My project: 1860 Army + 1851 Navy + Kirst Konverter
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1861
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whughett
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Did you cut the recoil shield or Kirst.?
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1861
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I cut the recoil shield. Kirst is on the other side of the globe from me. That was the first time ever in my life that I worked with metal and with those tools.
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Ephraim Kibbey
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Beautiful work!
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1861
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Thank you Sir!
The hole is slightly asymmetric, because a) I was not able to make it different than what I managed to do with the tools which I had, and b) I wanted to cut as little of the recoil shield as possible, to weaken it as little as possible. I've seen online some much wider openings, but also some narrow ones like mine, only symmetric.
The bullets which you see above are among the first few dozen ones which I have loaded in my life, I started some weeks ago. There is about 17.5 - 18 grains of BLACK FFFG in them. I'm just waiting for the opportunity to shoot them.
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TheOutlawKid
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Mr.1861....you did great. Especially it being your first time doing this type of work. Good job sir!
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1861
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Thank you so much. I am indeed very satisfied because everything turned out to be much better than I expected. I achieved the noticeably higher (mirror-like) polish inside the round part which I have cut - than the original factory polish of the rest of the frame. I would never thought that possible. I finished it a few weeks ago. I used very crude and very cheap hand-held tools, first the small saw for metal, then the old squared file for I-don't-know-what, then the round file for metal, and finally I used the old big Black & Decker electric drill with those tiny dremel tools/bits, I bought 7 of them... and I'm very pleased with the result, being the complete amateur and a beginner, doing this without anyone's help and without even watching any tutorial videos.
LaneP
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Well done, looks great. I have a fondness for cartridge conversions.
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1861
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They say the best swords have names. 
I want to name my revolver... part Army, part Navy, part Kirst... any suggestions?
I want to name my revolver... part Army, part Navy, part Kirst... any suggestions?
whughett
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Nice job indeed. I do like conversion cylinders also, have several but didn’t want to lose the muzzle loading capabilities so use the R&D or Howells. A Richards Mason or even a Kirst has been on my wish list for some time.
I’d be interested in knowing how the 38 Special performs in the 51. Nice looking cartridges. Are the wad cutters hollow based.?
I’d be interested in knowing how the 38 Special performs in the 51. Nice looking cartridges. Are the wad cutters hollow based.?
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1861
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Thanks whughett! Wad cutters are hollow based of course.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/reloading-black-powder.845883/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/reloading-black-powder.845883/
i just came in from my very rural deck after shooting my 1860 army with a kirst converter .22 long rifle. the thing i did different is i did not use their barrel insert. i had a full length barrel insert made by a machinest friend of mine out of a spare .22 cal barrel. it is as accurate as my s and w model 17. at 15 yards it is a one hole gun from a loose rest., my pick up hood. i love the conversion so much im going to get a 1852 navy uberti and a kirst .22 cal converter and i have enough .22 cal barrel left to make a full length insert for the 1852 navy. the accuracy ive achieved is as good as it gets. i call it a good snake gun. will take the head off of a snake at 10 to 15 yards with ease. my man target at 20 yards is never ever missed. just got 550 rounds of 22 ammo from the farm store and will burn that up this week weather permitting. thanks for your post so i could post a nice reply to those who are interested.
1KPerDay
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That is very nice. Is the frame stainless or is it in the white?
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1861
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Thanks.
I may sound ignorant, but actually I have no idea what would be the difference between stainless and "white".
It is steel. The model is called "Old Silver .44" - Pietta code "CASOS44".
Since I desperately want - actually, need - the all silver revolver, I have yet to get the silver barrel in .36 caliber. That would be Pietta's "Yank Old Silver .36" - code "YANOS36". For 3 years I'm trying to find it, but I just can't. I once saw one in Polish web-shop and one in German web-shop, but they don't deliver firearms internationally. It seems that silver .36 are available mostly in the USA and it's impossible to order them from Europe. So for now I have to content myself with half-silver / half-black revolver. Actually it looks kinda cool, "black & white" combination, but my ultimate goal is the all-silver .36 revolver.
The same problem I have with Uberti's Walker. Of course, I want a silver one and I would call it "White Walker". (Game of Thrones fans will understand.) You just can't find silver Walker in Europe, only black. Such a shame, not fair.
TheOutlawKid
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You can make ur barrel look like the "old silver" models by soaking the barrel in white vinegar...it will strip the bluing completely. After that you buff the barrel with a polish...a fine abrasive polish. Like Mothers polish or similar. Ive done it with an 1861 model since they dont make an 1861 "old silver" model. It came out great!
1KPerDay
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Thanks. FYI “in the white” refers to carbon steel that has just been polished but not finished or blued. Many old percussion firearms were left in the white. They rust quickly if not maintained with regularity.
stainless steel is a modern material that doesn’t rust as readily as carbon steel and will withstand more neglect. There have been some cap and ball pistols made from stainless but they are relatively rare.
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1861
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Thanks 1K for the explanation, I know now exactly what you mean, because I've seen online both types of finish, they look different. The way you explained, mine is then definitely stainless steel. It's not that uncommon for Pietta to produce stainless steel percussion revolvers, but they are usually .44, while I want .36.
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1861
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Thanks, I know about that procedure, and maybe I'll have to resort to that one day, but for now I'll continue to hope to find the factory-made silver 1851 Navy .36 and the silver Walker.
Sistema1927
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I remember when you first joined, and were trying to get government permission as well as a place to shoot.
You have come a long way. Great job!
You have come a long way. Great job!
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1861
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Thanks Winnie-the-Pooh, I appreciate it
Hoof Hearted
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The Pietta “old silver” version is polished and hardened or heat treated. This is why the finish looks slightly different than just polished and in the white.
rde
Hoof Hearted
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FYI
The port that Colt cut for both their Richards and Richards Mason Conversions was also asymmetrical. The necessary port depth on the Kirst 5 shot Army cylinder is deeper due to the larger diameter of the Schofield and colt rim as opposed to the minuscule rim of the 44.
The port that Colt cut for both their Richards and Richards Mason Conversions was also asymmetrical. The necessary port depth on the Kirst 5 shot Army cylinder is deeper due to the larger diameter of the Schofield and colt rim as opposed to the minuscule rim of the 44.
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