Colt caliber conversion
Ok I haven't talked to a gunsmith about this yet but I wanted to get some opinions on it to see if I am crazy or not. I have an old Colt New Army / Navy revolver that is currently chambered in 41 Colt. The barrel is pretty much smoothbore but everything else is i excellent shape and it locks up tight. I was thinking of converting to either 44-40 or 45 Colt. I know with rifles it is often possible to re-bore the barrel so I was wondering if it might be possible to re-bore the barrel and cylinder to the larger diameter? If I go that option a new sight would probably be helpful as the old 1 is pretty worn. Anyone out there have any exerience with this kind of thing? Or if a new barrel / cylinder might be a better way to go? I know these guns were made in a variety of calibers so I think the frame could stand up to the added pressure. Just looking for some feedback and maybe the name of a good smith that could do the work.
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The New Army & Navy was the forerunner to what became the Army Special in the early 1900's. Then became the Official Police in the mid 1920's. It was a medium frame revolver never intended to be chambered for either 44 or 45 caliber cartridges. Since your revolver is at least 100 years old, it's doubtful that it could be safely reworked for either of the cartridges you mentioned. 0 -
Ok but I know that the frame used was the same frame as was used on the later guns such as the Official Police, model 1917 etc ( the E frame or 41 frame) and both the 44-40 and the 45 colt were contemporary cartridges so I guess the age is the major factor. Did they make any of the new Army / Navy revolvers in either of these cartridges? 0 -
quote:Ok but I know that the frame used was the same frame as was used on the later guns such as the Official Police, model 1917
Afraid not.
The Model 1917 and other Colt double action .44 and .45 revolvers were based on the New Service, the ".45 frame."
When the New Army, Army Special, and Official Police are called the ".41 frame" guns, that is because it was the LARGEST caliber they would accomodate.0 -
Wow learn something new everyday. Well seeing as how I like my face intact I guess it will be good for a collector piece or parts gun. Thanks for the feedback. 0 -
Colt SAAs in 41LC and 38-40 used the same barrel so if you want to shoot it, Colt patterns are easy enough to duplicate from a piece of 38-40 barrel.
41 LC is a PITA to handload unless you get hollow base bullets.
Components, bullets and loading dies are available.0 -
"The New Army & Navy was the forerunner to what became the Army Special in the early 1900's. Then became the Official Police in the mid 1920's."
While technically I guess that statement is true, it is only because the New Army/New Navy came chronologically before the Army Special and Official Police. They are entirely different designs, and the New Army did not "beget" the Army Special. The New Army is a weaker design that was the first Colt swing out cylinder revolver. (The cylinder even rotates the "wrong" way - left!) The Army Special was introduced in 1908 and used the Colt action and basic frame that was used on every Colt medium frame thereafter until the Mark III of 1969, including the Official Police, Officers Model Target, Commando, Officers Model Special, Officers Model Match, Border Patrol, Marshal, Trooper, "357" and Python.
As mentioned, the New Army does not have a big enough cylinder or forcing cone to accommodate any caliber larger than .41. The guns were made in only two calibers, .38 and .41, not a "variety." Are you confusing the New Army with the New Service, which was made in a variety of calibers?0 -
I could have been. I am no expert that is why I posted this thread here so that those more knowledgeable than myself could chime in instead of me walking into a gunsmiths shop getting laughed at. I think this may end up getting relined and rechambered in 38-40 like one of the other posters suggested. 0 -
The cylinder cannot safely be opened up to 38-40 because cylinder walls will be too thin.
If the barrel is too thin to be relined with a 38-40 sleeve, a duplicate
barrel can be made out of a piece of 38-40 barrel blank.
Stick to 41 Long Colt unless a gunsmith can sleeve both barrel and cylinder to 38 Special.
This revolver was also made in 32-20 so a conversion by sleeving barrel and cylinder could be done but as in the case of a conversion to 38 Special, extractor work would have to be done.
A gunsmith, good with machine tools would tell you what $$$ you're looking at.0
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