I've been asking a lot of questions HERE about this project. It's a totally stripped .455 HE frame and 1917 barrel. Now it's time to start rounding up parts and making things happen so I thought I'd move to the Gunsmithing section.

The plan is a 4" Model 25 barrel (or similar style that has the half lug), .45 Colt cylinder which will be sent out to be machined for moons. Initially I wanted to do an ACP only build but now I see no reason to NOT have the ability to run both as the mood hits me.

Here's the questions I have now. Do I just need to get a .45 Colt M25 cylinder and barrel or are there specific versions I need to track down? Will most M25 parts be the best route anyway (hammer, trigger, innards, etc)? I've read through the thread on N Frame parts interchangeability but it's still muddy to me so any help will be greatly appreciated so I can ask for the right parts in a WTB or through a vendor.

Eventually it will be plated (not sure if I'll do a brushed or bright finish). Will it do any good to look for or buy plated parts (Numrich has nickled cylinders for example) or will it create more work because the parts will probably have to be stripped and replated so everything matches? I'm thinking Accurate Plating but am open to suggestions for other businesses.

I do know I'll need a 'smith to do the rebarrel or possibly rework the current barrel if a 4" M25 won't work/isn't available. Any suggestions on who does good work without charging an arm or leg and has a months/years long backorder? (I know the old joke, I can have 2 out of 3 LOL!)

Thanks!

Ill try to keep everything in order as much as possible. So, from your post it sounds like you have a stripped 455/44HE frame and are going to at a cylinder(cut for moons) and a barrel.

Barrel - You want a half lug style like the model 1950 you can find them on popular in internet auction sites that start with E and B. You Should also check here and put a want ad up to see if anyone has one laying around. The 1950 half lug barrel will thread onto your 44HE frame no problem. It will of course need to be checked and spaced to match the cylinder. Please let your gunsmith know what type of pistol you are trying to build i put the cylinder gap a alot tighter in a "Target" only gun vs a hunting carry time gun. your also going to be really close to cutting into the factory roll mark on the barrel with a 4" chop if you start with a 6.5" barrel which is mostly what i see lying around.

Cylinder - you can fit cylinders from different era's to older guns it just takes knowing what your doing. You should be able to find a 45 Colt cylinder with no problem, i see them running around more so vs the 44 Special cylinder i need for my 44HE project. if you want Nickel finish you will probably have to have it sent off to a good platter. I also would highly suggest looking at a hard chrome finish you want that look. its been around since 1960's or earlier and has very good properties for wear and outdoor use. Try to get the cylinder with the original ejection star

I would not buy plated parts no matter what i ended up doing as you want to refinish all the parts at the same time so they match, you could get heavier or lighter nickle if you you try to mis-match already plated parts. also good platers can normally tell me before i start fitting parts how much material will be added in the his/her plating process and i can better fit and plan for end fit up of all parts using this. IE i could fit the cylinder to barrel gap at .005" and after its back from nickel its under .002 or more and wont even turn or 6 shots will carbon up the works.

I dont know off had if S&W ever did a recessed 45LC cylinder but if so gunsmith needs to know what he is doing, or just get a non-recessed to make things easier. like i said i dont know if they did or not. as for small parts i would try to get a hammer trigger set that came out of the same pistol to make it easier but can be done the other way in most cases as well. I would try and find some parts from same era as gun was built. You might have the smith cut the barrel to a 11 degree forcing cone if you want too.

Will modern parts fit a "Long Action" frame such as the Model 1917 "

Thanks usn, I'll try and clarify some things.

This is my inspiration:

Warhawk over on singleactions.com has this 1917 that was cut to 3.75". All work was done when he got it.

I was thinking 4" M25 to avoid having to cut it in the first place and also the markings issue. If I have to cut a barrel, I might as well cut the original and do a different front sight. Still debating as the cut original still has a look I like but it would require finding a mushroom head ejector rod and I THINK it would be a different thread (LH vs RH) than a later cylinder. I need to re-read the interchange thread again.

Yes. Numrich has a "cylinder assembly" but I don't know if it comes with the extractor, gas ring, etc and I'm not sure anyone answering the phones there would know anyway. I've found several on GB and EB for more money but I need to contact the sellers to see if they have the rest of the cylinder parts and yoke. Also, TK Custom will machine the cylinder for moons and that is who I'm really looking at for that portion.

That's what I figured on buying already plated parts. Accurate seems to have a good rep and will do "direct chrome" or "nickle electrolytic" for the same price. $200 for brushed or $335 for bright.

The matched hammer and trigger make sense and that's my first choice but other options can be made to work. Maybe a later TT and TH...

That's not a bad idea and something I hadn't thought about yet. Thanks!

Yes, he'd have to stay long action for most internals. Wasn't 66 or something when they Changed the RH LH thing around? I'll have check on all of that as I'm no expert on interal parts swapping.

1960 according to this thread: Parts Interchangeability between N-frame Generations

Had an interesting thought this afternoon (and it didn't hurt much) regarding this project. Maybe a 4" .38/44 HD "tribute"?

A modern trigger can usually be fitted to a long action revolver. Hammers are not interchangable.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

A four inch M-22-4 barrel would be a good option for a 38-44 tribute gun, if you can find one.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV