Michael Tinker Pearce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 1,575
I recently received a Pietta 1858 from a forumite here and have launched a new project. Among other things I am going to attempt a home-grown cartridge conversion in .44 Colt- the original style with a .451 heeled bullet, not the modern .429 version. Other than that I was a bit up-in-the-air about what to do. I've already done a snubby so I decided to ge a different direction with this one. 3.5" barrel, and aside from the 'pinky groove' this one would remain a plow-handle grip. I shortened the loading-lever and reversed the section with the latch to engage a slot in the head of the cylinder-axis pin.
I found that I liked the look of the squared-off loading lever, and I carried that further making a sight-rib. The rib is slotted so I can insert different sight blades and pin them in place. I'm really pleased with the esthetics and handling of this gun! Unfortunately I'm now at a standstill until the new drive-belt for my lathe shows up so I can start work on the cylinder. At this point I am planning on the breech plate having a pass-through for cartridges rather than a loading gate, but who knows?
I've also tossed around the idea of getting some barrel-liner and doing a caliber-conversion as well. For some strange reason the two that are sticking in my head are .41 Special and .32-20. Well, we'll see...
I found that I liked the look of the squared-off loading lever, and I carried that further making a sight-rib. The rib is slotted so I can insert different sight blades and pin them in place. I'm really pleased with the esthetics and handling of this gun! Unfortunately I'm now at a standstill until the new drive-belt for my lathe shows up so I can start work on the cylinder. At this point I am planning on the breech plate having a pass-through for cartridges rather than a loading gate, but who knows?
I've also tossed around the idea of getting some barrel-liner and doing a caliber-conversion as well. For some strange reason the two that are sticking in my head are .41 Special and .32-20. Well, we'll see...