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Post by kings6 on Feb 8, 2023 21:38:30 GMT -5
Bob, a couple of thoughts on that gun. First, it is cool Type 1 flat top with the small serrated ejector rod button and the wavey front sight. Both are hard to come by and neat features in my book so you may want to retain them. Second, it sounds like it has been converted to the transfer bar system. That may take Hamilton off your potential builder list unless you want to retain the transfer bar action and are happy with how it feels. I know he won't un-convert a gun with the transfer bar but he may be willing to change calibers etc. if you can live with the transfer bar action. That is just him in his lawyer/liability mindset. If you do want it unconverted then there are several guys who will do so or you can buy a set off the RF and do the un-conversion yourself. Probably stuff you knew but I know guys have bought previously converted guns in the past and found the smith would not work on them for custom work.
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 8, 2023 22:31:16 GMT -5
Thank you again for all your experienced insight...
Having the transfer bar safety system in the gun was one of the top reasons I bought it... a) ruined the collector value 2) lowered the price 3) 6-beans in the wheel safely... 4) doesn't bother me at all....
The other big reason was the quality of the stocks...at least they look pretty good to me. I am not a big fan of the XR3 gripframe...the last thing I wanted was the original cheese-grader plastic grips (other than to sell). They are just way too small for me. Am hoping these are as nice as they look and also from the pics look quite a bit thicker than the originals... Hoping that these stocks will save me from having to spend more money later having custom stocks fitted.
Thank you for the insight on the front sight and ejector rod... While the ejector rod will probably be staying the front sight will not...it was too short to begin with with heavy .357s, with 220-250 grain .41 bullets it wouldn't even be close to tall enough.
On the front sight base...I am hoping to find a smith who can install a blue Freedom Arms style front base. If not I'll be going with something from Mr. Garza...
The next discussion is who to do the build... I currently have two customs from Mr. Reeder, two from Mr.Huntington and one from Mr. Clements. Have seen the work from Mr. Tyler and Mr. Harton and am leaning in that direction...
Please keep the thoughts coming...
Thank you...Bob
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fm027
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 73
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Post by fm027 on Feb 9, 2023 0:11:31 GMT -5
Bob,
I'm pretty sure Fermin has an arrangement with Baker to offer the freedom arms bases & blades (both) straight out of his shop in Texas. And I believe blued is doable through him. Once you get right down to it, especially if you think you'll ever land that sight on fur, get yours made with a brass bead insert... those are the nicest, hardiest field sights on the market by far. Garza's making great stuff.
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 9, 2023 6:18:34 GMT -5
Thank you...I'll be checking in with Fermin shortly anyway as I have a couple of FAs that are in need of his blades... Am almost done finalizing loads for them to know what the correct heights should be.
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 11, 2023 14:02:19 GMT -5
Getting closer... YouTube reads your mind...but really it has a trace on all your internet searches... Over there a little while ago and what pops up..Gunscom owner with a 1/5 Skeeter .44 Special that was done on a .357 Flat Top... Was one of the configurations I was thinking about. Polished aluminum gripframe, not an overly shiny blue with an excellent front sight... Mr. Taffin is reportedly the owner of one of the other guns...maybe he'll post a picture of his... www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBTYwjIEefs&t=22sSince Skeeter was one of those who pushed for the .41 Magnum, and really wanted a Special, don't think he would be terribly upset if mine was in .41 instead of .44...both are very "Special".. |
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Post by kings6 on Feb 11, 2023 18:22:33 GMT -5
JTs gun is SS4 and Bill Grover built it as well. SS4 was one of the guns that got me started down the custom road and decided years again to have a similar gun built. John Gallagher was selected to build my version and it is one of the last guns he finished before he passed away. In fact, I knew John’s time was short and I told him to not spend any time on the project but to just send the parts back so he could focus on other more important things his last few months. He surprised me and Gil dev me that as surprise, he had decided he was going to finish that gun and in fact was just about done.
I had John build the gun as close as possible to JTs gun with two exceptions. One was I sent a Clements bisley spurred hammer and two, rather than SS4 on on the bottom of the main frame I had John stamp it SS/JT in honor of both JT and Skeeter.
I was fortunate to get to buy actual TLA parts like front sight and ER to send to John. We did use a Powers two piece grip frame rather than a modified Colt piece so we could do one piece ivories like on JTs original SS4 gun.
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 11, 2023 21:03:22 GMT -5
I remember when you had that gun built...sounds really nice...
Thanks..Bob
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Post by singleaction on Feb 12, 2023 0:54:03 GMT -5
I happen to have a 50th anniversary 357 new model flat top that has had the cylinder window enlarged and a large frame new model 357 cylinder fitted and re-chambered to 44 magnum. The large 357 new model cylinder doesn’t quite completely fill up the cylinder window lengthwise, but one could take a 30 carbine cylinder, which is the same length as a 44 magnum or 45 colt cylinder, I believe, and have it re-chambered and fit to an opened up mid frame for a truly full length fit. The cylinder might even need a slight trim on the front end to make it fit, I’m not sure. I suppose the same could be done with an old model mid frame. Anyway, I got this idea from a friend who had considered buying my 44 mag mid frame and doing the longer cylinder 41 mag conversion for use with 265 LBT LFN’s in 41’cal. Just something to consider.
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 12, 2023 7:56:31 GMT -5
Thank you for the suggestion... I had one of the NM Flat Top .41 Magnums with a 4 5/8" barrel and it was a nice gun. There is one for sale on GunBroker right now and the bid is up to a little over a grand. www.gunbroker.com/item/969318223Already have the Gary Reeder in the Avitar and a FA 83 for "big" .41s and am looking to do a smaller .41 Special this time more the size of a FA 97... Thanks...Bob |
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 16, 2023 6:03:49 GMT -5
...base gun is supposed to be delivered to the dealer today...will pick it up by the weekend...
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 16, 2023 20:32:42 GMT -5
Well....I picked up the Flat Top and I am not a happy camper...
For those that looked at the auction pics, they weren't exactly closeup shots... To me it seems to be some holster wear on the edges of the cylinder flutes and barrel and maybe some wear/marks on the aluminum gripframe...also it was clearly listed "A transfer bar has been added." WELL NO IT HAD NOT!!!!
As to the condition of the gun...a good 95%...don't think it has ever seen a holster. There are two very small scratches on the barrel, one on the left side near the frame and another on top also near the front sight base..that's it.
Aluminum ejector rod housing is 99%...the aluminum gripframe 99%..zero blue wear or marks on the frame...has very little indication of being fired... Ya gotta wonder where this gun has been for the last 65+ years...
The stocks did not disappoint at all...nice grain, excellent fit and shaped perfectly for my hand. WAY better than any XR3 grip I have ever handled...
I was REALLY hoping for a nice USED and converted FT...but this will work out...
So, it will get shot next week and will go from there...
Bob
ps..I am however really pleased...I never expected the gun to be this nice...and not having the transfer bar is just icing the cake...
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Post by bushog on Feb 16, 2023 21:04:02 GMT -5
Bob, a couple of thoughts on that gun. First, it is cool Type 1 flat top with the small serrated ejector rod button and the wavey front sight. Both are hard to come by and neat features in my book so you may want to retain them. Second, it sounds like it has been converted to the transfer bar system. That may take Hamilton off your potential builder list unless you want to retain the transfer bar action and are happy with how it feels. I know he won't un-convert a gun with the transfer bar but he may be willing to change calibers etc. if you can live with the transfer bar action. That is just him in his lawyer/liability mindset. If you do want it unconverted then there are several guys who will do so or you can buy a set off the RF and do the un-conversion yourself. Probably stuff you knew but I know guys have bought previously converted guns in the past and found the smith would not work on them for custom work. you are right but I feel compelled to add the fact that just because you put original parts back in a converted gun does not mean that some guys will work on them. In fact they’re worse because they’ve been messed with outside the factory. The key is whether or not the gun has the “R” for retrofit stamped on the cylinder frame. You have to take the grip frame off to find it. Can’t count how many never converted guns I’ve bought that were just …unconverted. Those went to guys that would work on them. No way to tell for sure till you take that grip frame off…. |
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 17, 2023 6:43:04 GMT -5
Ok...thanks...
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Post by bigmuddy on Feb 17, 2023 8:35:54 GMT -5
Sounds like a great old FT Bob. The ejector rod housing should not be aluminum. The FT’s had steel ERH’s. One caution when you shoot it….. I bought an old beater FT .357 several years ago for a conversion project (44 Special). It shoots.357’s so well that it’s still a 357. I’ve had it at least 15 years now. And I don’t really like 357’s 😂
Dan
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Post by rjm52 on Feb 17, 2023 9:28:58 GMT -5
Sounds like a great old FT Bob. The ejector rod housing should not be aluminum. The FT’s had steel ERH’s. One caution when you shoot it….. I bought an old beater FT .357 several years ago for a conversion project (44 Special). It shoots.357’s so well that it’s still a 357. I’ve had it at least 15 years now. And I don’t really like 357’s 😂 Dan ...!!!... I just checked the ERH and it is steel...was wondering why it looked the same color as the barrel...usually they are blacker... ...and yes, I am scared to shoot it as a .357...thing is I have a 5.5" FA 97 in .357 that fills that role nicely so it will probably be converted to .41... The Seller just wrote me back...the "has been converted" was a typo...should have been doesn't have a safety bar... |
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