41 with exposed hammer

[Onty]

I know this sounds silly, but I would love to have long (7") 41 with exposed hammer.

Are you aware of any GOOD smith that can do this conversion?
No, this is not new idea. As a matter of fact, there is a knife maker that had done that, I even left the message but he never replied.

BTW, I am also looking for a smith that can convert revolver 648 in 22 Magnum to centerfire round like one of those variations of 22 Hornet. This conversion was also done, I have article in old NRA American Rifleman about it. Yes, I am aware of BFR in 22 Hornet, but this revolver IMO is just too big and too heavy for such round.

Many thanks, Onty

 

[Onty]

I know this sounds silly, but I would love to have long (7") 41 with exposed hammer.

Are you aware of any GOOD smith that can do this conversion?
No, this is not new idea. As a matter of fact, there is a knife maker that had done that, I even left the message but he never replied.

BTW, I am also looking for a smith that can convert revolver 648 in 22 Magnum to centerfire round like one of those variations of 22 Hornet. This conversion was also done, I have article in old NRA American Rifleman about it. Yes, I am aware of BFR in 22 Hornet, but this revolver IMO is just too big and too heavy for such round.

Many thanks, Onty

 

[gunfish]

There is one for sale on gunbroker. Some famous guy made it. The price was 7K$ IIRC.

 

[OKFC05]

I know this sounds silly

You remind me of a friend that provides endless amusement; nice guy. Not entirely practical in all his ideas, and it seems he likes it that way.

 

[br25004x4]

The one on Gunbroker is a Loveless conversion. As far as I know he's the only one to convert 41's to the exposed hammer. It evidently is a complex operation. I would love to see some close up photo's of a one of his guns. Especially the frame, hammer and slide to see just how/what he did on the conversions.

 

[Onty]

You remind me of a friend that provides endless amusement; nice guy. Not entirely practical in all his ideas, and it seems he likes it that way.

Well, the point is where to find high quality 22 pistol with 7" barrel and exposed hammer. An event some decades ago made me stay away from handguns with strikers (and covered hammers). I might be bit old fashioned preferring exposed hammer, but I had seen from few yards how things could go wrong when inexperienced person handles such pistol. Yep, every firearm should be handled all the time as loaded, just try to tell that to Mr. Idiot. I tried to convince him to go unloading procedure once more, but he "knew for sure" that gun "was unloaded" and even uncocked. Fortunately, no big harm done, just ears ringed for a while...

 

[OKFC05]

An event some decades ago made me stay away from handguns with strikers (and covered hammers)

I sympathize with the shock and horror of up-close negligent discharges, and the very human reaction to fear that specific type of gun.

However, after decades of officiating at matches and seeing negligent discharges with about everything, I am completely convinced that
"Nothing is foolproof for an ingenious fool."

In fact, the most common idiot move I've seen recently is people trying to decock an exposed hammer and firing the gun instead. The Glock type gun is so common that the average novice who will casually holster a loaded Glock will not holster a cocked and locked 1911 and will instead take off the safety and try to let the hammer down.

I start novices on .22 revolvers, and move to Sigmas if they want to do semi-auto. They understand "It's just like the revolver; pull the trigger and they will fire." For a single-action 1911, I find more extensive training and close supervision are needed to master the manual of arms.

 

[mstuhr]

Hi br25004x4,
The GUN DIGEST BOOK OF PISTOLSMITHING has a write up with pictures of these guns.
Good luck
Mike

 

[haggis]

You might want to look at a Hi Standard HDM. It's an old design, but there were a lot of them made, and they sound similiar to what you want - external hammer, safety, and 6 3/4" barrel.

The link below is one for sale on Gun Broker just so you can see what one looks like.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122593342


Buck

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

Originally posted by gunfish:
There is one for sale on gunbroker. Some famous guy made it. The price was 7K$ IIRC.

Couldn't find it. Lot a bookmark?

 

[haggis]

Ken,

This is it.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122637664

Buck

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

Thanks! I had forgotten those.

 

[bdgotoh]

Erma made a nice .22 with exposed hammer, the ESP-85A. There are a couple on GB right now, the one with the target grip has been drilled and tapped, the other has the ambidextrous sporter grip but a shorter barrel and has been modified.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122812532

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122920214

 

[oldRoger]

The Hi Standard HD Military is a good pistol, suposedly made to use as a 1911 trainer.
I traded mine for a M46 which I traded for a M41.
If you must have an exposed hammer, IMO the Hi Stan is the way to go, but it certainly is not a 41.

 

[meh92]

The Beretta 87 Target has an exposed hammer and 6" barrel. It's worth a look I suppose. I've handled them but not shot them.

http://www.berettaweb.com/armi/87%20target.htm

 

[JudgeColt]

The High Standard HD was the first pistol that popped into my mind as a .22 pistol with an exposed hammer. Most High Standards are very accurate.

The Beretta 87 mentioned is a high class target pistol as well. There are also Walther exposed hammer target pistols. Certainly one to consider is a Colt Service Model Ace or an Ace. A Colt Conversion Unit will accomplish the same thing on any Government Model frame. If you want more than plinking accuracy, put a Kart .22LR conversion kit on a Government Model frame and you will have a gun about equal to the Model 41 in accuracy for a lot less money than converting a Model 41.

Your interest in converting a Model 48 to a Hornet wildcat proposes to start with the wrong platform. The Hornet uses a .222-inch bullet, whereas the .22WMR uses a .224-inch bullet, meaning that your converted Model 48 will not be very accurate with a .222-inch bullet rattling down a .224-inch bore. The most famous Hornet wildcat for revolver use was the Harvey K-Chuck and used a K-22 as the base revolver. If a Hornet wildcat is your burning desire, buy a Model 53 with a .22LR cylinder and rechamber the .22LR cylinder for the Hornet wildcat of your choice and you will be done since the Model 53 already has a centerfire firing pin.

 

[haggis]

JudgeColt's reply go me to thinking about a few other seldom seen .22's with external hammers and long barrels. For a mere $3500, you can get a SIG P210-7 in .22 with a 5" barrel and exposed hammer. It would be a bit cheaper to find a Star F-T or FR-T .22 with a 7" barrel and exposed hammer. I have an FR-S (6" barrel) that is surprisingly accurate, considering its cost.

Buck