-located the locking stud for the loading lever. Dovetailed in a different front sight. Bushed the cylinder and cut the frame to accept the bushing. Opened up the cylinder to accept a capper. Weakened the hammer spring. I made the same modifications (except shortening the barrel) to a second 5-1/2" 1858 and shoot them as main match revolvers.

After making these changes the pistols will preform just as well as my Ruger Old Armies with one exception. They do not seem to shed spent caps as well as the Rugers. I usually have to go to my off hand at least once on a stage to help cock the gun. Very seldom do I have that problem with the Rugers. Could anyone suggest what the difference might be?

If this works I have attached a couple of pictures of the little gun.

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/PICT0262.jpg

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/PICT0264.jpg

Lucky

zymurgeist · July 04, 2011, 04:40:35 PM

What, if anything did you do for the barrel crown? It's a pretty hideout piece.

Bottom Dealin Mike · July 04, 2011, 05:35:05 PM

I like it!!!

Good work.

Lucky R. K. · July 04, 2011, 05:35:54 PM

I used a round stone coated with white polishing compound run slowly in a hand drill. I just eased the edge slightly to remove the sharp edge.

Lucky

Lucky R. K. · July 04, 2011, 05:37:06 PM

Thanks Mike. It is a good shooter at cowboy distances.

Lucky

Major 2 · July 04, 2011, 06:01:32 PM

Big T...if you looking to name it...I'd call it " Nugget"

R.K. yours is sweet

Pulp · July 04, 2011, 10:55:44 PM

That is one fine piece of work. I wish I could do stuff like that.

Big T · July 07, 2011, 07:30:59 AM

Nice Work on the 58 , I been working up to doing one in steel frame I guess i will have to now I seen yours , maybe get me a conversions cyl for it for 45 acp from kirst , thank you all for your kind words ,I didnt re crown mine yet ,I made a fixture to do it but just havent took the time , i milled the end off flat with my machine an de-bured it with a tool I have ,I been taking care of knife business lately though , t

zymurgeist · July 07, 2011, 07:38:00 AM

It would be interesting to see how much of a difference crowning it makes. The barrel is a bit short to be a bench rest target pistol

but it's something I do wonder about. It's a littile jewel anyhoo.

Big T · July 07, 2011, 05:53:24 PM

oddly enough it will make a grouping difference , the last one I did i shot 3 groupd with it at 30 feet an all the holes touched each other this one was scattered a bit to hand sized without the crownnig done yet ,(couldnt wait to shoot it to see ) soon as i get my new tool i ordered for my lathe I will do it t

Lucky R. K. · July 08, 2011, 09:33:04 AM

I have never really tried to pattern the little gun. I practice for the cowboy matches by shooting it off hand at about 7 yards. If I do my part the bullet strikes will be within a paper plate I use sa a target. I get just about the same accuracy from my 5-1/2" 1858. I have never shot it at a distance greater than about 7 yards.

Lucky

Jamie · July 09, 2011, 08:04:49 AM

Big T,

Thanks for the explanation on the "texturing" of the brass. It looks amazingly good - not quite engraving in the normal sense, although I guess it would qualify technically. When I referred to "Stippling" I was talking about the process, usually used with wooden grips in place of checkering, wherein you take a relatively sharp scribe, nail, nail set or punch of some kind, and tap texture into the wood, in effect roughing it up to provide a better purchase with the hand. Very effective, but it really limits the amount of beauty in the grain of the wood which can be displayed. I once saw a Smith and Wesson .357 with custom stippled grips which provided great purchase, but on closer examination, the walnut was magnificently marbled and swirled. It was tragic from an aesthetic sense.

Jamie