Converting a HD to a 44 special?

[ladder13]

Could a Heavy Duty be converted to 44 special by using a barrel and cylinder as those on the new M21's?
Does Smith sell the M21 cyl and barrel from their parts dept?
How would a new barrel fit on an older "pinned" N frame?
What other parts would need to be changed?
Easier just to re-bore and re-chamber?
Thanks

 

[ladder13]

Could a Heavy Duty be converted to 44 special by using a barrel and cylinder as those on the new M21's?
Does Smith sell the M21 cyl and barrel from their parts dept?
How would a new barrel fit on an older "pinned" N frame?
What other parts would need to be changed?
Easier just to re-bore and re-chamber?
Thanks

 

[ladder13]

David, take me thru the steps, sloooowly.

The barrel is a M24 barrel? The cylinder comes from?
You removed the finish? How?
Who did the work, you?
Thanks, you can PM me if you don't want to answer here.

 

[ladder13]

Many thanks David, you really have some "special" pieces.

 

[Evil One]

Originally posted by keith44spl:
ladder13, e-mail inroute

Dave

Dave, would you mind hitting me with that email also... please Sir?

Jim

 

[R-Tex]

Originally posted by Evil One:

Originally posted by keith44spl:
ladder13, e-mail inroute

Dave

Dave, would you mind hitting me with that email also... please Sir?

Jim

Dave, may I have a copy of the email too, please?

Thanks!

 

[Kirmdog]

May I ahve a copy also Dave?

The gun you did looks great!

Don "Kirmdog"

 

[j38]

David,

I would be interested in the details myself. Thanks you again for your original post regarding this and your other .44's!

Jerry

 

[ladder13]

1Aspenhill is not gonna be happy with all those HD's being converted.

On the other hand, I didn't think there was so much interest in the idea.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Why do you have to do it to a poor defensless heavy duty?

Why not get a Model 28 that has a better heat treated cylinder and leave the 38/44's to us collectors of them.

Seriously I all I can think of is the shame of it.

 

[snowman.45]

Dave;

That is one great job on the conversion. I'm considering a similar project. Could I trouble you for an e-mail of the process also? Thanks.

 

[Doc Nonverbal]

Hello David,

I would very much like to receive a copy of your e-mail as well.

Many thanks,

David

[email protected]

 

[Smilin-buddha]

I would also love the email. That is one nice looking pistol Sir

 

[Smilin-buddha]

That has been Corrected Dave. Thanks

 

[Smilin-buddha]

Thanks for the email.

 

[38-44HD45]

Originally posted by Peter M. Eick:
Why do you have to do it to a poor defensless heavy duty?

Why not get a Model 28 that has a better heat treated cylinder and leave the 38/44's to us collectors of them.

Seriously I all I can think of is the shame of it.

Shame, shame on me...

Top two are .45 Colts, bottom is a .44 Special, all on Heavy Duties, all by Hamilton Bowen. Ham's view, which I share, is that a .38 Special on a N-frame, "hopped up" or not, is something of a waste of steel. "Pretty useless," is the term Hamilton used when we first spoke about it, as I recall.

This thread needs more photos and less PMs...