The newest 1st Model Richards from Kirst & Strite

Raven · August 30, 2011, 11:50:12 PM

We seem to be doing a lot of these lately! This one has the Navel battle scene

Hope you enjoy!
Raven

Fox Creek Kid · August 31, 2011, 12:54:53 AM

So, who roll engraved the cylinder, or did you buy a machine?

Raven · August 31, 2011, 08:06:24 AM

Hand Engraved

Slowhand Bob · September 01, 2011, 08:56:40 AM

This is the one I wish Uberti would have elected to go with. Which gun did you start this project with and some other specs please?

Raven · September 01, 2011, 09:18:02 AM

QuoteThis is the one I wish Uberti would have elected to go with. Which gun did you start this project with and some other specs please?

It's a 2nd Generation Colt in .44 Colt........Pure 4 screw 1st model Richards right down to the assembly numbers.
Oh! with Ivories.

Raven

Slowhand Bob · September 01, 2011, 12:31:12 PM

It is said that if one must ask,,,,, so I will not ask!

Long Juan · September 01, 2011, 12:38:32 PM

Beautiful work, Raven!

Coffinmaker · September 01, 2011, 01:47:40 PM

Such WONDERFUL toys ................. Such TINY paychecks

Coffinmaker

Raven · September 01, 2011, 02:37:03 PM

QuoteSuch WONDERFUL toys ................. Such TINY paychecks

Coffinmaker

Boy have you got that right

They're easily worth $3000 to $4000 for the labor alone, but as you know we rarely see half that!

I guess it's a labor of love

Raven

Fox Creek Kid · September 01, 2011, 10:11:56 PM

Like I said before, convert the Type II Uberti to Type I and make some money.

Raven · September 01, 2011, 11:59:44 PM

QuotePosted by: Fox Creek Kid
Insert Quote
Like I said before, convert the Type II Uberti to Type I and make some money.

From a custom gun builders point of view the only labor I'm going to save is on the ejector. it might lower the price by a couple of hundered bucks and at the same time wouldn't put much more cash in my pocket. If I were to start with a type II you would expect me to lower my price effectivly canceling out any increase in profit. And personaly I think the quality of the Type II Uberti ejector sucks and wouldn't match the rest of the gun. I don't care to make a cheap version or mass produce them

I understand that you want an affordable Richards, but that's not why I build them and if it was about the money I would still be a Goldsmith and not a Gunsmith.
Bug Uberti about making a 1st model Richards for the masses and I will continue to make them for the connesuirs and collectors. Or move on to something else.

Unfortunatly the only way there will ever be a 1st model Richards that retails under a $1000 is if one of the Italian companies decides to produce them.
Raven

Slowhand Bob · September 02, 2011, 07:32:13 AM

Raven, understand, though I may be on a duffers allotment, I do have a connoisseurs taste. When I lay my Cimmaron Richards Mason next to a standard '60 Colt I see do not see the evolutionary relationship. Its similar to an old style Vaquero next to a SAA, one looks like a tank the other a sports car. Keep making them the way you do and I will keep slobbering over the screen and waiting for 'the day'! Right now I am still trying to get the pennies together to do a pair of Colt style Kirst Conversions on my '51 .44 Navies..

Raven · September 02, 2011, 08:14:30 AM

Bob,

I feel for ya! If I wasn't building them I couldn't afford one either.

In fact I don't personaly own one

I've been wanting a Henry for a long time and can't justify the expense. We do make the occassional trade and maybe someday............
We also have seconds once in a while.....one of these days we will both get what we want

Raven

Old Top · September 04, 2011, 05:00:56 PM

Raven,

I can understand the sadisfaction of building these for the people who can afford them, but on question I have is you never see any of them in 44-40 but you do in 45. Could you not buy a barrel for the 44 special and have a cylinder bored to 44.40?

Old Top

Fox Creek Kid · September 04, 2011, 10:34:17 PM

Quote from: Old Top on September 04, 2011, 05:00:56 PM
Raven,

I can understand the sadisfaction of building these for the people who can afford them, but on question I have is you never see any of them in 44-40 but you do in 45. Could you not buy a barrel for the 44 special and have a cylinder bored to 44.40?

Old Top

44-40 case heads are too big and would overlap.

Crow Choker · September 04, 2011, 11:15:29 PM

Right beautifull guns Raven, you do fine work. Wish I had one to help complete my collection of Colt Conversion's. I do have a birthday coming up in November, not dropping a hint or anything, but if ya want, I'll PM my mailing address to ya.

Old Top · September 05, 2011, 01:23:26 AM

Fox Creek Kid,

Looking at a 44-40 and a 45 the case length and the rim diameter are very close to identical, and they have the pistol in 45. Just curious.

Old Top

Fox Creek Kid · September 05, 2011, 02:42:30 AM

Quote from: Old Top on September 05, 2011, 01:23:26 AM
Fox Creek Kid,

Looking at a 44-40 and a 45 the case length and the rim diameter are very close to identical, and they have the pistol in 45. Just curious.

Old Top

Raven is NOT using Uberti conversion cylinders which are larger than original Colt conversion cylinders. He is making/using some other type of cylinder to original specs with some undecipherable heiroglyphic engraved on it.

Besides, most people want the gun in either original or modern .44 Colt.

Raven · September 16, 2011, 04:19:49 PM

QuoteRaven is NOT using Uberti conversion cylinders which are larger than original Colt conversion cylinders. He is making/using some other type of cylinder to original specs with some undecipherable heiroglyphic engraved on it. Besides, most people want the gun in either original or modern .44 Colt.

What undecipherable heiroglyphic are you talking about?

We either leave them plain
engrave them to match the rest of the engraving
Or engrave them with the the Navel Battle Scene (Better than the versions the Italians do)
All to the customers specification.

Our cylinders are made in house to original specification.

Hey, FCK how come there is always a little dig in your posts? I don't remember ever tring to intentionaly piss you off.

Raven

Raven · September 16, 2011, 08:19:20 PM

QuoteI can understand the sadisfaction of building these for the people who can afford them, but on question I have is you never see any of them in 44-40 but you do in 45. Could you not buy a barrel for the 44 special and have a cylinder bored to 44.40?

Old Top

The Kirst converter is chambered for 45 Colt and .45 Schofield.
The Kirst/Strite 1st model Richards is chambered for .44 Colt

The .44-40 WCF is nominaly 1.92" and Colt conversion cylinders are 1.580" It Just Will Not Work

.44-40 was developed for rifles and revolvers with full lenth cylinders....Like the S.A.A.
Besides that, the only .44 caliber reproductions that have barrels big enough to reline to .420 that I know about are the Centaures and they are very rare here in the states. Also .44 caliber cartridge barrels will not fit on percussion frames.

Raven