conversion cylinders

[Nicodemus38]

have they run the full gamut of popularity and simply become an item that can be fun at times, but not completely economical to have?

R&D seems to be dead and defunct at this point, and not many people seem to be mad at that fact. other then the people who have parts on backorder, and are waiting for guns to be customized and sent back to them.

is there any real market or demand left in the conversion cylinder business or is it just dead like the dodo?

 

[Tommygunn]

Well, maybe the market has been taken over by the guns made up as "conversion revolvers" from the start. That's what I bought.
I suspect it's still possible to get them. The recession might be hurting them as well. I wouldn't give up yet.

 

[wittzo]

Dang, I was saving up for one and I've been loading some cartridges with BP..

 

[StrawHat]

I think they still have a place as replicas of the gunsmith style of conversion that was done in lieu of sending the revolver back to the factory. I don't own any and probably never will buy one but those that have them seem to enjoy them.

I believe Kirst is still in business so the supply is not totally gone.

Of course, maybe there was a reason Colts produced the Model P.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Kirst is still very active, I just exchanged e-mail with them. Problems with bullet to bore fit hampers the .36 converters. The cost of doing a gated conversion on a typical Italian revolvers well more than double the initial investment. The new guns already converted is hurting the market I would think.

I want to do a Richards-Mason style conversion on one of my 2nd or 3rd gen Colts. I'm discussing this with Kirst right now. It's hard to justify the cost when compared to the cost of a new Uberti Richards-Mason that is made as a cartridge revolver.

 

[BHP FAN]

I LIKE the R&D ...and I own a Kirst,too.

 

[BHP FAN]

R&D's seem to be alive and well...Buffeloarms company has plenty,and in stock,too.

 

[wobble]

Not sure why you think R&D and conversion cylinders are dead. All but a few of the R&Ds at Midway USA are in stock. I bought my R&D there for my 1858.

I don't think there was ever a huge market for these devices, and never will be. They are kind of a niche item and not really cost-effective but it's nice be able to have one gun and shoot either BP or cartridges. You buy one not to save money but just because it's a great concept. It's probably true that the availability of replica conversion guns is eating away some of the interest in conversion cylinders but as long as there are BP guns and the cost doesn't increase prohibitively, there will be people interested in the cylinders.

 

[Nicodemus38]

ive been reading at various forums that r & d went into bankruptcy/recievership and most of the people who have cylinders on order are up that poop filled creek along with anyone who sent a gun in for custom work.

ive been curious on the demand lately as the prices have been shifting alot on guns and cartridge converters. the cost HAS dropped about 100 on converters over 5 years, but the cost of guns has gone up that much on some models.

 

[AbitNutz]

I would really like to have a Kirst Conversion for my ROA but at $315.00 for the stainless It's on the edge of being too expensive. I'm sure I'll not buy it, wait till it's no longer available and then pay too much for it...just like I did with my ROA. Truth is though, I don't regret buying my 51/2" stainless ROA one bit.

 

[ClemBert]

I doubt R&D (Howell Old West Conversions) is dead. There are plenty of sources for their conversion cylinders. Taylors, Buffalo Arms, MidwayUSA, etc. It is more likely that R&D simply has terrible customer service for their gunsmithing services. While I specifically purchased an R&D conversion cylinder over the Kirst design, for my ROA, it is unlikely that I'd ever send a firearm to R&D for gunsmithing services. The R&D cylinder is outstanding!

 

[scrat]

Why go conversions when you can buy a gun cheaper?. This seems to always come up once in a while. Ya you can buy a gun cheaper. I have shot plenty. S&W 44mag with a 3 inch barrel. WOW can barely hold on to the gun. After a few shots your done. Most smokeless powder guns are like that. Same time im not too impressed on the looks. Take my WALKER or 1858 with thier conversions in place. They are very impressive looking guns. Thier kicks are not that bad. I can shoot them all day long. They give off big blast of smoke. Its just a win win situation. The looks of a Massive WALKER with a R&D conversion cylinder shooting next to a 1873colt. Is HUGE. those peace makers look funny to me. The 1858 looks a heck of a lot better. I am debating on buying anothre 1858 and redesigning another gun. Maybe with some pewter inlays on the grips. I will stick to my conversions they are fun at any price and for me they just seem like a piece of history.

 

[oneiron]

I have the R&D, and it works fine; however, Uberti is selling 1858 factory conversions for a very good price. They were less than the 1875, I purchased from them.

 

[Palehorseman]

I have the Kirst .45 LC conversion for my 1858 Pietta Remmie target model. I opted for the loading gate and the cut in the recoil shield was easily done with a large rat tail file followed by different grits on sanding drum with Dremel Tool. I have also since got a Richards Mason ejector system, which is a mere no fuss swap out for standard cylinder pin.

Overall love it, tons of fun and very accurate with the right loads. Not too good with heavy .45 boolits, better with a 200 grainer, much better with 185 grain 45 acp boolit, but best accuracy is with .452 round ball cartridge loads due to the slow twist of the Pietta. All boolits were soft lead cast by me, casting allows lots of room to play around for load testing.

 

[rogertc1]

These are 2 of my Kirsh Konversions I made in 2005. Both have load gates.
Expensive. Yup.
Really a hoot to dremel and refinish.
Never had to fill out a 4473 in my state and dropped at the front door.

 

[chocolate]

a conversion cylinder assembly is provided for converting a 44 cal.it's cap and ball revolver to use with 45 Long colt ammunition.to maintain authentic appearance and function, the conversion cylinder chambers up to six 45 Long colt cartridges.