I have a new 1858 Pietta .44 cal Gunfighter (5 1/2" barrel) that I purchased from Cabelas. I need to get the porting job done to accept .45LC. There are no gunsmiths in my area willing or able to do the job. I know there are instructions on the internet on how to do it myself. I just don't want to buy the dremel and blueing equipment and then mess up the job. I have purchased the Kirst Konverter with the loading gate and the Richards-Mason ejector assembly. Does anyone know of a gunsmith I could send it to do the job? Also has anyone completed this conversion? How did it work out? Thanks in advance. chaoszen.
1858 Pietta Conversion
- Thread starter chaoszen
- Start date
- Status
scrat
Member
As far as the Barrel it does not have to be ported out. Black powder revolvers shoot round balls. The .44 shoots a round ball that measures anywhere from. .452 to a .454. Depending on the gun. Some guns the .454 will not fit the cylinders without some major muscle. However accuracy has always shown the .454 to be the best. With this in mind a 45 Long Colt takes a lead bullet that typically measures .454. Jacketed bullets run at .452. All you need to be concerned about is the loading gate. IF you are unable to find someone in your area. The best thing to do is contact Kirst Konverters as they may be able to point you to right direction. You are correct though most people will do the job themselves.
1858 Pietta
Thanks for the information,
But im not talking about porting out the barrel, I need the recoil shield ported in order to slide a .45LC into the cylinder chamber. Surprisingly there are literally no gunsmiths in the U.S. that I know of who know how to port metal or time a cylinder. And I have called the Pistol Smiths Guild. Weird when you consider that U.S. citizens own more guns per capita than most other countries. It is probably the result of the fact that we no longer manufacture anything except Big Macs in this country. Shame, we used to be the best..
Thanks for the information,
But im not talking about porting out the barrel, I need the recoil shield ported in order to slide a .45LC into the cylinder chamber. Surprisingly there are literally no gunsmiths in the U.S. that I know of who know how to port metal or time a cylinder. And I have called the Pistol Smiths Guild. Weird when you consider that U.S. citizens own more guns per capita than most other countries. It is probably the result of the fact that we no longer manufacture anything except Big Macs in this country. Shame, we used to be the best..
scrat
Member
That is why other countries have us over a barrel. We did this to ourselves to get cheap labor. We would have stuff made in foreign countries. Like china. However these countries have finally woken up. They have all the raw materials, they have the labor and now they are demanding profits. So we suffer here. As for the porting Only thing i could think of is to contact kirst on monday. I maybe able to help you tomorrow. i have to dig through some paperwork to find a few good gunsmith that can help. I guess this is why i went with R&D cylinder myself. As they will adjust the timing on the gun if you send it to them. However they do not offer a loading gate therefore your limited to having to remove the cylinder after each shooting.
Higher cost of foreign goods has more to due with the current poor exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar than foreign labor costs, although they will certainly go up over time.
Guess we should tell Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW and Mercedes to stop making their vehicles here.
scrat
Member
hahahahaha your right on that. I just wish that someone would answer my question.
Why are American Gas Distributors that pump Crude oil from U.S. soil. Charging as much as Gas that comes from Arab states.
I would spend every penny i have on your gas if you had reasonable prices. However it looks like it does not matter who gets my dollar.
Why are American Gas Distributors that pump Crude oil from U.S. soil. Charging as much as Gas that comes from Arab states.
I would spend every penny i have on your gas if you had reasonable prices. However it looks like it does not matter who gets my dollar.
Geez, I was just looking for a practical solution to my Pietta porting problem. Not a political discussion! I guess I started it though. Anyway we should go solar, wind and electric. My midwest Iowa town is flooding! No more fossil fuels. To much CO2 and mother nature gets irate. But back to my porting problem..
scrat
Member
As soon as some of the guys wake up. or deal with the fathers day stuff you will get more answers. Kinda anctious to see myself. There might be a few members that can actually do the work for you. Bet mykeal maybe able to give you some answers.
Ouch. Wish I could, but I haven't yet tried to tackle this new-fangled metal cartridge stuff yet. In fact, I'm actually going the other way, having recently built a flintlock.
The advice to talk to Kirst is the best I've heard so far.
The advice to talk to Kirst is the best I've heard so far.
You might wander over to The North Corral at the sister forum, The Firing Line (http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=6) and post the question for Hawk Haggen.
scrat
Member
Ok Gunsmith needed Gunsmith found.
These guys are one of the best gunsmiths in the nation. Tackling C&B restorations as well as early Iron restorations is just some of the work. They were featured in the spring edition of Guns of the old west magazine. Very highly rated.
Single Action Service
8822 Jackwood St. Dept CAS
Houston, TX 77036
713 772 8314
www.alanharton.com
If this guy can not help you probably nobody can. He is regarded as the best in the nation.
[email protected]
These guys are one of the best gunsmiths in the nation. Tackling C&B restorations as well as early Iron restorations is just some of the work. They were featured in the spring edition of Guns of the old west magazine. Very highly rated.
Single Action Service
8822 Jackwood St. Dept CAS
Houston, TX 77036
713 772 8314
www.alanharton.com
If this guy can not help you probably nobody can. He is regarded as the best in the nation.
[email protected]
Smokin_Gun
Member
Geronimo
Chaozen, if you are at all handy with a dremel and can eyeball a template to cut down to, then smooth polish and Blue...you don't need a gunsmith you can do it yourself. It's not a big deal to do, you already know if you can do it or not I am sure. Just take our time remove even amounts and go back over it till it fits. I can tell you it has been done with files and hand tools, sandpaper and the likes. If Geronimo made conversions up in the rocks you can do it with a dremel and a drop it.
Good luck take your time.
SG
Chaozen, if you are at all handy with a dremel and can eyeball a template to cut down to, then smooth polish and Blue...you don't need a gunsmith you can do it yourself. It's not a big deal to do, you already know if you can do it or not I am sure. Just take our time remove even amounts and go back over it till it fits. I can tell you it has been done with files and hand tools, sandpaper and the likes. If Geronimo made conversions up in the rocks you can do it with a dremel and a drop it.
Good luck take your time.
SG
Encouragement
Thanks to Smokin Gun and scrat. I may go ahead and do it myself. The Kirst Konverter does come with a template to scribe the port. I was a welder and metal worker for 28 years before driving a big truck so I should have no hesitation in doing the job. There are detailed insructions at a website called "The Hobby Gunsmith" under 1858 Remington Conversion. I just feel like I might mess up somehow and it's such a fine gun. I will have to mull it over. Thanks for all your help and I will call that gunsmith and see what it would cost.
Thanks to Smokin Gun and scrat. I may go ahead and do it myself. The Kirst Konverter does come with a template to scribe the port. I was a welder and metal worker for 28 years before driving a big truck so I should have no hesitation in doing the job. There are detailed insructions at a website called "The Hobby Gunsmith" under 1858 Remington Conversion. I just feel like I might mess up somehow and it's such a fine gun. I will have to mull it over. Thanks for all your help and I will call that gunsmith and see what it would cost.
Smokin_Gun
Member
Chaozen, welcome to the realm of Kitchen table Gunsmithing.
Hell 28 years expiriance! I've been in the Aircraft/Aeropace Bus. since 1986. Structures and Inst. Mech/Tech/Lazer. Worked B1's -Space Shuttles-Lazerjet(ABL). And I'll be damned if I don't feel the same way you did every time I put a drill, grinder, or dremel to one of these Revs. Yet I'll pack um up with powder and pull the trigger 6 times without blinklin an eye.
Funny ain't it?
Let us know about your progress...
SG
Hell 28 years expiriance! I've been in the Aircraft/Aeropace Bus. since 1986. Structures and Inst. Mech/Tech/Lazer. Worked B1's -Space Shuttles-Lazerjet(ABL). And I'll be damned if I don't feel the same way you did every time I put a drill, grinder, or dremel to one of these Revs. Yet I'll pack um up with powder and pull the trigger 6 times without blinklin an eye.
Funny ain't it?
Let us know about your progress...
SG
chaozen
Go to the link below. It will show step by step how to do the conversion cuts yourself. It's not at all that difficult.
Search his back issues for more tune-up tips as well.
Hobby Gunsmith News letter
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/Jul03/
Go to the link below. It will show step by step how to do the conversion cuts yourself. It's not at all that difficult.
Search his back issues for more tune-up tips as well.
Hobby Gunsmith News letter
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/Jul03/
Figured it out.
I think I figured it out. When you have something that you value highly and it needs work. Its hard to trust yourself to fix it. Because you care about it. Like for instance why they wont let a qualified doctor operate on their own family. It cuts a little bit close to the bone. I have machined aircraft parts to 0.0005 tolerance and never hesitated. But when it comes to grinding a port on an 1858 Remmie, I freeze up. Funny how that works. I guess that means I need to just do it. Thanks for the insight.
I think I figured it out. When you have something that you value highly and it needs work. Its hard to trust yourself to fix it. Because you care about it. Like for instance why they wont let a qualified doctor operate on their own family. It cuts a little bit close to the bone. I have machined aircraft parts to 0.0005 tolerance and never hesitated. But when it comes to grinding a port on an 1858 Remmie, I freeze up. Funny how that works. I guess that means I need to just do it. Thanks for the insight.
sundance44s
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,473
I just woke up from a rather large fathersday dinner ...The porting job isn`t hard to do , if you are good with working with your hands at all ..but if you`ve never worked with a dermel tool ...might be a problem .Some dremels have one speed and it`s too fast ..buy a dremel with at least 3 speeds and use the slower speeds ..My self I wouldn`t want to do the job for some one other than myself , I don`t mind paying for mistakes on my own but it is a job that could end up botched real easy ....I have a sugestion ..Uberti makes a 1858 Remington with the porting job done at the factory complete with gated conversion cylinder, it also has the ejector rod on it ...this gun sells new for around 450.00 bucks thats cheaper than you can pay someone to do the job on your new gun .I`d have to say buy one of these , and keep the one you have as a drop in conversion ..both ways are histiorcally pretty much correct and nice to own and shoot . Mine shoot better than any Colt 1873 clone I`ve ever shot.
Uberti`s factory conversion can be seen here ..http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/cfRemingtonConversion.tpl
Uberti`s factory conversion can be seen here ..http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/cfRemingtonConversion.tpl
Last edited:
Here's is the correct link to the Kirst Conversion DIY pages with detail photos. It provides comprehensive coverage including the types of tools, tool bits and techniques for completing the job. The thumbnail photos link to larger ones clarifying the process.
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/June04/Feature.htm
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/June04/Feature.htm
Smokin_Gun
Member
Sundance, those are pretty dang good prices...
Uberti`s factory conversion can be seen here... Try this one!
http://www.uberti.com/
SG
Uberti`s factory conversion can be seen here... Try this one!
http://www.uberti.com/
SG
Last edited:
scrat
Member
Linkd does not work.
Link in post #18
Use the link in post #18. It works.
By the way, the link describes the pistol as having a brass backstrap and trigger guard. How can a Remington New Army have a brass backstrap? Probably copy left over from a Colt description?
Use the link in post #18. It works.
By the way, the link describes the pistol as having a brass backstrap and trigger guard. How can a Remington New Army have a brass backstrap? Probably copy left over from a Colt description?
Last edited:
scrat
Member
Wow that is really nice. Well worth the price too.
Smokin_Gun
Member
JayC the only way it is possible for a Rem to have a brass backstrap is that it has a brass frame and the rest is nickel plated. As are most plated repro revs.
Because the description specifies only two parts as being brass, and not the frame, I believe they messed up and used copy from a "Colt" ad. The picture shows a typical blue steel Remington revolver. I guess I need to contact them and get an answer.
- Status
Similar threads
