Adding a firing pin safety to a traditional SAA clone?

[KarateHottie93]

I want a Beretta Stampede Marshall. I can only find one on GunBroker. It looks kinda beat up, is probably gonna sell for an insane amount, there's no layaway and I'm not excited enough to put everything down at once, and it's money order only. I guess I won't be getting it. The hunt is still on.

Ruger makes a 45LC with a birdshead grip, short barrel, and transfer bar. Not available in case hardened though. Won't be getting that either. I'd buy a Carry Hawk but those no longer exist in the wild. I was gonna get one when they came out but I drastically underestimated their desirability and said I'd get it down the line...yeah.

My best options at this point are to just get a Thunderer type. The only issue is that they don't come with the retractable firing pin. Taylor's sells the retractable firing pin kit. They also sell old style firing pins and have a guide for converting your safety hammer to an old style hammer.

Does that mean I could do the opposite and convert my regular fixed firing pin hammer to a retractable firing pin hammer? As far as I can tell, the differences are all in the hammer assembly...not the fireman it's self.

Please help me out here. I don't want to shell out unnecessary money if I don't absolutely have to. There's not a lot of fans of carrying SAA's for daily life and these things are rather difficult to find consistent trust worthy information on.

 

[Slamfire]

According to the manual the Beretta Stampede is a transfer bar mechanism. So what are your safety concerns with a transfer bar mechanism?

 

[Pat Riot]

The “original” Vaquero Birdshead came in blue/color case hardened (chemically done)
You could search for one of those. The original Vaqueros had the large frame.

 

[KarateHottie93]

According to the manual the Beretta Stampede is a transfer bar mechanism. So what are your safety concerns with a transfer bar mechanism?

I don't have any safety concerns with the Stampede. They're discontinued and hard to find in good condition. If this was a perfect world where all guns are readily available, that's what I'd buy.

Unfortunately they're not and outside of the Stampede, there are no other short barrel birdshead SAA clones on the market that come in 45LC, have a case hardened finish, and a passive safety for carrying six.

My only option is to convert an Uberti made gun with a regular hammer like the Thunderer to a Cattleman II safety hammer.

Is that possible? Are there any differences outside of the hammer assembly?

 

[KarateHottie93]

The “original” Vaquero Birdshead came in blue/color case hardened (chemically done)
You could search for one of those. The original Vaqueros had the large frame.

That would be ideal...even more so than the Stampede. They're probably easier to find in that exact configuration but they go for over $1,000 now.

I would love to have one though just because the frame. Not sure I'd ever be able to bring myself to try hotter loads through it though.

 

[CraigC]

I've bought two or three of those Taylor's kits to remove the safety but have yet to buy an SAA that needed it. Mostly just planning ahead. I really have no idea if you can retrofit an older gun with the retractable firing pin. You might want to call Taylor's and ask them.

For me, I just load them with five.

 

[ontarget]

I have a Uberti 3.5 inch bbl 45 Colt Birdshead that sounds like what you are looking for.
It has the retractable FP.
Poor lighting but it has very nice case coloring. You should check them out.

 

[KarateHottie93]

I have a Uberti 3.5 inch bbl 45 Colt Birdshead that sounds like what you are looking for.
It has the retractable FP. View attachment 1090215
Poor lighting but it has very nice case coloring. You should check them out.

Okay so is there ANY chance you have the model number for that exact one?

 

[ontarget]

Okay so is there ANY chance you have the model number for that exact one?

I can get the info off the box for you tomorrow.

 

[KarateHottie93]

I can get the info off the box for you tomorrow.

Thank you sir

 

[ontarget]

Thank you sir

This should give you what you need.
Fun gun to shoot, even with full power loads.
And as my pic showed, groups very well too.
ETA: This one was purchased at Cabelas.

 

[KarateHottie93]

View attachment 1090394
This should give you what you need.
Fun gun to shoot, even with full power loads.
And as my pic showed, groups very well too.
ETA: This one was purchased at Cabelas.

You are awesome! I almost wasn't sure if you'd come through lol

 

[ontarget]

You are awesome! I almost wasn't sure if you'd come through lol

This is THR. We always come through for one another. Hope it helps in your search.

 

[ontarget]

You are awesome! I almost wasn't sure if you'd come through lol

Well, did you order one yet?