Re-threading 3rd Generation barrels

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,
     I saw on another site where some gunsmiths, including Colt, have re-threaded 3rd Generation barrels to fit 2nd Generation frames.  Evidently it works on 24 to 20 tpi, but not the other way around.  I tried it on a ruined Ruger Blackhawk barrel, and it worked much better than I expected it to.  It screwed right in to my frame, and it appears it would work to re-barrel a shooter.  What do you gentlemen think?

[St. George]

Yup...

They 'can' be re-threaded and installed - but only once.

Make certain that the right barrel is almost unobtainable, then only 'then' give thought to the re-threading process.

Good Luck!

Scouts Out!

[pony express]

Yup...

They 'can' be re-threaded and installed - but only once.

Make certain that the right barrel is almost unobtainable, then only 'then' give thought to the re-threading process.

Good Luck!

Scouts Out!

Do you mean that the barrel can only be used once-or that the whole barrel/frame assembly is finished after that? I have an early 1900's Colt's Bisley that is wearing some kind of totally unmarked barrel Don't know what it is, but it's not Colt.

[Niederlander]

Pony, what caliber and barrel length do you want on your Bisley?

[Tascosa Joe]

Pony: Did you look under the ejector housing?  Christy marked some of their barrels there.  They were big in the early 50's before Colt started building the 2d Gen.
T-Joe

[St. George]

That barrel's done.

If you're harboring a deep desire to have interchangeable barrels best to think again and buy properly-threaded ones as spares.

Scouts Out!

[pony express]

Not worried about interchangeable barrels or anything like that. Just thinking if a properly marked barrel should ever come my way.... At least only the barrel's toast, but not the threads in the frame.

Pony: Did you look under the ejector housing?  Christy marked some of their barrels there.  They were big in the early 50's before Colt started building the 2d Gen.
T-Joe

I've never seen any other marking except ".45"on the side of the barrel. The sight on this barrel is a full 1/8" square blade, while the rear notch is still the original small V. It has timing issues, homemade hand, and somewhat buggered cylinder notches. Someday I hope to save up my pennies for a rebuild, but that saving thing hasn't gone so well so far.

[Niederlander]

If you're looking to rebuild it, cylinders (and barrels) show up on ebay all the time.  What caliber is yours?

[pony express]

It's (currently) a .45, never been lettered, so I don't know if it was always that caliber.

[Niederlander]

I can tell you 3rd Generation cylinders work just fine in 1st Generation Colts.  I've got one in my 1894 Frontier Six Shooter and shoot it all the time.

[Tascosa Joe]

I can tell you 3rd Generation cylinders work just fine in 1st Generation Colts.  I've got one in my 1894 Frontier Six Shooter and shoot it all the time.

Did you have to replace the hand?

[The Pathfinder]

Tascosa, I have an 1891 I got the same way, with a third gen cylinder and hand installed. And yes, the generation of the hand and cylinder do have to match.  Amazingly, using a .454 bullet over 33 grs of FFg it is one of my most accurate Colts I have. Shame someone gave it a 'Rodeo' style of refinish before I acquired it back in '89. Pathfinder

[Niederlander]

Did you have to replace the hand?

Yes, use a 3rd Generation hand.  Works great, and now I don't have to worry about that 1894 cylinder holding up to light smokeless loads.