Can this be done with a BP Pistol?

Nalapombu · September 13, 2002, 02:16 AM

Hey all,

I have wondered something. Remington shooters have the option of having a cylinder for cartridges in their gun, Brownells has them. Can the same thing be done for the 1851 Navy and the 1860 Army guns?
I know that you can get open top revolvers but that is not what I am interested in. I would like to have either of the guns listed above but have the cylinder available to shoot cartridges instead of black powder.
I know that they make them for the movies and such, just wondering if anyone has ever seen one or owned one or know about getting one made up.

Nala

Alex Johnson · September 13, 2002, 11:00 AM

I've seen an original 1860 that was cased with components for both cartridge and percussion firing. I believe it was a Thuer conversion. There was a person I met at a gunshow in Minot North Dakota that was modifying repro 1860's to use the Thuer conversion a few years back, he was displaying them at the show but I don't believe he was selling them. If you are a good machinest it probably wouldn't be too difficult to modify one yourself.

Maxim · September 16, 2002, 12:13 AM

What do you mean "shoot cartridges instead of black powder"?

These guns become blackpowder cartridge revolvers with the conversion. That means handloading the cartridges with blackpowder and not smokeless powder.

Jim Watson · September 16, 2002, 08:51 AM

I don't have one of these and can't say how good they are but here it is:
http://www.riverjunction.com/kirst/konverternavy.html

Mk VII · September 17, 2002, 07:32 AM

The two most well-known cartridge conversions of the Colt were the Thuer (not very many made) and the Mason-Richards (much more common). While dual system guns did exist they are not all that common now. Getting the hammer to strike (a) caps and (b) primers interchangeably must have posed some problems.
Various lookalike cartridge revolvers were made by the Italians in the '50s/60s.
Today here some people are converting Ruger Old Armies to smokeless muzzle loaders, using shotshell primers.

Lucky Deuce 1951 · September 17, 2002, 05:52 PM

Anvil Enterprises sells plans to convert the 1851 Navy. I don't know how good the plans are or how hard it is to do the conversion. I didn order the SLim Jim holster pattern from them and it is very good.

http://www.anvilenterprises.com/index.htm

Alex Johnson · September 18, 2002, 03:15 PM

That's an interesting set of plans, I just ordered one, I'll report later on how they look.

September 13, 2002, 02:16 AM	#1
Nalapombu Member Join Date: May 27, 2000 Location: South Point, Ohio. USA Posts: 88	Can this be done with a BP Pistol? Hey all, I have wondered something. Remington shooters have the option of having a cylinder for cartridges in their gun, Brownells has them. Can the same thing be done for the 1851 Navy and the 1860 Army guns? I know that you can get open top revolvers but that is not what I am interested in. I would like to have either of the guns listed above but have the cylinder available to shoot cartridges instead of black powder. I know that they make them for the movies and such, just wondering if anyone has ever seen one or owned one or know about getting one made up. Nala

September 13, 2002, 11:00 AM	#2
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	I've seen an original 1860 that was cased with components for both cartridge and percussion firing. I believe it was a Thuer conversion. There was a person I met at a gunshow in Minot North Dakota that was modifying repro 1860's to use the Thuer conversion a few years back, he was displaying them at the show but I don't believe he was selling them. If you are a good machinest it probably wouldn't be too difficult to modify one yourself. __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

September 17, 2002, 05:52 PM	#6
Lucky Deuce 1951 Junior Member Join Date: September 17, 2002 Location: Sin CIty Posts: 5	Cartridge Conversion Plans Anvil Enterprises sells plans to convert the 1851 Navy. I don't know how good the plans are or how hard it is to do the conversion. I didn order the SLim Jim holster pattern from them and it is very good. http://www.anvilenterprises.com/index.htm

September 18, 2002, 03:15 PM	#7
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	That's an interesting set of plans, I just ordered one, I'll report later on how they look. __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

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September 16, 2002, 12:13 AM	#3
Maxim Member Join Date: September 13, 2002 Posts: 22	What do you mean "shoot cartridges instead of black powder"? These guns become blackpowder cartridge revolvers with the conversion. That means handloading the cartridges with blackpowder and not smokeless powder.

September 16, 2002, 08:51 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	I don't have one of these and can't say how good they are but here it is: http://www.riverjunction.com/kirst/konverternavy.html

September 17, 2002, 07:32 AM	#5
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	The two most well-known cartridge conversions of the Colt were the Thuer (not very many made) and the Mason-Richards (much more common). While dual system guns did exist they are not all that common now. Getting the hammer to strike (a) caps and (b) primers interchangeably must have posed some problems. Various lookalike cartridge revolvers were made by the Italians in the '50s/60s. Today here some people are converting Ruger Old Armies to smokeless muzzle loaders, using shotshell primers.