A Pair to draw to....

Tuolumne Lawman · June 28, 2019, 10:35:06 PM

Here they are: an 8" and a 5.5" PIETTA 1858 (NMAs) .44s. Each has a Kirst gated .45 cartridge Konverter and Kirst "transitional" ejector assembles. Also a some cheap, faux-bone grips. Just a quick couple of pics... These will be featured in an upcoming Cowboy Chronicle article with better pics.

Considering the first contract (and royalty payment to S&W) to convert Remmy NMAs to .46 rim-fire was in 1868, it is the perfect pair of "Hawg Legs" for an 1860 Henry toting Lawman in California's Motherlode to use on the streets of Sonora, California in 1869.

Abilene · June 28, 2019, 11:11:56 PM

Them be nice!

Marshal Will Wingam · June 29, 2019, 08:20:45 AM

Those do look nice. The ejectors look good on them. I like the grips. What are they again?

Tuolumne Lawman · June 29, 2019, 11:58:36 AM

IIRC, I got them from "Get A Grip". They were cheap, and are OK, but took A LOT of fitting. I also had to put material on the back, inside the grip frame to keep them from moving around. The fitment of the top and the heel pin on the frame were not enough. The doo look great on it, but I think I will eventually get a better set of faux-ivories for them.

rbertalotto · June 29, 2019, 03:54:03 PM

Great minds think alike.....Here's mine

Grips are made from an Elk bone

rbertalotto · June 29, 2019, 04:00:01 PM

BTW...I believe you penned a nice article in this months Cowboy Chronical......Yes?

Tuolumne Lawman · June 29, 2019, 10:34:56 PM

I did, sir, thank you! It is Part I of the Kirst series (though they forgot to label it part one. I actually wrote that article most of a year ago!

BTW, I like your pair!

Tuolumne Lawman · July 04, 2019, 07:55:34 PM

I have to say that this pair of NMA conversions are my favorite pair of main match revolvers I have ever had. The only drawback is knuckle knock. That has lessened since I replaced the grips, and my future loading will drop down to 5.5 grains of Trail Boss instead of my current 6 grains.

The fact that they are 5 shot like the original .46 rimfire, and they were available by 1868 (or some say 1867) really fits my Henry toting persona.... Also, the round nose .45 Schofield loads I use are nearly identical in size and performance to the original .46 rim-fire rounds.

The next closest was the pair of 1872 Open Tops. They were .45 Colt. I probably would not have switched if they were .44 Russian/Special.

Marshal Will Wingam · July 04, 2019, 11:54:39 PM

I can understand those being your favorites. I kept trying different pistols until I got to my .45 Rem conversions.

Are your new grips thinner? Whatever the difference is, you may want to go a bit further in that direction. You could even shave a bit off the front of the frames and grips to alleviate more knock.

Tuolumne Lawman · July 07, 2019, 11:41:33 PM

To think, I could have had that original .46 rim-fire NMA I handled around 1995 for only $250! Of course, no ammo. I could have had some brass cases turned with an inset milled for a 22 blank in the rim like they did for Spencers many years ago before they came out with center fire breech blocks.

The Pathfinder · July 08, 2019, 06:15:11 AM

TL, I know what you mean, around that same time frame I had to pass on a pair of revolvers because of my pending retirement from the Air Force. Otherwise I could have had a first model Richard's conversion and an Open Top both for $1500. Knew I shouldn't have taken the wife with me that day.

Tuolumne Lawman · July 20, 2019, 09:48:36 AM

Headed off to the local match today with the Remmies and new HRA .44-40 Henry. This is the first match since the second pistol has been ported for a gated Konverter. Also I have the new production Kirst ejector assemblies on both, rather than the transitional ones I converted for Walt. I will take pictures and get votes which ones you guys like best.

DeaconKC · July 20, 2019, 10:56:17 AM

Some fine looking pairs here!

Marshal Will Wingam · July 20, 2019, 04:03:12 PM

I'll be interested to see those new Kirst ejectors and hear what you think of them.

Tuolumne Lawman · July 20, 2019, 08:43:14 PM

A good day with the Remmies and the Henry.

A close up with the production ejectors.

Transitional ejectors

Marshal Will Wingam · July 20, 2019, 09:01:36 PM

I can't say which I like better. They both look good. Which ones do you prefer in actual use?

Tuolumne Lawman · July 20, 2019, 09:15:13 PM

I think I like the transitional. They are a little easier to use, as the ejector tab on the new ones runs close to the rammer.

Marshal Will Wingam · July 21, 2019, 12:16:36 AM

How would the new ones work if you bent the tab out slightly. No more than maybe 15-20 degrees. Is that something you could do without it dragging along the rammer? It looks like then it could be a bit shorter than it is and still do the job nicely.

Tuolumne Lawman · July 21, 2019, 08:37:04 AM

I don't think it would holster if it was bent out any. That's why I bent the modified ones in.

Marshal Will Wingam · July 21, 2019, 09:11:21 AM

I can see that could be a problem. In the final analysis, it looks like your modded design is the best after all.