I traded into this revolver a little while back. I understand that these conversions used to be somewhat common. This is the first that I have handled in person. All the seller could remember about it is that the work was done by a gunsmith in Kansas City.

The flats on the bull barrel have been stippled, along with the upper portion of the backstrap. The combat trigger has been smoothed and polished. This action is really slick.

I put a set of VZ 320 grips on it, but I'm not sure that I'll keep them there. They're a lot slimmer than I thought they'd be.

Nice looking gun. If Skeeter Skelton was still around he would give you a quick like also on this one. wow. almost a holy grail gun for this guy.

The gun looked ‘off’ at first glance, simply because it’s something different.


The more I look, the more the lines work for me. The attention to detail is very nice.


Congrats on a beautiful gun.

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- Post No Bills -

Thank you.

The front sight shroud looks really odd to me. It is removable, but I plan to leave it in place.

"I understand that these conversions used to be somewhat common."

Yes, after Skeeter Skelton wrote some articles in Shooting Times, there was a cottage trade in converting N frame .357s into .44 Specials. But I can't say that I've ever seen one like that before. Skeeter liked the lines and handiness of the lighter .44 Specials with the tapered barrels. He also had a few mid sized frame Ruger Blackhawk .357s converted to .44 Special.

I have owned several S&W .357 to .44 Special conversions and a couple of Ruger .357 to .44 Special conversions. They all wer good handling revolvers.

If it had been me building the revolver you bought, I would have made it a .44 Magnum, to take advantage of that heavy barrel.

BUT, the important thing is that YOU are happy with this one and that is all that really matters.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The Model 28-2,was the basis for a lot of conversions because it was plentiful and inexpensive. I am aware of some chambered for 45 long Colt, 44 Remington Magnum, 41 Magnum, a 44 WCF and the one I converted to 45 ACP.

Kevin

Attached Images

	4418A928-73CD-47F2-9126-1EDE05F7E071.jpg (48.5 KB, 259 views)
	706F98EE-EC12-4C82-A4EA-6A1D1B830F61.jpg (48.6 KB, 216 views)

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I have several; the most unusual is probably a 4" 28-2 which has been converted to 38-40 WCF; another 28-2 was converted for me into a 38 Super 8-shooter. This conversion was done in the mid-1990s because S&W was dragging it's feet on producing 8-shot 627s. Mine has a very heavy barrel so I shoot 627s now and keep the 28 as a conversation piece.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Skeeter Skilton load 7.5gr of Unique over a 240gr SWC Keith bullet. Duty round for my lipsey Ruger flattop Blackhawk

Looks like a fun shooter.

What kind of grips are those?

They're the "320" style G10 grips from VZ Grips.

Whoever did the work, they appear to have done a great job.
The front sight and target crown on the barrel suggest the gunsmith had a background in rifle work. Plus, he had a great sense of style.
What's the barrel length?
The fact he kept the ejector rod lock-up is a nice touch!
I wonder if this was intended as an early silhouette competition gun?
There's a bunch of things I'd be going over if I had it in my hands....barrel/cylinder gap, forcing cone type, bore and cylinder throat dimensions.
Yeah...this would be a LOT of fun on the range and at the loading bench.

Excellent acquisition!!

Enjoy!!

Jim

Y

Obviously the stippling was put there in order to allow the shooter to easily press check and rack the slide !

:-P

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Actually, that's another reason I think this might be a Silhouette build. The stippling would be a tremendous aid when shooting from the prone "Creedmoor" position favored by many competitors.
You lay on your back, with strong side knee bent. The pistol is held in one hand with elbow on the ground and the side of the barrel braced against the lower leg.

Jim

I appreciate your insight.
Correction: The barrel length is 7.75".

Yes, Skeeter would be quite happy and that looks like a very professional job.
There was also the .357 Bain & Davis.
One caution I read on these conversions, because the locking notch on these N-frames is right over the cylinder you must make sure the thickness of the metal at that spot is up to specs.

I just forwarded this to Dave Keith, I doubt he has seen this. I don’t think anyone has anything over on him on modifying or tinkering with guns.

The more I look at it, the better I like it. I think the only thing that was giving me pause initially was the hooded sight, I had a Daisy BB gun that had a similar sight with various inserts you could swap out. (I was constantly changing them out as a youngster)!

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Possum—The other white meat!

Might be an early Ron Power gun. He did a lot of stippling. There were plenty of others building guns in that time period, though.

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protocalldesign.com

If I were to build a 'Bowling Pin' revolver....It would be like the OP's.

It looks like a fast roller.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Nope. Sorry. No offense but that barrel is hideous to me.

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No life story has happy end.

I don't hate it, but would find it more aesthetically pleasing if it were not slabbed and stippled.

Skeeter also had some M28 to .45 Colt conversions built. He had one M28 cylinder rechambered and you could actually see light through the bolt notch!!!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It's my idee that those barrel were 'slabbed' to adjust the balance.

The converting of N frame revolvers was a booming business back in the 60s & 70s.

I thought it was the way to go as well.

Just a few of my favorites

357 to 44 Spl.


38 Spl to 44 Spl


I also like the 45 Long Colt Ctg.


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I used to think those were neat, I even had a .357-.44 conversion under way when the gunsmith passed away. The guy I sent another of his projects to for completion screwed it up so I did not try again.

These days, I am quite happy with big .38s. I have some bullets that are dead ringers for Keith 358439 for when I feel nostalgic.

super cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a very interesting conversion.....my guess is that the barrel is a T/C Contender .44 Magnum Bull Barrel, shortened & hopefully fitted up right, to mate up with the "newly machined" .44 Special cylinder. It looks like (maybe) 8+" in length - and - if chambered carefully, it could accept an LBT WFN at ~260 gr. With careful load development, this barrel combination could produce "near Magnum" performance, with very low felt recoil and pressure. Somebody thought about this for a long time, before making shavings.

As a .44 Special lover for many years, this appears to be someone's Holy Grail Gun. I bet it will shoot!

My 2 cents worth.... carelesslove

That muzzle crown screams t/c contender. I bet if we could see the rifling we’d know for sure

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-Matt

I'll see if I can get more pictures tomorrow.

The barrel length is 7 3/4"
These are the best pictures that I could get of the rifling:

Following Skeeter's guidance, in the 70's bought a new M-28 and sent it's barrel and cylinder out to be converted to .44 special. The barrel was lined and most need magnification to tell. Also paid for the front red insert to be installed. Everything was saved from that time, may mount it back to it's frame for sentimental reasons.

Attached Images

z.44 Special conversion.jpg (69.3 KB, 118 views)

I thought I’d be able to tell T/C rifling but that doesn’t look like the barrels I have. The lands are much more pronounced

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-Matt

Fortunately while I have a 28-2 4 incher to play with now, I also have a 624, no dash, 4 inch .44 Spl. to play with. No need to convert my .357!

I also have 629-1 .44 magnum and 57 .41 magnum, both 4 inchers.

I like 'em all.

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Deaf

My first convert from the 70's..........

Model 27 to 44 Special


One of the last,
an Outdoorsman to 44 Special....(w/triple lock works)


You be the judge.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That looks like some fine craftsmanship.

For Keith44spl- what is the rear sight on the triple lock one?

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protocalldesign.com

That is the original Outdoorsman Target rear sight assembly.
I made the front sight blade and installed an ivory bead on the face.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

keith44spl
Dave,as I have said in the past, every time I have seen pictures of yours' and Arlo's conversions my wallet is in danger! They are always masterfully done. All my very best my Friend, Joe.

Kansas City gunsmith could have been Ron Power.

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Dick

If you do that with a revolver, you'd better have a heavy saddle leather shield strapped to your thigh or the cylinder gap blast will leave a huge owie like you were flogged. I've seen Creedmoor shooting a revolver with a leg shield (it worked very well) and without the leg shield (not so good - just one shot).

That's a load from my past,too.

This is either an old PPC or Silhouette revolver. Nicely done.

A .44spl. is always a good idea...........................

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

I don't believe it was built as a metallic silhouette revolver....

Number One, if it was it would probably have the maximum length barrel of 10 3/4 inches.

Number Two, it would not qualify in the factory class and would be an unlimited gun.
Having to shoot with the bolt / custom handguns.

I'd shoot it as a bowling pin revolver, if it were me.

Just saying.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Nice trade! I'm a sucker for anything in 44 special so I understand the addiction

A metallic silhouette gun would be in 44 Magnum. IIRC the first champion shooter when that started out used a stock Ruger Super Blackhawk.

This two toned is a Model 28 fitted with a 624 barrel and re-chambered cylinder. Put it together about 15 yrs ago.

in the next image the upper piece is a 28 that I did in 1975. Used Skeeter's directions to get a 1950 .44 barrel from J&G sales for $39.95. Re-Chambered cylinder also.

Lower one is a 28 with a 1950 .45 Colt barrel with a Re-Chambered cylinder

Not pictured are two 28 snubs, one in .45 ACP, another in .45 colt. I am all in on the tapered barrels in my favorite caliber, .44 Special.

Attached Images

	Mod 24 Snub.jpg (89.0 KB, 45 views)
	Mod 28-25.jpg (64.3 KB, 46 views)

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YUUUPP!

When I won the state match in '82...Shootin' a production model 29-2 8 3/8".

The next year I shot a Ruger 44 mag SA for the state win with a 10 1/2" barrel.

Used the Sierra 220 gr match bullet over a case neigh near full of 2400.

.

When I can't find a 44 Special to my liken...I just build myself one or two.
(These two wound up with a close personal friend)



.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Keith44spl:
Is that a King rib on the lower revolver? Or did you build it yourself? Nice!

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shrade

I whittled that one out in the tool shop....


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That's some mighty fine Whittling sir!

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shrade

I saw that gun in Tulsa maybe two years ago at a shop on Sheridan. Then they moved half a mile or so to 41st street 6 months later and they still had it. Most of their stock is black tacticool stuff, this was one of the few revolvers they had. I was short on funds at the time or I might have bought it for the novelty value.

Here is my Model 28 converted to .44 Special. The seldom-seen 8-3/8" .44 Special