Army 44 Conversion

[ldevries]

I have two Remington replicas. A 1858 New army 44 from Euroarms and a 1860 army 44 from Pietta. My question is, can either of these replicas be converted to fire a cartridge by using a cylinder from a [replica] 1875 Remington army 44? I don't like the conversion kits now available. Thanks in advance to any information.

[john hamilton]

This is a conversion you can do with a hacksaw and drill. The pictures show my conversion of a Pocket Navy from the rear and a real conversion done back in the 1800s from the side.

Using a hacksaw you can see the cylinder was cut into just in front of the nipples but being careful to leave the notches. Only cut through to where the grooves are on the back of the cylinder. These are what turns the cylinder so be sure to leave them.

Next, put the cylinder on its front and carefully saw down beside these rear grooves to the first cut. You will have a cylinder without the nipple area that is still full-length and will still function in the pistol. Put in in and make sure this is true.

The third step (which may not be necessary) is to carefully drill each chamber through from the front. Now the cylinder itself is converted.

Next, with the cylinder in place, measure from the rear of the cylinder to the face of the recoil shield. Take 1/16" from this. That is the thickness of the spacer you need to make out of steel. I made mine by filing and sawing. When your spacer is the correct thickness you will see how to fit it into the mechanism. For the Colt I drilled a hole the diameter of the ring on the recoil shield. Next I had to file off part of the bottom of my spacer so it would fit over the frame. You can shape it to the recoil shield as shown with the saw and file.

The hammer needs to be modified as shown with the face being cut off and a firing pin fashioned. I used a 1/8" drill for firing pin material. When the hammer is finished (I didn't take it out of the gun to do this.) you will see you have to drill through the spacer so the firing pin will contact the primer.

One more step is to open up the right side of the recoil shield as shown so cartridges can be put in. I shoot .38 Special cases cut to 5/8" and primed. I stick the case in parafin from the canning section of the supermarket for the bullet. It will shoot across the garage with some accuracy and a lot of fun.

If you screw up you can get another repro cylinder from Dixie Arms. It took a couple of evenings and was I pleased when I saw this "real" gun advertised on Antique Arms.