Confusing .45 hand ejector

KotD · #1 03-07-2021, 12:02 PM

I've dabbled a bit in older S&W's and can generally ID them okay with a bit of reading, but this one has me confused.
It belongs to a friend of mine and he received it as a gift from a now deceased friend, so no info on it's back story from that angle.

So we've got an early 2nd model, with British proofs, chambered in .45 Colt which is all well and good as that could be a conversion, but this is where my confusion sets in.

My understanding of the conversion requires that the rear face of the cylinder be shaved to accommodate the .45 Colt's 0.060" rim vs the .455's 0.039-0.045" rim. This revolver still has a crisp serial number and crossed flags proof on the rear of the cylinder.
It also has no caliber markings on the barrel while all of the patent info on top and the "Smith and Wesson" on the left side are crisp with unmarred bluing (in that area at least).

I appreciate any information, theories, or speculation on the matter.

As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words, so here are some; I have a few more, but other than the barrel markings, assembly numbers (frame and yoke, which match), and the S&W crest on the sideplate that's all of the markings.

Muley Gil · #2 03-07-2021, 12:30 PM

Welcome to the Forum.

It is possible the recoil shield has been shaved. Please post a picture of it.

Also, this revolver has been reblued. Look at the fit of the side plate and the blurred serial number on the butt.

glowe · #3 03-07-2021, 12:36 PM

Welcome to the Forum. The chambers appear to have been recessed to allow a Colt 45 to chamber as well as original 455 rounds. No work is required to shave anything, so serial number will remain on the rear of the cylinder. This is the best way to convert a 455.

Another thing that is curious to me is the lack of the .455 stamp at the rear of the SMITH & WESSON stamp on the left side of the barrel?? Perhaps removed, but if never struck, would indicate a replaced barrel??? Does the flat under the barrel have a matching serial number?

The gun has been buffed ad re-blued outside the factory.

Forgot to add that your friend's revolver needs a lanyard ring to fill the hole in the butt. Part of the original configuration of the revolver and can be found on the gunpartscorp.com website. The K frame lanyard rings were the same size as found on the N frame revolvers.

Butt Swivel, New Reproduction | Gun Parts Corp.

Muley Gil · #4 03-07-2021, 01:05 PM

I need a new monitor. I missed the recesses.

BTW, KotD, this is the best possible conversion. You can still safely fire .455 since the rim on a .455 cartridge is larger then a .45 Colt cartridge and will still headspace correctly.

KotD · #5 03-07-2021, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Welcome to the Forum.

It is possible the recoil shield has been shaved. Please post a picture of it.

Also, this revolver has been reblued. Look at the fit of the side plate and the blurred serial number on the butt.

Interesting, I hadn't considered that.
Unfortunately my friend lives out of state and left with the gun this morning, so I no longer have access to it, but I'll see if he can't snap a picture at some point.

Also, all of these pictures were taken with a $10 lens system on a $150 smart phone, so there are some that appear blury simply due to lack of focus.

Eta: I agree on the reblue; the side plate and barrel have a very subtly different blue, and the lack of caliber markings or any British proof marks contribute to my suspicion that the barrel is a replacement.

KotD · #6 03-07-2021, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowe

Welcome to the Forum. The chambers appear to have been recessed to allow a Colt 45 to chamber as well as original 455 rounds. No work is required to shave anything, so serial number will remain on the rear of the cylinder. This is the best way to convert a 455.

Another thing that is curious to me is the lack of the .455 stamp at the rear of the SMITH & WESSON stamp on the left side of the barrel?? Perhaps removed, but if never struck, would indicate a replaced barrel??? Does the flat under the barrel have a matching serial number?

The gun has been buffed ad re-blued outside the factory.

Forgot to add that your friend's revolver needs a lanyard ring to fill the hole in the butt. Part of the original configuration of the revolver and can be found on the gunpartscorp.com website. The K frame lanyard rings were the same size as found on the N frame revolvers.

Butt Swivel, New Reproduction | Gun Parts Corp.

Interesting. I hadn't heard of the recessing method of conversion, but that does make sense, especially given how shallow they would need to be. I missed them myself, thinking they were just wear; granted a 15x zoom helps some.

Unfortunately I don't have the revolver, but I'll ask my buddy to look at the underside of the barrel.

Good to know on the lanyard sizing. Thanks.

Hondo44 · #7 03-07-2021, 06:03 PM

Not all 2nd Model British .455 svc revolvers had the caliber stamp.

Go to post #223 for the database info, page 5 to get an idea of which were marked:

.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

Baltimoreed11754 · #8 03-07-2021, 06:55 PM

Lightly rebated cylinder chambers. Best way to do it. I have a couple. Plus you can use .455 ammo too. Nice old Smith. Have a couple myself.

KotD · #9 03-08-2021, 10:09 PM

Awesome guys, thanks for the info.
So (assuming standard disclaimers) would this revolver be safe to shoot with "cowboy load" .45 Colt ammo?

Muley Gil · #10 03-09-2021, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KotD

Awesome guys, thanks for the info.
So (assuming standard disclaimers) would this revolver be safe to shoot with "cowboy load" .45 Colt ammo?

Oh yes. I had one years ago, but mine was converted by shaving the cylinder. I used a 255 grain Keith semi-wadcutter over a decent charge of Unique. Because the Keith is a long bullet, I had to crimp over the front band. My load was close to 850-900 fps. Cowboy loads for the .45 Colt are around 750 fps.

BC38 · #11 03-09-2021, 01:01 AM

Mine was converted the same way - bored for 45 Colt and counterbored a few thousandths deep for the thicker rims.
Also hard chromed and the half-moon sight cut into a sort of semi-ramp.

Baltimoreed11754 · #12 03-09-2021, 01:08 AM

BC38, who did your hard chrome? Looks good.

BC38 · #13 03-09-2021, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baltimoreed11754

BC38, who did your hard chrome? Looks good.

I don't know. I bought it like this. I agree, whoever did it did a great job.