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Post by tentcamper on Oct 4, 2023 16:39:20 GMT -5
I have a chance to buy a 3 screw .357 Blackhawk in very good condition. I'm thinking it would be a great candidate for a .44 Special conversion.
Who does this anymore?
Thanks!
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Post by Encore64 on Oct 4, 2023 16:42:45 GMT -5
Jack Huntington is a top choice. I'm sure others will have suggestions.
Clements did mine in 41 Special. There are no bad choices...
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Post by z1r on Oct 4, 2023 16:43:09 GMT -5
I have a chance to buy a 3 screw .357 Blackhawk in very good condition. I'm thinking it would be a great candidate for a .44 Special conversion. Who does this anymore? Thanks! Only the cool kids do! Seriously, I too have an OM set aside for this very purpose. I'm sure those that have had conversions done will chime in soon with some good recommendations. |
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Post by Robster on Oct 4, 2023 20:39:13 GMT -5
I have one. Alan Harmon did the work. I love mine, it's my go to for all my riding. I'll try to get a picture up on a bit.
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Post by sixshot on Oct 4, 2023 23:24:09 GMT -5
That's a conversion that has kept a lot of gunsmiths busy for a lot of years. Skeeter Skelton has to get some of the blame as does John Taffin but there's a lot of players in this game.
Dick
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Post by rleprechaun on Oct 5, 2023 0:54:18 GMT -5
Garry Reeder would do a good conversion.
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Post by tentcamper on Oct 5, 2023 6:34:37 GMT -5
It is my understanding that David Clements has retired?
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Post by Encore64 on Oct 5, 2023 6:35:26 GMT -5
It is my understanding that David Clements has retired? Unfortunately he did... |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2023 7:50:36 GMT -5
In theory there should be more guys doing these conversions than ever, but it seems that in reality the numbers are fewer. Or I just dont know about them. Waits are long.
Horvath, i waited 18 months for my gun he finished in January, he just quoted me 2 years on the blackhawk I sent this summer.
Huntington, has had my gun for a year.
Alan Harton is not taking in ruger conversion builds from what i understand.
Ryan Ross and John Powers are out there doing good work. Ryan built my gun pretty quick 3 years ago. John took much longer but was an involved build.
David Clements is retired.
I hear that Gary Reeder is backed up a long ways. Quality varies.
Bobby Tyler TGW is not taking in such work.
Ben Forkin is out there.
Hamilton Bowen will take in guns based on package builds listed on his sight. I dont think he will rechamber without a package included. I may be wrong about that.
Unfortunately a couple of the greats have passed away. John Linebaugh and John Gallagher.
Bob Baer passed away as well.
There are more builders, but Ive never worked with them. I would like to know of more.
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Odin
.327 Meteor
Posts: 971
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Post by Odin on Oct 5, 2023 10:52:17 GMT -5
There are more than a handful of excellent smiths doing this type of conversion. For me, as trivial as it may seem, it’s small signature touches that can definitively sway my decision.
Bowen would be on my short list without a doubt. He has a simple caliber conversion package, to which one can add any number of accoutrements. While I generally forego most any form of flashiness, an action job, cased hammer and Bowen’s express front sight would somehow make their way into such a build if it were mine. I think that handsome little sight base is perfection on a mid-frame Ruger.
Of course, being that small things matter, I’d probably start pestering Ronnie Wells for a Bisley-spurred hammer even before the base gun arrives. Or start the search for an OM Super hammer at the very least.
Horvath would also get serious consideration from me. I picked up a Lil’ Gun second hand a while back and it is divine. The only thing I’d probably add to a build by Andy is one of his hand-crafted hammer spurs. And yes, I’ve often considered sending my gun back to Diagonal Road just for hammer work, but it would probably double what I’ve got into the gun. A fairly expensive signature, no doubt!
John Powers would probably get a hard look too. After seeing Professor’s Croft style build, I can’t help but think that owning something similar (albeit simpler) would make for a delightful carry arm.
So that’s my short list, but there are many more smiths willing to do the job. I say buy the base gun and get to whittling down your own list!
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Post by bushog on Oct 5, 2023 11:42:02 GMT -5
I’d love to see more of John Powers work….
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Post by ridgeline on Oct 5, 2023 16:47:17 GMT -5
I have a related question about these 357-to-44sp conversions. I know a lot of them have been done with old model Rugers over the years, but what about new models? I don't have any old model experience, but I have a new model Blackhawk 357 and am wondering if it would be a good candidate for this conversion as well. Is there something about the old model that makes it better for this conversion than the new model, other than just being a cool vintage revolver? Is there any practical reason why this wouldn't work just as well with the new model?
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Post by bushog on Oct 5, 2023 16:51:11 GMT -5
I know a lot of these 357-to-44sp conversions have been done with old model Rugers over the years, but what about new models? I don't have any old model experience, but I have a new model Blackhawk 357 and am wondering if it would be a good candidate for this conversion as well. Is there something about the old model that makes it better for this conversion than the new model, other than just being a cool vintage revolver? Is there any practical reason why this wouldn't work just as well with the new model? The OM .357s are built on a medium size frame. The NM .357s are built on the large frame. This holds true except for the newer flat top models….which I have used for conversion projects. Depends on exactly what you have…. |
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Post by ridgeline on Oct 5, 2023 17:23:22 GMT -5
My new model 357 is definitely the newer, larger frame, so I guess it wouldn't be as handy as the medium frame flat top models. Maybe just finding one of the newer flat top 44 specials is the easier option. I can see why someone would do an old model conversion though like the OP is considering if those were already on a medium frame. Seems like that would be a really neat revolver with old-school feel to it.
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,424
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Post by JM on Oct 5, 2023 17:47:00 GMT -5
I have a related question about these 357-to-44sp conversions. I know a lot of them have been done with old model Rugers over the years, but what about new models? I don't have any old model experience, but I have a new model Blackhawk 357 and am wondering if it would be a good candidate for this conversion as well. Is there something about the old model that makes it better for this conversion than the new model, other than just being a cool vintage revolver? Is there any practical reason why this wouldn't work just as well with the new model? |
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