"Fix" a cylinder?

[Oldmanwesson]

Here's one for you fix-it experts: I have this very nice, antique Ludwig Loewe copy of a S&W 3rd Model Russian which was ruined by a previous owner. Someone tried to bore out the cylinder to turn the .44 Russian into some other .44 calibre (cylinder is too short for .44-40) and in the process damaged the inside of the chambers and the extractor star. The drill bit must have slipped because the chambers are out-of-round. My question is - and this may be a pipe dream - can the chambers be bored out even further and sleeves be inserted to restore the .44 Russian configuration? Does anyone know a precision gunsmith or machinist who can do this / even wants to try?? (has it ever been done??)

 

[mikerjf]

I'm not seriously suggesting this, but it's an idea <cough>...

Bore it bigger, cut the barrel, and get some QSPR ammo, tout it as an earlier version!

 

[cwneely]

I was once able to save a 2nd Model #3 by chambering it out to 45 Schofield. of course you do lose the authenticity but you can shoot it. And yes you can line the bbl to 45. It's pretty thin but gave no trouble. I would rather recut the rifling if I could.

 

[Protocall_Design]

There isn't enough material there to sleeve it. Maybe go to .45 ACP with moon clips? Don't know how big the holes are now, maybe not enough material for that, either.

 

[bummer]

Maybe see if it can be sleeved for a smaller caliber like .32

 

[teletech]

Ouch! It pains me to see hamfisted work like that on a nice gun, even if it is a replica.
Bummer might be onto something with the idea of a caliber reduction.
One could, with some patience TIG weld and re-cut the ejector star, assuming you can't find a new one. Just that is something I'd expect to run about $200 to fix. As for the cylinder, the only way I can think that might bring it back to spec would be to try spray welding. Not sure how it would work inside a bore but it's a seldom used method that can be really valuable in doing things like building up damaged shafts so you can get them to fit a bearing again, etc. Once again it may or may not work and. by the time you are done it won't be cheap.

 

[stansdds]

Bubba's Kitchin Table Gunsmithin Shop strikes again.

 

[2152hq]

Maybe see if it can be sleeved for a smaller caliber like .32

This is the direction I would go with it. There isn't much left inbetw those cyl walls.
Getting the damaged chambers straight will leave even less.

Sleeving them to a smaller caliber of low pressure would I think be the way to go after straightening their out of round problems out .
The extractor blades would have to be rebuilt and fitted to the smaller round so the damaged ones as well as the undamaged ones will need work.
The bbl would have to be lined as well of course but at least the gun is saved and made a shooter again.
Pick something low pressure and/or keep the loads low pressure after the conversion.
The 32S&W Long or even a 38Spcl would do fine I expect.

Nice revolver,,It'll take quite a bit of work ($$) but it certainly deserves a better fate IMO.
It's one of those projects that you look at and keep telling yourself that it should be done. But on the other hand the cost to have it done certainly doesn't make any fiscal sense.
I guess that's why they are usually called 'fun projects'.

Perhaps one of the pistol smiths that still do conversions on S&W and Ruger revolvers would be a possibility for the work.

 

[austintexas]

Could a cylinder from a current reproduction be fitted? At one time I owned a 38 S&W that had been fitted with sleeves to 38 Special and had a friend that had a #3 that had been converted to .22
SWCA 892

 

[Oldmanwesson]

Thanks, everyone for your input. Not sure what to do about it at this time... I'm mostly a collector and would like it to remain .44 Russian if at all possible. The star is probably the least of the problem. A replica or part from another one could be made to fit, I'm sure. One would think the dough head who drilled it out would at least have removed the extractor before plunging his Black & Decker down the hole! This is almost criminal...

 

[teletech]

No chance of finding a replacement cylinder?

 

[glenwolde]

Thanks, everyone for your input. Not sure what to do about it at this time... I'm mostly a collector and would like it to remain .44 Russian if at all possible. The star is probably the least of the problem. A replica or part from another one could be made to fit, I'm sure. One would think the dough head who drilled it out would at least have removed the extractor before plunging his Black & Decker down the hole! This is almost criminal...

I'm thinking his battery died in the middle of the job....

 

[Bekeart]

VERY DIFFICULT

VERY DIFFICULT to rebore oval holes to be round.

Even if you manage to get the holes ROUND, they may not be centered same distance from rotational center and the indexing notch as the original.

Questionable cylinder bore to forcing cone and barrel.

As others have suggested there may not be enough metal for the rebore.

Bekeart

 

[Heinz]

Ludwig Lowe is DWM/Luger. It is a shame someone botched this up. If you were going to make it a shooter I would give serious consideration to reducing the bore size. A 32 long would probably make a really cool shooter.

I would expect you will find the mechanical works in that Ludwig Lowe to be first class with the exception of what is bubbafied.

PS How about some photos of the rest of the pistol?

 

[2152hq]

Getting the messed up chambers round as Bekeart points out likely won't leave them in the correct position to be used as a new chamber using THEIR center.

You'd have to just go ahead and machine them round, then plug them solid.
Then use the bbl bore, or if relined to a smaller caliber, that bore as the centerline to then spot & cut the center for those new chambers.

Line-Boring it's called in revolver work. But they are generally using the technique of using the bbl as a center to cut the chamber centers to get the most accuracy out of the assembly.
Here you would be using the technique to simply be able to regain a center for those two damaged and then off center plugged chambers.

It would be a dandy, if not heavy, .22lr revolver. Then you are into a firing pin conversion as well.
Projects,,projects...