.44 Remington Conversion-FINISHED! 02/05/2006

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

some of you saw pictures of this project as it was started, here is the finished Remington .44 conversion I did for my son. I cut and finished the cylinder this week, chambered it in .44 colt. I made it from scratch and 20/1000 ths. bigger then the stock Pieta cylinder because the stock cylinders are too thin (paper thin) where the cylinder stops are cut to re-chamber.
The close up is of the loading gate showing the checkering and the ball indent. This is about as close as you can get to an original remington conversion. The ejector rod and housing are dovetailed into the frame as were the originals, and the ejector rod is also checkered per original pistols. Hope you like it.

Bill Proctor

[Yankee John]

Looks terrific Bill!  Please keep the pics of your progress coming.

By the way, Here is a pic of my Remington with the Kirst set-up installed that I got from you.  Thanks again for the good deal!


John

[Oldelm]

OC Bill,.....Nice work , there!
I like the fact that you're gunsmithing these just like the originals. I've always wanted to see a closeup of just how they dovetailed that ejector rod housing tube onto the frame. I don't have McDowell's book, but was told there are some pics in there showing that. Do you have any closeup pics you'd like to post showing more detail on that housing and keeper spring/detent?

The only pic I ever found online is this one (middle pic in the group) that shows the recess made in frame just in front of the cylinder.
http://www.armchairgunshow.com/images/AZ-R182.jpg   

The ejector rod housings on the originals are unique, although they call for more milling and gunsmithing than , say, Kirst's,...but Kirst had a good idea when he created his ejector rod housing entegral to the cylinder pin.

John,.......your's looks mighty nice too!  Good work!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Oldelm,
I've had McDowell's book since it first came out in 1997, and thats the information I used when doing these. The book also has several pages on the Rogers & Spencers. I've used the book to make a couple of 1860 Colt Richards, made the way they are supposed to be with the rear end of the cylinder under that little lip (.0310) on the recoil ring. I'm doing a 1860 first model richards for myself after I finish my son's pistol. I've already got the Cylinder and recoil ring made.

johnrtse,

Glad you like it, your pistol looks nice. I just wanted something a little more like Remington actually did them, but the Kirst stuff is great. I like the finish on our gun. The finsh on this pistol looks like the old style nickel plating they had in the 19th century. I was going to blue it, but I may leave it like it is. Using the birchwood Casey blue remover is the best way to go, you don't have to remove any metal and it is real easy to use. When I get the loading gate installed I'll post another pic, should have the ejector rod finished at that time too.

Bill

[Pappy Hayes]

Is the loading trough cut different for the 44 then the 45 conversion? I was thinking about purchasing a Kirst 44 cylinder and use the 44 Rem ammo from River Junction so I could either shoot the 44 or 45 Scofield in my Remmy without the loading trough. Later I am thinking about getting one with the loading gate.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Pappy,
This is not a Kirst Conversion, it is one that I did and machined all the parts myself, but to answer your question, I think the Kirst 44 cylinder should work just fine if your gun is already set up the five shot 45 cylinder.

Bill

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Pappy,
The Kirst 45 and the 44 Rem. cylinders are interchangeable. the recoil rings are the same for any of the Kirst conversions per make, (Pietta, Uberti) they will not interchange between makers. I'm getting ready to send for a gated shield and an extra44 Rem. cylinder, as I already have the new ejector assy. My gunslinger 4 3/4 will probably just get the 44 Rem. drop in conversion.

I'm sold on the 44 Rem. cartridge!

[Smokin Gun]

Charlie you had to go and say that. Ok so now I'm saving up for a .44Rem Kirst then a .45LC Kirst...Maybe the second one could be gated. But I'm in a hurry for the first one...LoL!

[Virgil Ray Hality]

Very Cool!     It also looks just like the originals I have seen kicking around gun shows, only its brand new!!!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Oldelm,
I'll scan them for you this afternoon from McDowell's book and give you the measurement too.

Bill

[Oldelm]

Howdy Bill,....thanks so much!!      You'll make my day!!

You could e-mail them to me for full viewing of  scans if you like. But I'm sure other folks here would like to see them if you post them here. Whatever is most convenient,....thanks!

I should try and find McDowell's book again,.... it isn't cheap,.....but sure comes in handy when doing this kinda research about the originals.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Oldelm,
Here is a close up of the ejector housing and rod. The rod measures 4-3/16 inches long and is 0.180 in diameter overall except where the hot stamped checkered pattern is. It tapers down to 0.162. The other photo is a closeup of the housing. I mill mine out of solid bar stock and they have a 3/8" flat base. I use a 60% carbide dovetail cutter to cut the recess in the frame. They are a tight fit as the ram rod screw is part of the dove tail and is tightened up into the housing once it is installed.

Bill

[Oldelm]

Bill,.......thanks for posting those pics with dimensions. That helps me understand these originals a little better. So,...the housing is one piece, drilled through and shaped to fit as sliding dovetail joint and held by screw? I like that checkering on the handle tab.
How deep is the dovetailed housing into the frame?

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Old Elm,
Its the same screw that holds the loading lever and rammer in the gun. When I milled the dove tail into the receiver, the screw is left in and is part of the dove tail in that it recieves a slight notch by the cutter. I am going to make the spring and detent for the housing today and checker the ejector head. I'll post a pic here when finished.

Bill

[Oldelm]

Thanks , Bill.
Good work,....and good info.  I'll have to file it away in my "Remington Conversions" folder,.....

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

TTT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looks really good, Bill. A big thumbs up to that one.

[Yankee John]

Looks incredible Bill- Great job!!

John

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Thanks All,
I would have finished this project much earlier, but in between starting and finishing it, I converted two Rogers and Spencers for a friend of mine. I am going to buy a Euro Arms or Uberti .58 within the next week or so to convert they are more accurate in their profile then the Pietta. I am in the middle of doing a Richards first model 1860 conversion so it will be a month or so before I start the new Remington.

By the way, the only thing that identifies this as a Pietta is the serial number, all other markings have been removed and the grip backstrap and frame altered to match an original. The Piettas are a little cumbersome when compared to an original and you can see minute diferences when compared next to one, but for the money you can't beat them.
I understand the Euro Arms 58 is a dead ringer, but I've never seen one. Maybe if one of you all own one you can give me some info on it, or if you know anyone that has a used Euro Arms for sale.

Bill

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

OB,
The Euroarms/Armi San Paolo(Euroarms was ASP before they moved) are pretty close to the original Remingtion Old Model Army(Threads on the bbl are covered up. and they feel great especially in my small hands. I liked the one I handled and shot so well that I'm probably going to go that route. I just bought one off the net it should be here end of the week. I have Pietta's.

Oldelm has shown us that R& D Uberti Conversion Cylinders work in the Euroarms(at least the one he has does).
My Kirst 44 Rem Konvertor didn't fit the Armi San Paolo/Euroarms that I shot(cylinder too long). That gun felt like a '51 Colt Navy to me, which I consider the best Colt ever made for heft, feel and balance.

I'd love to have the bucks to let you build me a conversion., but I'll have to stick with the Kirst's.

I'm hoping that Kirst 44 Rem Uberti Konvertor fits the Euro arms '58. If so then there are a couple more Euroarms '58's in my future and I'll find new homes for my Pietta's. I have an older Uberti Revolving Carbine coming this week also. If the Uberti Konverter fits the Euro's then They will switch out between the pistola's and the carbine. Euroarms/Armi San Paolo cylinders will not interchange with Uberti '58's.