Serendipity calls...
Firstus, the M-53 doesn't have a 22 LR
cylinder, what's available are
lathe-turned chamber inserts that accept rimfire ammo. The M-53 has a two-position adjustable firing pin to accomodate center- vs. rim-fire. The inserts aren't made of aluminum, either, more like some kind of low-magnetic stainless steel. (They might just be nickel plated steel, however.) They're recessed in the back to make space for the rim, and about 30% of the insert's .357-sized rim has been machined away to allow you to extract the rimfire cases with a fingernail, or some such.
IF you could find 'em. I can't imagine 'em being anything like common or readily available. M-53's are pretty rare, and they're the ONLY platform that'd use such devices, and all of 'em came from S&W with a set. Finding the long-lost missing set for your gun is probably possible, but it'd be mucho expensive, I'd think.
Ah, but that's where serendipity (A fortunate accident.) comes in. While cleaning out a house formerly owned by a gunsmith/engineer that a friend bought, I found a can fulla miscellaneous gun-bits and chunks of metal.
Closer examination of the contents revealed a .22 Rem. Jet case, and two .22 rimfire-adapter chamber inserts for a S&W M-53.
Now, this for me was initialy somewhat of a dillema. Owning these little jewels would have mandated that I, as a gun collector of serious bent, forthwith go out and track down a Model 53 to add to my collection. My collection habit would have made this impossible for me to avoid. (It's got a grip on me, this collecting thing.
)
Now, right at the moment, I can in no way afford an obscure, expensive, highly collectable S&W revolver. These chamber adapters would therefore have driven me slightly nuts just by being around in my possesion. I already have 20-25 different guns on my 'buy-it-RIGHT-
NOW' list, and most of those cost a lot less than a Model 53. It was a problem. Sigh...
Ok, quick, while the gun-bug's not paying any attention. Two is not six, but it's a lot better than none, and you get to run your gun on cheaper ammo, PLUS you have a sample to take to a machine shop to have four more (Or maybe ten more. Two sets.) inserts made up, presuming you can't find 'em somewheres. Having 'em made from scratch has gotta be comparable to buying originals, if not cheaper. Heck, the more you have made, the cheaper they get, each.
So, feel like doing me a favor, and providing a good home for these little jewels? Sending 'em off to you will save me a few hundred bucks. I'll throw in the single Rem. Jet case I've got, also, just fer yucks.
Right. Now for the ugly part. This is gonna cost. I've got you over a barrel, and I'm chortling with glee about it. You want these? Your gonna have to
send me a pre-stamped padded envelope with your address on it!
With that final, vital component, my evil plan to Dominate The Known World SHALL COME TO IT'S ULTIMATE FRUITION!!! ALL WILL YIELD BEFORE ME!! Muhwahahahahah!!
...
...
...Or not.
Uh, Sorry. Got a little behind on the dosage today, heh, eh-heh.
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain...
Wierdness and insanity aside, I WILL happily trot these adapters right on out to you on the other side of the country for not a cent. Free. Gratis. You just have to put 'em to use, I guess.
And forgive me for writing like a Left Coast Lunatic. Hey, I live in the PRK. If I didn't vent a little steam now and again, I'd explode. I'm sure you understand out in MD, after all. You've got your own version of state idiocy to put up with...But I digress.
Send me a PM with your address, (You don't HAVE to send out the envelope. I've got one.) and I'll plunk in the mail, post-haste, as it were. You oughta have 'em in-hand inside of a week.
Interested?
