Small 45 Colt conversion

[akray]

This is a "Small 45 Colt" conversion from Linebaugh Custom Sixguns. Linebaugh's handwritten note says, "This is a lot of gun & what I recommend for most folks unless they are hunting the biggest & the baddest." The factory cylinder was rebored from 44 Magnum to tight spec 45 Colt. The loads recommended on the data sheet supplied with the gun take a 260 gr cast bullet to about 1450 fps. I don't think this conversion is offered any more but it's a good one. It makes for a very shootable yet powerful 45 Colt when you need it.

I found this one about a week and a half ago in a craigslist ad. The older gentleman said he ordered it 20 or more years ago, when a friend of his mentioned Linebaugh's work and recommended he send his 44 Magnum Bisley in for the conversion. He told me that he took one black bear with it. The bore is leaded from using bullets that are too hard, I think, but I can try some things to get most of the lead out. I've looked in the stores for Chore Boy copper scrub pads, but I don't think they're carried here.









One thing I noticed right away about this gun is that it doesn't have any Linebaugh Custom i.d. on it. It says 45 Colt on the barrel, but that's it. It doesn't have a freespin cylinder either, but you can tell the action and trigger have had some attention. I might get some upgrades on it, but I think it will get a lot of use.

[robl]

That'll be a great [pistol for you Ray, glad you picked it up!

[Lee Martin]

Really nice piece. Do you know roughly what year John did the work?

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[whitworth]

That is a very nice and useful piece! Let us know how it shoots.

[Snyd]

Nice piece of history there.

[sheriff]

Looks like a good one!

[cherokee]

I like that, should be great coming from Linebaugh.

[cstokes]

Fire a couple of the Speer shot cartridges through your gun. The wadcutter shape of the shot capsule will scrape most of the lead out.

[akray]

Lee, he had the conversion done in '89 or '90, by his best recollection. If he still had his build sheet on the gun he didn't include it with the sale. He also couldn't remember if he made the grips himself, or if Linebaugh made them. I got a couple hundred cast bullets, 40 or 50 loaded rounds, some brass, and a cool leather flap crossdraw holster with the gun. The holster was made by a guy who had a business here in Fairbanks up until 15 years or so ago, Dark Horse Leather Goods. That was back in the days when I didn't have much money for guns or ammo really and custom holsters weren't even in the picture. This is the second holster I have by this maker and I like them. I'm going to get the bore deleaded, pick up some 300 gr bullets and see how the gun likes them.

[Deleted]

akray try looking at family dollar or general dollar for your copper scrub pads, that is where I found them, there not chore girl, but work fine when you cut em up for non-abrasive barrel scrubbers! By the way, Very Nice Piece!! Enjoy

[tek4260]

Oct 15, 2012 20:21:50 GMT -5 wildcatter said:

akray try looking at family dollar or general dollar for your copper scrub pads, that is where I found them, there not chore girl, but work fine when you cut em up for non-abrasive barrel scrubbers! By the way, Very Nice Piece!! Enjoy

Do they pass the magnet test?

[zeus]

Nice. Thanks for sharing!!

[Snyd]

akray, I forgot you were here in Fairbanks. I got some Chore Girl type copper scrub pads at Walmart. If you can't find any shoot me a pm, I'll give you some.

[mike44]

I like those grip panels. Not flashy, but handsome

[akray]

I have some other grip material but not for this one. They feel good in my hand and give me something to hold onto.