Kirst Konverter binding problem...a fix

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I had some trouble getting the Kirst Konverter to "drop In" my new '58 on half cock. It would drop in with the hammer just pulled back enough to drop the cylinder lock but not on halfcock. It would bind up and not turn and the cylinder pin would not do more than start into the cylinder. I took the recoil shield out and tried to just install the cylinder, same problem. I got to looking at the hand and it was the problem I looked at the hand of the other two '58's and this one had a bump on the top of it and it wasn't shaped like the others.  I dis-assembled the pistol and sure enough the hand was very different on the top and the front(pawl end). I took a stone and a hard file to it and shaped it like the other two. re-assembled the pistol. This time the Konverter dropped right in on half cock, and the cylinder pin slid right in. Now all three have the same shape hand.

If you have a binding problem trying to drop in a Kirst Konverter on Half Cock, try my method first and it just may be a deformed hand.

Halfway Creek Charlie 

[Oldelm]

Nice problem solving, there, Old Dragoon,...I'll have to remember that.  Having a few Remingtons around that are running smooth is just the thing for cross referencing problem areas like that. 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

So, if I understand this correctly, it is a good thing to have lots of Remmies lying around. I guess I'd better get to finding some more. thanks for the excuse, pard.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Thanks fer the sharing the info.

Slim(whats needs all the help he can get) 

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Mine was a bad cylinder pin that was chewed up a bit. (bent)

I filed it down a bit and added a slight taper.

I will double check the pawl as well when I give it an action job here next week.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I just put a Kirst conversion in one of mine. Jim at River Junction Trade Co talked me through the fix for it. All it took was a little filing off the bottom of the flat that keeps the backing plate from turning. That alllowed the backing plate to ride just a little farther back. Now it appears to work smoothly. No binding or anything. The man sure knows his Kirsts. I'll give it a firing test in a few days.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Jim is a great guy!
Send RJ all your money...just like I'm doing...LOL