Can a centerfire K frame be converted to rimfire?

[biblethumpincop]

I have a centerfire K frame. I found a parts kit for a K frame Rimfire (model 17 with everything but the complete frame). Can the frame from the Centerfire have the parts from the Rimfire installed and turn it into a 22lr? I'm wondering how the rimfire hammer & firing pin would work with the Centerfire frame.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I don't know, but I'm bumping this to the top because now I'm curious too.

 

[Alk8944]

As a practical matter, absolutely not! If this runs true to form someone will be along to argue about this soon! You could buy several rim-fire frame guns for what it would cost, assuming you could find a qualified shop to take on the work.

 

[murphydog]

It 'can' be done - witness the British conversions of K-200 Victory Models to .22 LR after WW II - but unless you are looking for a project, or paying someone for one, the question is 'why'?

Factory S & W .22 LR revolvers (minus the .22 HE or Ladysmith) have frame-mounted firing pins. The Brits modified the hammer nose and bushing to convert from centerfire to rimfire but I don't know how these hold up.

Plenty of nice K-22s for sale.

 

[steelslaver]

You could with enough time and money. Like ALK8944 said, be cheaper to buy 2 or maybe 3 K22s. Relocating the hole for the firing pin bushing is only the beginning, then you would also have either modify a center fire hammer or it's nose so it struck off center and the slot for it in frame or keep modify the frame so you could install a frame mounted firing pin like S&W rimfires use so that it would operate with a rim-fire hammer which do not have noses (hammer mounted firing pin). I think this would meant welding up the slot in frame for the hammer nose and then machine the hole s for the frame mounted pin. Even the new center fire frames that use frame mounted firing pins would need their holes relocated to work. Hole for the pin and cross hole for pin that retains it in frame.

Going the other way is no better. I had a guy who wanted 2 Dan Wesson cylinders reamed to 327 mag. When I asked if he had center-fire frames to use them in he said no. I explained about the firing pin problem and never heard back.

When I made my 22 Harvey Kay Chuck I used a center fire frame, reamed a k22 cylinder and a K 22 barrel.

I know it has been done, but you need to seriously modify the frame. I have seen pictures of the British conversions, but machine work and surplus frames used to be way cheaper. No thanks

 

[Pisgah]

Money solves everything, and in this case such a conversion could be made -- but for probably 1/2 the money you could buy a Model 17 or 18 and have exactly what you want.

 

[Alk8944]

Is it primarily a problem of the location of the firing pin hole?

Read OP's post! :"Can the frame from the Centerfire have the parts from the Rimfire installed and turn it into a 22lr? I'm wondering how the rimfire hammer & firing pin would work with the Centerfire frame." This is the question I was answering! , Not is it possible by any means.

 

[Murdock]

Unless you paid a truly unrealistic amount for it you will probably do OK just holding onto the the rimfire parts kit you have and letting it appreciate. Or just part it out. Somebody is always looking for K-22 parts. Other than the barrel, cylinder and hammer most of the other parts will be common to centerfire K-frames just as as they are.

BTW, does your parts kit have a 4" or 6" barrel? Somebody might really want one or the other.

Decades ago, when PPC competition was popular, some people went the other way and put centerfire 38 Special parts on S&W M53 frames. This was in order to get a faster lock time or something to gain an imagined (and probably just theroretical) advantage in competition. That model had (has) two sets of firing pins in the frame, one for rimfire and another for centerfire, and a hammer that could (can) be manipulated with a selector to hit either pin, and so could be fitted with 38 Special parts.

That was a really expensive way to ruin a good collector piece.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have you tried looking for a Rimfire Frame?
Doubt if there's many out there, but you only need one!

 

[handejector]

Have you tried looking for a Rimfire Frame?
Doubt if there's many out there, but you only need one!

He could always buy a K-22, remove all the old parts and install his parts......

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

More trouble than it would be worth imo. But it's your $$$.

 

[Green Frog]

By now you should know that with enough money and a well equipped, talented, and long suffering machinist, you can do just about anything. The question of whether it would be worthwhile is something else again.

OTOH, making a center fire 22 such as the 22 Jet would just require a chambering reamer and some minor fitting. They're your parts and it's your money, but I would probably do that or else have the barrel rebored and the cylinder recut and make myself a K32 in either 32 S&W L, H&R, or maybe even 327 Fed Mag if I had a Model 19 frame to start with.

Froggie

 

[biblethumpincop]

Wow, I stepped away since last night and this got active! Ha.

Thanks for answering the question in my mind. I located the parts kits, but never bought them. Now I don't have to!

 

[KEN L]

He could always buy a K-22, remove all the old parts and install his parts......

Now, why didn't I think of that!

 

[Jebus35745]

For what it's worth. My first custom .32 made by Andy Horvath was converted from .22 lr to .32 long. I gave him a K-22 and got back a 5" K-32. When the barrel was off he re-bushed the firing pin hole to center fire location. You can actually see the two bushings. I gave him a center fire hammer and he didn't use it, said he preferred to use the floating firing pin from the rim fire. That may have been the reason for changing me more then originally quoted? Plus the barrel being changed from .22 to .32 was more money. Larry

 

[chief38]

I'm going to just put out a "general" answer that IMHO will apply to most conversions, major alterations or restorations. Monetarily it just does not make sense. If a piece is sentimental, a family heirloom or similar or you are just flushed with money, then go for it - but those are usually the exceptions.

I've done three restorations in my lifetime and both were family heirlooms that I would like to hand down. At the time I did these, the costs, shipping and wait times were a whole lot better than now. There was also "pride in workmanship" - at least leaps and bounds better than now.

Custom work, shipping and wait times for "quality" work is out of control right now and getting worse!

 

[Green Frog]

chief38, the question of building oneself a "special" gun comes up perennially, and while we all agree that in most cases it's not an economically feasible strategy, sentimentality as with your three or acquisition of an exceedingly rare variant or one that never existed can sometimes make it worthwhile. It will seldom be cheap, or quickly done, but if it fills a perceived need or just provides pride of ownership, it can be worth it.

OTOH, the OP asked about buying parts for making a conversion that would not provide advantages over a relatively easy to find model, available on the market at a reasonable price. The project wouldn't have fit any of my suggested categories, so I advised against it, even though I've had a couple of "special" builds done for myself. Mine were just that, "special".

Froggie