Help me spend my money! (custom .41 thread)

[Aggie01]

Alright, here's the background:

Some of you may remember that on the old forum I was trying to figure out what I wanted in a .41 mag.
Things I don't want includes a full size bisley. ( I have one - the .44 mag ALWAYS gets picked first - now so does the .44 special (Lipseys). So my .41 mag has to have a hook, a reason to pick it up versus a .44 mag. Not all the time, but enough of a difference that there IS a difference, you see?
Things I want: a 5.5" barrel. My personal feeling is that if God had handed Moses (Charlton Heston) a sixgun instead of stone tablets, that sixgun would have had a 5.5" barrel.
I have narrowed it down to two choices:
NM .357 mag anniversary converted to .41 mag. OAL will be limited to about 1.64 without a new cylinder.
NM .44 mag anniversary with a maximum cylinder (already on hand) converted to 1.4" .41 mag - and PC #5 gripframe.

In Taffin-esque fashion, I have decided that I want BOTH.
The midframe can do anything with SAAMI loads and lengths, and a 6-shot 1.4" .41 can be pushed heavy on a full size Ruger. ( i personally believe that a 210g xtp at 1800 fps would be safe and fantastic on whitetail - ALWAYS WORK UP!)
The issue is, I can only schedule one to be in process this year.
Which one? And what else do I need to have done to it?
And which smith should I bother with questions?
New barrels are a given, I want to stick to cylinders on hand.

[kings6]

Okay John, here is my two cents worth. The 357 Anniversary model, send it to Harovath to become a short barrelled 41 Special. Have him do his Lil Gun treatment, swap for an aluminum gripframe and have him swap in a bisley hammer. That is what I had him do except I used a ribbed barrel and it is the slickest little sixgun. The second gun sounds right on just the way you have it. Simply add a bisley spurred hammer and go for it. JMHO

[Tx Gun Runner]

I like SBH hammers reshaped . It gives you stock look with the bisley height and only takes 5 min to do .

[Lee Martin]

Either one would make a nice conversion. If I were going to do a 41 on a 357 Anniversary, I'd chamber the Magnum. The frame will handle it and you can still shoot the Special.

On the 1.4" 41, just remember that you need 414 SuperMag brass for that. It's still available, but there's no guarantee Starline would do another run. As I understand it, what's out there now is leftover from Elgin Gate's original run from the 1980s.

Keep us posted. I'm always interested in 41 projects.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[AxeHandle]

I vote

"...NM .44 mag anniversary with a maximum cylinder (already on hand) converted to 1.4" .41 mag - and PC #5 gripframe..."

Contact John Gallagher and get it started.
Order 414 brass from Starline TODAY...

[nobearsyet]

I say use the 357, and go like you planned, but get yourself an S&W barrel (hint, hint, about the next project, onve the Vaquero gets done, but I'm waiting on some loose ends and a few parts I didn't think Ic needed) but I'd do a #5 frame from PC

[Aggie01]

I MAY just get both of em done this year yet!

I was quoted a price of $350 if I was ok with a recycled Ruger barrel on the mid frame.
I'm not naming names, but it is a "big name" smith.

[Mark Terry]

Sounds like you may have solved your problem. I'd be willing to bet you wouldn't be disappointed with the recycled barrel and the price sure sounds reasonable, regardless of which 'smith you spoke with. I have yet to employ any of them but any of those 'smiths regularly mentioned in this forum are magicians based on the few examples I've handled and the many pictures I've seen. I did have the opportunity to meet Mr. Horvath, chat with him briefly and see some of his works in progress. It's magical, I tell you.