1860 Richards Transition Question

[Rube Burrows]

Lots of good info in here guys, as usual. Thanks.

[Pappy Hayes]

Two costly alternatives:
# have a C&B 1860 Army replica converted to a Richards by a conversion artist - ? 1500+,
# have an oversized Uberti R2 converted to a Richards by a conversion artist - ? 300 to 500.
Pics of a friend's former Uberti R2 converted to R1
Long Johns Wolf

Is there anyone sill making type two into a type 1?

[Coffinmaker]

Ah, no one currently that I am aware of.  Might still be one guy in Europe still doing it.  Dunno.

[Long Johns Wolf]

Yes, the smith in Austria, Karl Nedbal, is still doing the R2 - R1 "transitions".
Long Johns Wolf

[Crow Choker]

Yes, the smith in Austria, Karl Nedbal, is still doing the R2 - R1 "transitions".
Long Johns Wolf

LJW---Were the prices you quoted in 2020 from this guy? Wonder what his current price is? Were your quotes in US dollars? Imagine the price of shipping one over and back or having one purchased in Austria and shipped to the US wouldn't be cheap.

[Professor Marvel]

LJW---Were the prices you quoted in 2020 from this guy? Wonder what his current price is? Were your quotes in US dollars? Imagine the price of shipping one over and back or having one purchased in Austria and shipped to the US wouldn't be cheap.

I believe, but cannot prove, that the biggest impediment would be the entire "cartridge gun import/export nonsense!
I ahve seen a number of "pre 1898" cartridge guns on auction sights coming from Britain or the EU but the
Import nonsense is so crazy I would fear for ever getting it, let alone the ulcer inducing paperwork....

Yhs
Prof mumbles

[Crow Choker]

Hear ya there Professor, was thinking when I typed that post the import/export nightmare.

[Long Johns Wolf]

Do you want me to check back for you with Nedbal?
Where to obtain the R2, prices of the R1-conversion ring, installation and fitting?
Long Johns Wolf

[Pappy Hayes]

Would just the conversion ring be available for purchase and there be the big problem of importing to the US?

[Long Johns Wolf]

"Historical replacement parts" were imported into the USA w/o problems.
However, you should be able to remove the R2 conversion ring from the Ubert and fit the R1 ring ... or have a smith who would do that for you.
Long Johns Wolf

[Abilene]

"Historical replacement parts" were imported into the USA w/o problems.
However, you should be able to remove the R2 conversion ring from the Ubert and fit the R1 ring ... or have a smith who would do that for you.
Long Johns Wolf

You would then need to modify the hammer as well, or maybe a percussion hammer be a drop in?

[Pappy Hayes]

If any become available I would be interested in buying. Thanks for all the info. Right now I am thinking about buying a Type 2 in 38 special to build as close as cn be a 61 Navy conversion. But would much rather have a Type 1 but that could be a while.

[Coffinmaker]

Abilene 

Correctamundo!!  Hammer has to be modified as well.  richards Firing Pin is of course, frame mounted in the Breach Ring.

[Vaqueros1876]

Greetings everyone, I know this is an old thread but I just bumped into it and I am researching the possibility of converting a Uberti Type II conversion into a Type 1 conversion myself. What I have come up with so far is: Type II conversion rings are available from most of the parts distributers (Numrich, Tayler's, Cimarron, and VTI - parts in stock varies). Get a new conversion ring, fabricate a block to fit in the hammer slot to act as the rear sight nub and firing pin hole then weld it in place. Use a replacement firing pin and retaining screw from a Ruger Vaquero, grind off the nose of a replacement hammer. replace the steel trigger guard with a brass one. If I can get access to a mill or lathe then I'll weld a ring around the the perimeter of the conversion ring to enclose the back of the cylinder. Additionally, I just found out that The Rifle Shoppe has raw castings of the Colt Richards Army Conversion parts. I've sent a message to them to see if their parts would work with a Uberti conversion or not. I'll let you all know what I find out. My plan is to do all of this work myself and it will take some time to complete. Also I'm planning on using replacement parts instead of the original ones incase I mess them up.

[Coffinmaker]

  Vaqueros1876

Are you absolutely determined to do this project the hard way??  It would be much simpler to source a Kirst Konverter and add a rear sight to the Kirst breach ring and cut the top off of the hammer.  ALL of the Colt built Richards Type 1 were not completed with the Breach Ring/Cylinder Gap enclosed. Completing it on a .36 frame and barrel would also keep the overall size closer to original.

Just a couple of practical thoughts.  Do remember to take your Broker to Lunch before you take the big leap 

[Abilene]

Ron Snover built this one from an Uberti around 20 years ago or so.  He said it was a real pain in the a$$ to make.

And of course, what he ended up with wasn't even an authentic copy, though beautiful.

[Vaqueros1876]

Vaqueros1876

Are you absolutely determined to do this project the hard way??  It would be much simpler to source a Kirst Konverter and add a rear sight to the Kirst breach ring and cut the top off of the hammer.  ALL of the Colt built Richards Type 1 were not completed with the Breach Ring/Cylinder Gap enclosed.

Coffinmaker, I'm a little confused or I'm missing something. My idea is to get a Uberti type II conversion ring from one of the parts dealer for about $90 and weld on the rear sight to it. I would also need to install a firing pin but that is just drilling a couple of holes, threading the larger one for the firing pin retainer and done. The only extra work between that and starting with a Kirst conversion is the firing pin? This would be done on a Uberti type II that I already have so for money wise I'm out the cost of the replacement parts.

Abilene, that is a nice looking pistol.

[Coffinmaker]

  Vaqueros

OK.  When I first read your description it presented a rather convoluted.  Sorry if I miss-understood.  Are you starting with the Type II in .45 or .38??  Just curious.  Have fun with the project!!

[Coffinmaker]

  Abilene

Atz a really nice conversion, even if it is all scratched Up (Grins).  Ron Snover was a class Gunplumber and a good friend of mine.  He was smart enough to retire before I did.  Building his conversion on aN R/M Frame and Barrel eased a couple of small problems relating to parts that weren't available 20 or so years ago.

Appears it was about to go into someone's Sale Display Cabinet??

[Vaqueros1876]

Coffinmaker, it's marked 44 Colt. It's one of the early imports that were chambered in 44 Special but marked 44 Colt. I've had it for nearly 20 years now.