This just came across my little circle of the world, and I am curious if anyone ever had/has one and cares to comment.

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I’ve never used one but see them from time to time. There have been threads on them here.

Search "Peters Stahl conversion" - much info.

I love it, just love it when I click up the forum and learn some "old news" that I had 0% previous knowledge of. That's terrific!

Kind of hard to believe that I haven't ever stumbled across one of these on Gunbroker or at a gun show.

Who has one or has sent rounds through one? What's the level of quality and reliability? Anyone recall pricing? Pachmayr made the magazines also?

Probably a sign of the times and clue to the date that it is shown mounted to a 639. Also hints that the Pachmayr top end did not use a firing pin lock -- a 39-2 can't unlock one.

Been a lot of years since I saw even one at a gun show. Never knew anybody to actually shoot one.

Peter Stahl conversions were popular in the late 80's to early 90's and were reportedly excellent quality. I did handle one on a 1911 back then and I would agree on the quality.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Not being a big fan of Smith and Wesson auto loaders in my younger years I never looked at these things

Now I think it is kind of cool

I remember these well.
A friend had one for his Colt 1911.
Not cheap, ammo sensitive (jammed a lot), accuracy OK.

John

I have one of the ceiner .22 conversions for Beretta 92 and a couple of mags. I never knew Pachmayr made any.

IIRC, Peters-Stahl (A German company) made them.

Pachmayr was the U.S. importer/distributor.

John

This is SN 246 Pachmayr 22 conversion for the Model 39. It is VERY well manufactured. Made in Germany with that guy's name I often see "Pat Pend". (He sure gets around). Then: Peter Stahl (Stamped right side of slide) and by Pachmayr accuracy PSW IV Cal.22 l.r.(on left side of slide). Magazine is very well made and a joy to operate. Seem by the spring compression area, it will hold 10 (appx) rounds.

Fits 39 / 59 series. I had test fit the slide on a 39-2 many years ago but never fired it. The ONE magazine supplied it a wide body conversion so it will fit a model the 59 series only. I also tried the slide and magazine on a model 59 with no issues. I did not try it on a 2nd gen 559 or 3rd gen 5906. I did not try in on a older model Model 39 (proper).

To function on a Model 39 would require a single stack magazine which was not supplied with this kit. Just the double-stack conversion magazine was supplied.

Instruction sheet and cautions on installation indicate if it does not fit properly to send gun & conversion kit to Pachmayr with a check for $25.00. I had NO issues. This one slid right on and cycled correctly, however, I never fired any rounds through it.

All the years I've owned it (about 30 years) I never used it.

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	Pachmyer 39-22 Conv 1 .jpg (90.4 KB, 73 views)
	Pachmyer 39-22 Conv 2 .jpg (52.6 KB, 65 views)
	Pachmyer 39-22 Conv 3 .jpg (36.4 KB, 57 views)

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

At one time Pachmayr performed quite an assortment of customization work to handguns. I have no idea when (what years) they had done this nor do I know if they still do customization work.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Definitely true, I believe their custom work heyday was in the decade of the 1970's. They did alteration work on Colt Govt Model pistols... made them a true double action. Interesting and historically significant, if not actually a fantastic idea.

Pachmayr Gun Works was in downtown Los Angeles (I recall visiting it at least once); I believe they closed sometime in the 1980s and the company name was either sold or licensed (currently to Lyman) to continue to make gun accessories, like recoil pads and the rubber grips many love to hate.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What publication and what month / year of that publication did you find this advertisement ?

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Colt thought a double action 1911 was a good idea, also.

So they brought out the "Double Eagle".

Other than the NRA Convention where I saw them at the introduction, I don't think I have hardly ever seen another.

John

Dunno what publication. I was surfing ebay looking for an owners manual for mauser 1914 and saw this

Yep, I've seen the Double Eagle but never handled one. I would guess a Pachmayr converted Govt Model is more rare than a Double Eagle. Colt made a Double Eagle in 10mm also. And what do the Pachmayr and the Double Eagle have in common, different from the S&W (and arguably inferior?) The double action trigger bar/linkage is on the outside of the pistol's frame.

I much prefer the S&W design but to be fair... the Beretta 92 series is also on the outside of the frame. (Heh, I don't care for the Beretta but it would be foolish to deny it's success)

Thanks for reminding me.
That outside trigger bar is something else I didn't like.

John

I remember Pachmayr's in Los Angeles very well. I visited the shop often in the 60's and it was a wonderful place.