Pinfire Conversion

[Nicodemus38]

question here for everyone. is there even any kind of interest in a pinfire conversion set up for bp revolvers? the open tops are the best bet because the gun is set up like all original pin fires.

 

[Oyeboten]

Wouldn't the Hammer be striking from a wrong angle for Pin Fire?

Rim Fire, and Center Fire, the Hammer strikes the rear of the Cartridge Head...in the same axis as the Cartridge...

Pin Fire, the Hammer strikes the rear side of the Cartridge base from a perpendicular angle to the long axis of the Cartridge...so a differently designed mechanism would tend to be needed.

 

[Nicodemus38]

rough mathematical work using prints of colt patent aplications indicates that it would work fine. The work in conversion would depend entirely upon what style of pinfire cartridge was deemed suitable.

there are two styles of pinfire cartridge. in one style the pin is perpindicular to the axis of the cartridge. the second style is one in wich the pin is roughly at a 60 degree angle to the axis of the cartridge.

for the second style of cartridge it would be a matter of modifying the hammer.

in the first style you would have to modify the hammer more, but less work would be needed to make the groove in the rear face of the cylinder to allow the pin to stay in correct alighment with the hammer.

the REAL work is deciding how to do your cartridges. make like they were done originally and as current europeans are doing, or to make custom turned brass casings that are like modern offerings.

 

[kBob]

Meanwhile, in original history, folks converted pinfires to center fire. Some may recall I have an ugly junker 9mmPF DA that someone perverted to what appears to be .38 S&W by drilling a hole in the recoil plate cutting the nose off the hammer and ading a firing pin (firing pin missing).

-kBob