[1858remington]

I got my Idea for this project from "Guns of the Old West" magazine.

I took an Uberti mellenium 1858 remington, and chopped it's 8 inch barrel down to 3 inches.:eek:

I then had a gunsmith take the front sight off the barrel I removed and redovetail it on the 3 inch barrel.

I then added the R&D conversion in 45 colt.

This snubby is quite a handfull, in a nice small package.:D

[Kaylee]

cool!

um.. pardon my ignorance, but how do you keep the cylinder pin without the loading lever?

[1858remington]

I'm waitin' on a cylinder pin retaining catch from Kirst Konversions.

presently I have found that the pin doesn't come out when the gun is fired.

But I'm gonna save any serious range time till the catch arrives, just to be on the safe side.:D

Here's a texted picture in case anyone is a picture collector.

[joab]

I have that same issue

Benn thinking about doing the same thing some day
That would be a good conversation starter at a CAS meet

[BP Hunter]

that's a real pretty looking piece back up piece.:D

[Boom-stick]

Nice!!! Want one.:)

[The Sicilian]

What kind of finish is on your gun? It looks a little speckled, is that how the newer Umberti's are looking strait from the factory?

[4v50 Gary]

The Remington Bodyguard. :)

Of course, we could also call it a "Tanker" model but the armored tracked fighting vehicle hadn't been invented yet. :p

[Duncaninfrance]

Ok you lot - explain why you like the look of this HIDIOUS piece of scarp metal :neener:

I can see no reason at all for bastardising such a well balanced gun and can only assume it is so you can carry it about your person without others knowing you have it. That being the case it is still UGLY:cuss:

Sits down and waits for large rock to land on head !!
Duncan

[oneshooter]

Duncan, Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, Loving Wife saw it and thought it was "cute".:) Looks like a semi-practical CCW to me.


Of course I have been known to carry a 3" Model P in 45 Colt as a CCW!:evil:

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[Derek]

Sorry, 1858, but I have to go with Duncan on this one.It seems huge for a ccw, but too short for much else. Read Elmer Keith's "Sixguns" about barrel lengths.He did'nt particularly like long barrels, 4 1/2" was his favourite, but did not like to go below 4", cut 1/2" off a 4" and you lost 100fps. To GAIN 100fps you have to go to an eight and three eighths!Just my opinion, [and Elmer's!]

[gmatov]

I don't like it either, but if you are gonna go to Keith, he also knew men who removed the barrells entirely, shot from the chamber through that big hole, could do some serious damage from the chamber alone.

Conical bullet flying from the chamber at mebbe 600 FPS, from 6 feet, you put a hurtin' on a body.

Aside from that, the full barrell makes it look so good, I can't see chopping them off. Colt did, I guess, else he wouldn't have sold a pocket model. They WERE for closeup work, though. Inside a store or saloon, say.

Cheers,

George

[Steve499]

I think it looks O.K. Hey, it's a GUN, after all. They are all beautiful, kinda like all your own kids are beautiful. I think even the Swiss Vetterli rifle is beautiful. Well, maybe only comely in it's case.

Steve

[MCgunner]

Looks like a semi-practical CCW to me.


I ain't saying a cylinder full of .45 Colt is EVER a bad choice for defense, but still, I think I'll keep my baby 9mm and J frames. :D Well done conversion, though, and I bet it's fun! It could certainly turn heads at a CCW qualification. :D

Now, Duncan, I know in France the government doesn't trust armed citizens, but in Texas I carry everywhere I go. It's a way of life. It's part of my dress. I get up in the morning, shower (we shower once a day in America whether we need it or not;) ), put on my clothes and choose my carry weapon for the day. "Honey, do you think the 9mm goes with these jeans or should I carry one of my .38s?" ROFLMAO!

But, being serious, I know what single actions can do, but I still prefer an autoloader or DA revolver for carry. But, I could see doing a Remmie like this just because. I think it's quite neat! :D

[ArmedBear]

Have you chrono'd it?

Regarding Elmer Keith's preference for barrel lengths... WHO CARES?

I like 6" barrels on S&W DA revolvers because they balance better for me. But that's just me.

Duncan- the "beauty" in this piece can be found in US firearms laws, more than its appearance.

[1858remington]

When it comes to guns, there is no need for practicality.

Just look at the S&W 500 short barrel. It's too monsterous to carry concealed, and its short barrel doesn't help its velocity. But I bet many of you would like to own one, just because its cool to have the big bad monster.

Or the Kel-tek .223 pistol. no practical pourpose, but I'm still gonna buy one:evil:

Shoot, if guns were only made for practical reasons, many of the toys we enjoy would not have come into existance.

I customized this revolver, because:
1. I love 1858 remingtons:)
2. I owned every available barrel length, and cailiber in the 1858:rolleyes:
3. I liked the idea of a large caliber in a small package:evil: like a british bulldog revolver.
4. I find recoil fun:D
5. I wanted to see if I could do it.:confused: imagine hacksawing your gun:eek: The first cut was the scariest:what:
6. I was not concerned with loss of velocity, as it was to be an UP Close gun
7. I needed a snubby for my holster. Holster is made for a 12inch gun:D
8. I like thinking outside the box:neener: What fun is having something everone else has.:confused:
9. I now got one, and you don't;) but you want one... ;)
10. I figured that if Colt could have a Sheriff model, why not Remington?
11. I hadn't planned on carrying it concealed, I just planned on enjoying it.:D
12. I wanted a sidekick for my birdhead vaquero with 3.5inch barrel:rolleyes:

I know that to many the Idea of altering a gun is blasphemy. :mad:

But many of us out there have converted a BP pistol with a Kirst or R&D conversion, for the same money as would be needed to buy a complete gun. :banghead:

Why do it? Why spend all that time and effort? :confused:

To take pride in your own handywork. To have something different and special. To own something you just can't walk down to the gunshop and buy off the shelf.

The same reason Indian Larry made custom motorcycles. And Chip Foose makes custom cars.

I just had to PIMP MY GUN!!!:D

I just wish I hadn't sold my Uberti Walker...... would have made a neat snubby.:cool:

Still not convinced...... OK, I'm nutz:D

[1858remington]

Oh, and Duncan...... about it being ugly. :D

Have you checked out the UGLY that came out of france.... like the MAT 49 smg, the MAS 1936 bolt action, the 1892 lebel revolver, the MAS 1938 smg, and the not only ugly but also the worst machine gun ever built...... the CHAUCHAT.:barf: :banghead:

I would have thought you'd appriciate a little ugly.:D

[Duncaninfrance]

OK, so I asked and now I know :p
Here in France the government trusts NOBODY with ANYTHING!!
I can understand "getting round firearms laws" so that bit makes sense!
If the wife liked it then at least you get some peace instead of " ANOTHER ONE!"
AND I can certainly relate to " I'm Nutz:D "

1858rem!
Have you checked out the UGLY that came out of france... Hey, just remember that I am ENGLISH not French and that when it comes to guns I have to offer Purdy, Churchill, Baker, Enfield, Knox, Greener, Webley and one or two others!!! As for France well they can offer a few classics too but a lot of them look better than they work!

Each to their own :)
Cheers
Duncan

[Manyirons]

'Cause noone else got one and cause i want it' PERFECTLY good reason!!!!!
'Smith makin me a short barrel Remmie in FIVE SHOT FIFTY CALIBER!

Why? CAUSE AINT NOBODY ELSE GOT ONE!!! And do it THUMP? You bet!! 265 grains of hollow/flat pointed pure lead rockum stompum at 1100 fps from that short tube!

[madmike]

It's a cartridge revolver legal in most states with ZERO federal paperwork.

I like it no matter what it looks like:evil:

[sundance44s]

There`s one thing about seeing an 1858 chopped .. you won`t have to do one just to see what it would look like . like it or not its an easy fix with a 55 dollar barrel . thats the best part about the remmies .. the parts are out there , and not that expencive . why not have one in every flavor .

[Pocomoke]

1858remington

I like your idea. Give us a range report when you've shot it.
I've been thinking and Photoshopping something similar with one of my brass framed Pietta 1858's. Three inch barrel sounds good. My idea was for a 2" bbl, no front sight, and some smoothing the lines of the brass frame at the ramrod entry point. Just to slick up the lines trying to mimic the sweet flow of the original. A real black powder belly/bulldog. Hmmm...where is that photo file?

[madmike]

Pocomoke:

:what: Just make sure you DO keep it black powder with a brass frame and DO NOT attempt to put a modern cartridge conversion in.

[Pocomoke]

madmike,

Wasn't intending to. But you are absolutely right and I should have added that to my post so that unknown readers get the right info.

Aside from that, I have 2 Pietta steel framed 1858's with consecutive serial numbers and R&D conversion cylinders, 2 brass framed Pietta 1858's, and 2 Ruger Old Army's with R & D conversion cylinders. Nearly enough to play Missouri raider ;>)

The brass frames were real bargains, less than $100, so I feel comfortable toying with them.

[madmike]

Who sells the R&D conversions these days? The outlet I had only carries the .32 now.

[Pocomoke]

madmike,

The last cylinders I purchase direct from R&D from their web site.
http://www.randdgunshop.com/about.html

Previous ones were from Taylor's and from a local gun store that carries a lot of Cowboy action stuff, Atlantic Guns in Rockville MD

[madmike]

Taylors only has .32 at the moment. Thanks for the direct link.