Appreciate recommendations on gun smiths that do these conversions .
Thanks
Bob
[email protected]
(406) 331-0058

The last 24-3 I bought at a gun show was a 6 inch for $800, earlier in the year I picked up a 4 inch 24-3 for $700. around her a M-28 runs $ 600 to $800 and then you have to pay a gunsmith $? to convert it. sell your 357 and add a few bucks and just get a real 44 special. As backed up as most gunsmiths are It would probably be quicker.
SWCA 892

Is there something special you want made?

Rule of thumb:

Never pay to have something converted that's already been made.

Life's too short to wait and it's a money waster.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

This is so true! These conversions were a great idea in the 70s when the original guns were scarce, but spare barrels were available.
Not anymore!

By the same token, I wouldn't recommend buying a beater to "save money" and then sending it off to have it made worse (and more expensive) with an overbuffing and glossy blue job, either.

Jim

Andy Horvath

Andy Horvath a 27-2 conversion

Attached Images

	27-44-2.jpg (83.0 KB, 558 views)
	28-44.jpg (73.2 KB, 129 views)

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Len

It can certainly be done, but expect your final cost to be more than selling/trading your Model 27 or 28 and buying a Model 24.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Had Andy convert 2 guns to .32 long for me. Does nice work, happy with what he did. Recently had him convert a .22 cylinder to .327 for another project that I will try to do myself. I believe he is at 600.00-650 for a caliber conversion, not sure if that includes rebluing or sending the barrel to be rebored. Think I would watch the big auction for a real .44, it would hold its value as most 24’s do. Larry

Please tell us about the extractor shroud in the 1st photo.

Thx.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Are these the same gun? ("After" then "Before "?)
The first pic is nice....cool front sight, beveled cylinder edges at the flutes, nice blue.
Those two holes under the muzzle....for screw-on barrel weight?

Jim

Not worth the expense now that you can get a true .44 SPL.
Back in the time, I had the money and wanted one, but the price was not worth what came out.....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Back about 1972, I saw and shot a .44 Special for the first time. I had been reading Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton for several years. I started looking for a .44 Special of my own. WOW! Prices were high back then.

Skeeter soon started writing articles about converting M28s to .44 Specials. About 1976 I took the plunge & bought a used 3 1/2" M27 and a new 1950 target barrel. I took them to Walker Arms in Selma, Alabama and had them do the conversion, re-chambering the cylinder and fitting the new barrel.

It was another 8 years until S&W, at Skeeter's urging, introduced the M24-3. Later, the M624 came out.

When I did my conversion, it made sense to do it. Nowadays, as others have already posted, it makes more sense to sell your donor .357 and buy one of the M24-3s or M624 that are out there.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Good catch I accidentally posted a 29 in the 2nd photo, the extractor assembly is standard, the two holes were for a light mount I never used.

Here is the other side.

Attached Images

DSC_0010.jpg (78.9 KB, 467 views)

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Len

To answer the OP’s question as asked, Andy Horvath, hands down. He’s done quite a few of this exact conversion and has a great reputation for quality work.

To reiterate what Brother Hondo44 said, don’t pay extra to build what you can buy... it’s a money losing proposition coming and going. My two builds (including Project 616) were for guns that were never made at the factory or rare enough to make the build economical. Andy built 44 Specials when you couldn’t find them on the market (kinda like my recreated Model 16-3) but I’m sure he doesn’t get that many requests now for the 44s since they can be readily found in the market.

Your money, your choice, but it might behoove you to look at the alternatives.

Froggie

I do not know anyone personally, that I would recommend to do this type of work.

As others have stated, it's money in the bank to just pickup a model 24....

(I have personally own and shot a gaggle of model 24s and pre-24s of all the standard barrel length.)

Unless your looking for something special, a non-cataloged barrel length, etc...

Like maybe a pre-war or transitional N frame converted to 44 Special.





Or a RM converted...And then we'd be talking something Special.



Then it's worth the extra bucks....


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I guess that I’ll try to hunt up a 4” M24 .

Len,

I beg to differ; the extractor shroud has been significantly shortened and the rod somewhat as well to accommodate attachment of the light mount.






And milled out on the right side; I believe the barrel began life as a full lug barrel and doesn't look like it has a front locking bolt any longer:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Not what you asked for, exactly, but there is a S&W 28 converted to .41 magnum, Dan Wesson barrel and shroud, and round butt combats for $795.00 at Clyde Armory in Athens, GA. I didn’t look at it, but call and ask someone to text you photos if it interests you.

Other than Charter Arms I have not seen a .44 special for sale in my area in a year or so.

All right Mr. Keith44Spl, the converted RM I have seen before but don't recall if you rebored the original 357 barrel or what other magic … please enlighten me.

I used an un-numbered pre-24 barrel and a pre-27 cylinder....

Retained the original numbered 357 barrel & cyl.



.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

All that is quite true, but I have never found any 4" or 6" 24's or 624's here in Arkansas, and I make a pretty good circuit of gun shows. I have seen a slew of Lew Horton specials, but of course they are all 3". I am beginning to think all 24's and 624's get filtered out at the Mississippi River.

Most of my guns both rifles and handguns are customized some literally built from scratch.

I use name gun smiths and the ones I have sold I either got my investment back or made a little.

But most importantly I had something I could take pride in I had what I wanted.

Life is short if converting a caliber is what you want do it, you have no one to please but yourself.

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Len

One of the primary reasons to have a revolver converted is so it will be "right". So, so many manufacturers either don't know or don't care about proper cylinder throat dimensions where accuracy and prevention of leading is concerned for those of use who shoot cast bullets.

Five years ago paid $900 to have a Pre-27 converted to .44 Special, new front sight base and reblued.
Waited a year for the work to be done.
Never part with it but...

Sometimes......A feller jest has to do what pleases himself.













.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

If you can't find a 24 or 624 to your liking, any Model 29 or 629 will shoot .44 Specials just fine.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

A .44mag mountain gun is the same as a M24 except it has a mag cylinder. Mr Keith You have a sense of style and very good taste. Yes you can have a .44spl built and it will get you just what you want. I would check the auction sites and watch our own For Sale section. Also you can post in the Want to buy here. It isn't like back when there were no factory guns for sale. If you decide to have one done, Jack Hunting does good work and seems to have a fast turn around.......


There is a M-624 4" on GB right now ending in 16 hrs.
There is a M24-3 on there as well........

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Keith44 , I’ll echo what ddixie said about your sense of style and taste . You obviously have some incredible custom .44’s .
Thanks to all for the info on smiths that still do this type of work .
I’ve a few old N frames that have had me considering conversion for a long time . Something to think about anyways.

Mark Hartshorne at Pinnacle High Performance Guns can help you. He did a .41mag conversion on a beater 28-2 for me a couple of years ago, it came out great.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

You build custom guns because you want to,,or have them built because you want them.
Beyond that there isn't much more to discuss.

You only get this one time trip around, make the most of it and have fun doing it. No regrets at the end.

Great pics of beautiful custom revolvers , thanks!

What was the turnaround time?

Dave, I never tire of seeing your guns and leather. You, sir, are a craftsman. I wish I had your skill and experience.

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Dave Frost