44/40 cylinder for model 29

[saa44]

I am wanting to have a 44/40 cylinder made and fitted to a model 29. Does anyone know of a gunsmith that does this?

 

[CH4]

I was thinking about doing that or buying a 544. Unfortunately, the only 544s are commemoratives with all the bling and I can't 44-40 cylinder.

 

[biku324]

Just buy the 544. Most are unfired and actually sell for under $1k. I really like mine; never should have sold the first.

 

[colt_saa]

I was thinking about doing that or buying a 544. Unfortunately, the only 544s are commemoratives with all the bling

The Standard Edition 5" Model 544s have very little bling

Just a couple of roll marks and the bass wood case. There are over 4000 in circulation. Don't forget that Smith & Wesson commeratives are on the C&R list



Now the Deluxe Edition 5" Model 544s do have a bit of bling, including scrimshawed Ivory cokes and a Bronze Longhorn that is numbered to the revolver

 

[colt_saa]

I am wanting to have a 44/40 cylinder made and fitted to a model 29. Does anyone know of a gunsmith that does this?

Hamilton Bowen would be who I would start with for a custom cylinder

 

[cgt4570]

The easy way would be to rechamber and fit a Model 27 or Model 57 cylinder. Any decent gunsmith will be able to do that.
I don't know of any gunsmiths 'making' S&W cylinders anymore.
Hamilton Bowen did for a while but now he doesn't touch Smiths.
He built a fine K327 Mag for me before he switched to Rugers exclusively.

 

[saa44]

I tried Mr. Bowen and Andy Horvath but neither do it. A 544 would work. I have two Colts that are 44sp/44/40 and I like the versitality.

 

[Hondo44]

That would be a great project.

Although you can shoot factory .44-40 ammo, I hope you reload because you want to be able to shoot .429" bullets in the .44-40 to match the 29 barrel dimensions for best accuracy.

I would start with a S&W factory 44 Mag cyl; .327 and 44 Spl cyls are too short. It's the right length so you don't have to set back the barrel, therefor your 44 Mag cyl will still fit in the gun. And the chamber throats will be right for the barrel and .429" bullets.

Just rechamber with a .44-40 reamer, it will open up the last 3/4 of the case area in the chamber for the .44-40 case. It will leave the case neck area slightly larger than .44-40 but proper for .44-40 cases loaded with .429" bullets. And as I posted above, still shoot factory .44-40 ammo with its .427" bullets.

This is so simple you can do it yourself if you can fit a S&W cyl.


Or some potential gunsmiths to do this for you:

Professional Gunsmith - Accurate Plating & Weaponry | Cogan Custom
404 Not Found | APW Cogan Custom

Glenrock Blue Phone: 307-436-2330 Email: [email protected]
Contact Us | Glenrock Blue

Ron's Gun Shop - 262-255-4920, Milwaukee, WI
A top restoration service that can also replicate, not reproduce, original S&W carbonia blue.
Ron's Gun Shop - New & Used Gun Sales & Service. Concealed Carry

Custom Shop, Inc. Montana
Home - Custom Shop
They are NOT affiliated with Colt or the Colt Custom Shop. They also do S&W revolvers and probably other brands also.


Ben Forkin - Forkin Custom Classics
PO Box 444, 205 10th Ave SW
White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645
406-547-2344
mailto:[email protected]


Andy Horvath - DIAGONAL ROAD GUN SHOP
14131 Diagonal Rd.
La Grange, OH 44050
(440) 458-4369, (440) 355-5618


Jack Huntington (may start barrel re-boring)
JRH Advanced Gunsmithing
775-355-6898
385 Freeport Blvd, Suite 13
Sparks, NV 89431
mailto:[email protected]
New website: JRH Advanced Gunsmithing old site: www.jrhgunmaker.com/
His turnaround time is short, his work is first rate, and his prices are reasonable.

Ten Ring Precision in San Antonio, TX
Address: 1449 Blue Crest Ln, San Antonio, TX 78232
Phone: (210) 494-3063

Long Hunter
Amarillo, TX
http://www.longhunt.com/web/

Nelson Ford in Ph, AZ
http://www.thegunsmith.com/price_list.html
Not to be confused with the above Ford in Florida:
See work here post 42: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...on-relieved-grips-help-pls.html#post138237660

Oglesby & Oglesby Gunmakers
Bill Oglesby
744 W Andrew Road
Springfield, IL 62707-4626
Phone: (217) 487-7100
Cool video: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oglesby-Oglesby/166638046696474

Ryan Ross
[email protected].


Harry Lawsons
520-326-1117
Tucson, AZ.
You need to call before noon if you want to talk to the gunsmith.
I highly recommend them, by Busterswoodshop

Cylinder and Slide
245 E. 4th Street
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 721-4277
Fax: (402) 721-0263
Orders Only: (800) 448-1713
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/

 

[Green Frog]

Remember, not all N frame cylinders are created equal. IIRC, the 44 Mag cylinder is longer than, say a 357 cylinder, so if you fit a rechambered Model 27 cylinder in a Model 29 you will have a huge B/C gap. This cylinder length problem was noted back when Highway Patrolman models were being converted to other calibers.

Froggie

 

[tennexplorer]

Hamilton Bowen would be who I would start with for a custom cylinder

He does not work on S&W's anymore.

Also, the Model 29 cylinder is of course longer than the Model 27 cylinder. It is also slightly longer than the Model 544 cylinder and the Model 57 cylinder. It is longer enough that the barrel cylinder gap would be enormous on a re-chambered 57 cylinder or a 544 cylinder.

The only viable option is a re-chambered 29 cylinder.

 

[Hondo44]

I'm curious to know if the Mod 544 has a barrel dimensioned for .427" .44-40 bullets or for .429" bullets. I'll bet it has a standard .429" barrel.

 

[biku324]

I've had 2; both have/had .429" barrels and .428" throats. Dunno why.

 

[Hondo44]

Thank you!

In that case the .429" throats of a 44 Mag cyl will shoot .44-40 with .429" bullets more accurately than the factory .44-40 guns because they won't squeeze down .429" bullets smaller than the barrel. And likely shoot factory .427 bullets just as well.