question to the gunsmiths

[TherealMordis]

HI, i have a rather unusaul question for all the gunsmiths here. Is it possible to make and add, a trigger activated hammer bar safety to traditional single action revolvers. Say a uberti 1860 open top, or usfa SAA or 1858 gated conversion, ect ect ect. I know uberti on there SAA has a safety notch activated hammer bar, and the rest of the traditionals require only loading 5, and resting on a empty chamber.(which im sure applys to the conversions as well.)

So, would such a thing be possible. I think if it was done, it would allow the safe carry of 6 bullets in a SIX GUN. I hate that modern sixguns are actually 5 guns. It just feels wrong. I think that back in the day the cowboys, either used the safety notch as colt instructed, or rested the hammer between catridge rims.

Me i would love a 1860army conversion, or 1858 gated conversion, that allowed me to safely use and carry with 6 rounds. DO they exist, or is it possible to have a custom gunsmith make and install somesort of hammer bar safety that works??

Anyone else feel the way i do about this. It just feels historicly innaccurate to carry 5 in a 6 gun.

The type of hammer bar im refering to is used by smith and wesson in the older da revos, they had a very good hammer bar safety that permited 6 carry

 

[gb6491]

I'll let some knowledgeable person answer your gun smithing question, but thought I would point out that all the currently manufactured Ruger single actions have a transfer bar operating system.
Regards,
Greg

 

[rcmodel]

I am quite sure it could be done.

I am also quite sure it won't be done on any sort of commercial basis.

Why?
The SA market is with Cowboy Action Shooters.
And their rules will not allow anyone to load six rounds, even with a modern transfer-bar Ruger.

As for cowboys & gunfighters loading six rounds.
Probably the ones who did so regularly also walked with a limp.

On the otherhand, folks were not nearly as safety conscious back in those days.


rcmodel

 

[Jim K]

Can a single action or percussion revolver be designed to use a hammer block of some kind? Sure. Can an existing gun revolver be converted to use a hammer block or transfer bar? Not feasibly, and I doubt there is enough market to make development pay.

Percussion revolvers had safety devices (slot in the Remington, safety pins on the Colts) but the latter were omitted in most repros, even though the slot in the hammer was retained.

Jim

 

[moosehunt]

Interesting--I didn't know the "Cowboy" guys only allowed 5 shots. Is it a safety issue, or tradition? Also, based on my sales, I would have to wonder about the single action revolvers being "the" cowboy market. It sure isn't the case in my area. Maybeso in your area.

The "old timers" often put a rolled up $20 bill in one cylinder, loads in the other 5. The hammer rested on the money cylinder for safety, and the twenty, supposedly, was to cover burial should things not follow according to plan.

 

[rcmodel]

It is a safety issue.
Traditional SAA's are not drop or impact safe when fully loaded with six rounds.

So, I think the CA match stages were designed for 5 rounds, or multiples of 5 rounds of fire.

A range safety officer has no way of telling at a glance whether a SA clone has a transfer bar safety or not.


rcmodel

 

[Old Fuff]

Most single action revolvers that are being used today are not carried as weapons, and as such they're users aren't unconfortable with carrying only 5 rounds - at least that's the way it is in my area in southern Arizona.

Those that have a different opinoin for any reason seem to be happy with Ruger products.

As others have pointed out, almost anything is possible, but converting a conventional single action to a transfer bar special would be very expensive. The only practical exception I can think of is the retro-fit kit made by Sturm-Ruger for their pre-1973 single actions.

 

[TherealMordis]

While I know that ruger and a few others have got transfere bars, they dont have the sound. The sound is also very important. I have done as much research that i can, and the only gun that comes close, as in 4 clicks and 6 up safe, is the Tuarus Guacho. Its to bad that it had to be tuarus made. I dont trust them. They are not known for there reliability.

The main uses, for me are backpacking and camping and occasional oc/cc around town when i feel like it. I dont know how popular the New Vaqero from ruger is. I have read alot of comments on TFL from people that say they hate the looks(no firing pin on hammer) and that the bar intereferes with the trigger feel.

I have put off buying a single action for over a year becuase i cant figure out which model to get. I want something that looks, feels, and SOUNDS traditional, but is safe. Something that, when some old sixgunner sees it wont make him turn his head in disgust.

 

[Old Fuff]

I understand that Taurus has discontinued their line of Single Action Revolvers. You might look at similar Beretta Models that have the 4 ckicks and a transfer bar safety.

The only other revolver to consider with the old action (4 clicks) is a pre-1973 Ruger with their aftermarket transfer bar conversion. The kit is free, but they'll keep your old lockwork.

All of the transfer safety revolvers will have a frame-mounted firing pin. It's a required part of the system, and the system won't work without it.

Put bluntly, what you want you ain't likely to get.

For what it's worth, I've gotten along with 5 rounds for over 60 years without any problems.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

It is too bad that Taurus has discontinued the Gaucho which I did not know until now. I have had one for over a year and have fired over 1,000 rounds with no problems. I even named my handle for this and other websites after it. I like the look, the finish, the 4 click sound and especially the trigger feel - smooth as silk. I wonder if I got some super model that slipped through in light of the documented problems a lot of other owners have had. I guess my best bet is to keep on shooting my orphan with my fingers crossed and hope that Taurus backs up their lifetime warranty if something goes wrong. Only time will tell. When I bought my Gaucho at a gun show I was also looking at a Ruger Vaquero, a Uberti SAA and a Heritage. After looking and feeling each gun at the time I felt the Taurus was the best with the Uberti second. I guess only time will tell how my orphan holds up to time.,

 

[rcmodel]

For what it's worth, CDNN is closing out the remaining Taurus Gaucho revolvers right now.

$279.99 for .357 or .45 with Blued frame, and 4 3/4", 5 1/2", or 7 1/2".

$299.99 in Color Case-Hardened .357, 7 1/2".

$299.99 in Matt Stainless .357 & .45 with Blued frame, and 4 3/4", 5 1/2", or 7 1/2".

$299.99 in Polished Stainless .357 or .45 with 5 1/2" or 7 1/2".

rcmodel

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I carry a Ruger SBH Bisley 44mag when I'm out in Bear country. I'm certain that Mr. Griz or Blacky isn't going to give a darn hoot whether there's four clicks when I cock the hammer or not. All he's gonna hear is the silence after I've fired. As far as trigger feel goes... Trapper makes a nice replacement hammer spring for the Rugers. A little polish were needed, and you would never know the transfer bar system was integrated.

The modern Rugers are the way to go. If you want an traditional antique, buy an antique, but don't expect it to perform in the manner of modern firearms. Don't even fathom the thought of modifying an early SA design whether an antique or a modern clone.

Newer designs are better. Safer is better. Stronger is safer.


Just my two cents.
-Steve