[chaim]

Hmm, for a while now Midway has had R&D cartridge conversion cylinders for blackpowder revolvers (they even sold them as a package with the revolvers as well as separately). Well, I waited too long and now they no longer have them. I'm having trouble finding anyone else online who sells them and the one local shop that used to have them didn't last time I looked. Are they still available? Has the law finally caught up with this and is it now illegal? Are they legal but has the company gone out of business? Are they still made but there are current distribution issues? Have they simply disappeared for no apparent reason? I am interested in picking up one of these (for a Uberti Colt or Remington clone I planned to pick up). However, if they aren't available anymore I might even wait on the Uberti (I do have my Pietta Remington clone to play with) and pick up a Cimmaron instead (either the SAA clone or one of the other models they have- like the copies of blackpowder cartridge conversions). Anyone hear anything or know if I just have to wait a little while for the supply to catch up to demand and for them to again be on the shelves?

[Mike Irwin]

Try Atlantic Guns in Rockville.

If anyone has them in Maryland, I'd bet on them.

[chaim]

Mike, they have them but they are $300 (I was there tonight and that was one of the things I was there to check on). Online when they were available they were $240 and somtimes a tad less if bought along with the blackpowder revolver (about $400 for the pair). If they will be available again I'll just wait. At $300, if they won't be around anymore I won't bother. At Atlantic Guns they have conversion type guns (Cimmarons with no top strap, but I don't think they are quite a repro Colt blackpowder to cartridge conversion) for about $470. That is a bit less than a blackpowder pistol plus the conversion cylinder would be, and it would work a bit better (most likely) and the loading gate would be convenient. The only drawback, they are only in 44-40 (harder to find caliber) or .44spl and not in .45LC.

[Nalapombu]

Brownells has them and so does Taylors ad Co.. Check both places, you should be able to find the quickly.

www.brownells.com
www.taylorsfirearms.com

Nala

[carpettbaggerr]

You may want to try the Kirst converter -- it uses one nonrotating firing pin, unlike the R&D's multiple pins. They don't sell direct, but their website (http://www.kirstkonverter.com/) lists several dealers.

[RON in PA]

Just got a DEC. flyer from Midway and they are listed.

[Detritus]

At Atlantic Guns they have conversion type guns (Cimmarons with no top strap, but I don't think they are quite a repro Colt blackpowder to cartridge conversion) for about $470.

(Note: i'm going from distant memory here, please be kind if i miss the mark some)

Those are Cimmaron's version of the "1872 Opentop" revolvers. which as you noted were NOT conversions of existing C&B guns, but from the factory cartridge guns.. they USED a number of items that appear on "factory conversion" guns. but the 1872s were built up using some of the remaining stock of grip frames and barrel assemblies.

not sure of the exact details but i am given to understand that a "opentop" is NOT the same as the "richards conversion" but that they are closely related.....


BTW i'll second a Kirst converter, though i think in 45colt that teh kirst only has 5 chambers, this may or may not matter to you.