Dan Wesson cylinder work.

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Demitrios

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So lately I've been thinking about carrying a back up gun, but rather than buy a new one I would rather carry one that I've grown accustomed to and trust, my Dan Wesson. I can get a smaller barrel and a small pistol grip but what I've been thinking about doing a little custom work and wanted to know what you guys thought about it or if it could even be done safely.

A normal cylinder that holds six rounds looks roughly like this.
RevolverCylinder1.jpg

However I was kicking around the idea of buying another cylinder and making it look dimensionally something like this. Of course with the edges smoothed out a bit.
RevolverCylinder2.jpg

Having a flat cylinder would be comfortable while carrying but what I'm concerned with is would the integrity of the cylinder be severely compromised. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Oh and to anyone who says, "If the gun was meant to be that way it would've been made that way." or "Why mess with something that already works?" or something to that effect the reason is simple. I like tinkering with things and have time and money to play around with.
 
I don't think she's going to index and lock up so hot with the locking bolt notches milled off.

rc
 
how would the bottom lock engage it would seem to be a very rough action. The intergity would be compromize a bit but if it was 38 special or such loads you should be fine, im just wondering hwo to get the cylinder bottom lock to engage properly.
 
The locking bolt notches are directly outside of where the rounds sit in the cylinder, I'd be flattening it down in between the notches. Plus the amount I'd take off along with the depth of the notches shouldn't really present a problem in terms of lock-up and timing.
 
Look at your cylinder carefully. Where the "thin" area is isolated directly above the chamber at the locking notch, you'll now have spread that "weak zone" over a larger area; I'm estimating as much as 60 degrees above each chamber. You're also looking at introducing an "edge" that could lock the cylinder up against the bolt stop, increasing force on the hand, should the stop become dirty or rough.
 
Yeah, I never considered that. . . I've seen a few pictures of the Chiappa Rhino and this is what has me tinkering around with the idea of doing this.
 
I don't think it can be done but consider if it could, the cost to do the work would likely be more than buying a small frame revolver.
 
You didn't say what frame or caliber you have. But I suspect that shape is going to give you grief with the action before you get around to worrying about pressure. On my large frame DW's the notch is not centered on the chamber but offset.
 
The best place to ask is at: danwessonforums.com
There's one member who does make a few parts for Dan Wesson revolvers. He will know the best way to do this. His service is excellent.
 
They don't make DW revolvers any more. Why don't you experiment on a Taurus first to see how it works?

That wasn't meant to be a Taurus bashing statement, just an option for a more replaceable gun to play with.
 
Yeah, do it to a dummy gun like a Rossi or Taurus first. Get a prototype the works and then repeat the process on the DW after you work out the bugs.

A back up gun is not, in my opinion, a place to be artsy and expressive. It's a weapon that has to work no matter what and yields ultimately to function.
 
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