What was the round this was done for? I have seen shaved cylinders etc but not this.....


It is a 4 number serial number which I blanked out because it is not mine.



Thanks!

__________________
When words fail, music speaks.

That would be for a 45 Colt

Thanks, forgot about that! It requires lengthening the bore as well I assume.

__________________
When words fail, music speaks.

I thought I read in the SCSW that on 45 colt converted 455s the tell tale sign of this conversion was a shaved cylinder with the serial number missing?

__________________
When words fail, music speaks.

I think that is the easiest way to convert but once that is done you can not use 455 cartridges. With the counterbore you can use 455 and 45lc. Lots of more knowledgeable people will know much more than me.

Attached Images

9EDE9C82-8C4E-4E75-A06B-94A3B640AEA9.jpg (40.3 KB, 40 views)

Good information above. Cleanest way to modify a .455 to use .45 LC is the method above, with a possible slight removal of metal near the hammer nose bushing. Preserves the cylinder SN.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

My 455/45colt is done via the counter bore method.

Yes. the chambers also need to be deeper also. Believe 445 chambers were .886 and 45 colt is 1.285

The 455 rim is only .040 thick and .535 across
The 45 colt is .060 thick and .512 across
So you need a .020 recess for the 45 colt, but the wider 455 rim will not enter the recessed and still head space.

I have several 45 colts and a unmodified 455 2nd model and have fired both 455 and 45 colts in my modified first model triple lock 455

Thanks! interesting conversion, but I'm glad I found an original 455 I shared in another post.

__________________
When words fail, music speaks.

Yours uses the preferred conversion method. In my personal opinion, that conversion type affects value very little, unless it happens to be in very high condition. In fact I consider it a plus. The .455s I have seen are mainly not in high condition. One caution is that only light .45 Colt loads should be used in converted .455s, nothing even remotely hot.

Standard revolver loads are just fine for 45 Colt in the N frames, but stick with lead bullets. I addition to the fact that shaving the rear of the cylinder is not needed with this alteration, as noted above, another advantage for this type of conversion is that the revolver can still shoot original 455 as well as 45 Colt since the rim of 455 is larger than Colt rounds. There is some concern about the freeboard space between a 455 round and the chamber restriction being near the face of the cylinder. With free space, burning powder and pressure will run past the bullet as fired, possibly tilting the bullet and having too much combustion gas escaping the cylinder, lowering velocities. The 455 is certainly not target ammunition, so probably will not make much difference in accuracy anyway.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

There are four ways to convert .455 revolvers to .45 Colt (all involve chambers reamed for the longer Colt cartridge of course):

1. The worst is shaving the recoil shield to gain the extra .020" head space needed for the thicker case rim of 45 Colt. You can even leave the cyl serial # on the rear cyl face if it's milled instead of turning it off on a lathe.

2. Shaving .020" from the rear cyl face and replacing the frame window cyl retaining stud unless an outer ring is left on the cyl face.

3. Replacing the cyl with a 45 Colt cyl or one reamed for it, and in either case fitted for proper headspace.

4. The best for the reason listed above, is recessing the chambers .020" when they are reamed. This should never need shaving the recoil shield when done properly.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

I kind of wish my Triple Lock 455 had not been converted, but I am a 455 colt fan and it shoots those fairly well. It is in great shape and I got it for $700 marked as a 1917.

I also have a totally stock 2nd model 455.

For those concerned, a Model 1917 (.45 ACP) cylinder is long enough (1.56") to accept the standard factory loaded.45 Colt cartridge (1.60" COAL), with about 0.10" of the casing sticking out of the chamber face, i.e., the chamber is elongated enough to accept the .45 Colt casing which then headspaces on the case mouth. .45 ACP with clips or .45 AR can also be used in it. I have seen numerous examples of that particular 1917 conversion. That would not be practical with a .455. Elongating the .455 chambers and recessing the chambers to allow headspacing on the .45 Colt rim is by far the best .455 revolver conversion method, and allows both .455 AND .45 Colt ammunition to be used. Shaving the recoil shield is by far the worst way.

Actually that's another way and the very best way (I forgot to mention) to convert a 455 to 45 Colt by obtaining a spare 45 ACP/AR cyl (a 45 Colt cyl is ideal of course but try and find one or make from a .357/44 Spl cyl) and yoke as well if available which makes cyl swapping back to 455 much easier). That way the original 455 cyl can be retained unmodified out of the gun, and swapped back into the gun to shoot 455s. Although the 45 Colt case needs about .040" sticking out from the cyl face.

As long has the frame window cyl retaining stud is not modified for the shorter ACP cyl. Of course the shorter ACP cyl would have fore and aft play when open for loading and unloading. But when the cyl is closed for firing, there's no issue.

By combining the above techniques, one 455 cyl can be modified to convert a 455 cyl for these three cartridges; 455, 45 Colt, and 45 AR with a chamber recess of .050" cut, it'll also shoot the 45 AR. With the 45 Colt Chamber shoulder left .030" short for its rim to only go .020” into the .050" AR recess, .030”short of seating to the bottom of the recess due to the ‘short chamber shoulder’, the cyl will then shoot 45 Colt, 45 AR, and again the 455 can still be shot because it's larger diameter rim won't fit in the chamber mouth recess so they’ll all have their proper headspace. One cyl can then safely shoot three different 45 cartridges.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

shamuscull,
That is an "interesting" conversion you picture. The chambers appear to be bored straight through with no shoulder at the case mouth. Also, the recesses for the rims appear to be simple bevels done with a chamfering tool instead of straight recesses. I would worry about bullets hitting the barrel off center, or wobbling slightly in the forward part of the chamber, or both!
455s do not have forcing cones to center and straighten the bullet, so it might be a problem.

Attached Images

9EDE9C82-8C4E-4E75-A06B-94A3B640AEA9.jpg (40.3 KB, 53 views)

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

shamuscull, does the barrel still have rifling in the bore or has it been bored smooth?

When these guns were sold as surplus guns for very cheap prices many years ago, some of them had the chambers and barrel bored thru to accept shortened .410 shotgun shells; .410 shells are very similar diameter as the .45 Colt cartridge case.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819