The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

RickB · April 11, 2012, 04:50 PM

I would be very surprised if anything less than 90% of such conversions were done by U.S. importers during the 1950s. Other than relatively limited use of Thompsons and 1911s, the Brits didn't use .45 ACP, so no reason for anyone on that side of the pond to do it. I don't think there was much of a distinction between "importer" and "dealer" in the days when handguns could be bought mailorder.
I have a S&W Hand Ejector .455 that's been fitted with a M1917 cylinder for a sort-of conversion to .45 ACP, and I'd be surprised if that wasn't done at the "local" level; could there have been enough extra or leftover cylinders to a lot of such conversions?

April 11, 2012, 04:50 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I would be very surprised if anything less than 90% of such conversions were done by U.S. importers during the 1950s. Other than relatively limited use of Thompsons and 1911s, the Brits didn't use .45 ACP, so no reason for anyone on that side of the pond to do it. I don't think there was much of a distinction between "importer" and "dealer" in the days when handguns could be bought mailorder. I have a S&W Hand Ejector .455 that's been fitted with a M1917 cylinder for a sort-of conversion to .45 ACP, and I'd be surprised if that wasn't done at the "local" level; could there have been enough extra or leftover cylinders to a lot of such conversions?