Therapy

[MLBob Furia]

Now almost 10 months out from my spinal fusion surgery and finally getting back to normal (or the new normal). Been hitting the rehab hard and back to swimming 3 days a week, riding my recumbent trike, and hitting the PT hard. Finally able to do most of the things I couldn't do for the first 7 months post-surgery, like work in the shop and paint in the studio. I can even get on the zero-turn mower and do the yard
One of the new hobbies I picked up while recuperating was to do some conversions of black-powder revolvers. Mostly 1851 Navies. Here are some pics of a few of them:

A nicely engraved 1851 Navy refitted with Arizona Custom Grips:


Another 1851 Navy with grips that I added inlay to:

Made the grips on this 1851 Navy from some nicely figured pecan from my "wood library." The pecan tree the wood came from was once recorded as Ohio's oldest, & largest pecan. Grip is inlaid with an 1851 Braided Hair, Liberty, large cent piece:

Finally, a beautifully engraved 1851 Navy "Capt. F.B. Schaeffer" conversion revolver (Grips from Arizona Custom). The flat powder horn pictured with it was another shop project utilizing an old cow horn that I had in the shop from old materials used in one of my dead mount dioramas:

Have enjoyed being able to get out to the range with these revolvers. They provided great therapy while recovering.
Already laying plans to get back to the River in the coming season with Scooter!!

 

[don novicki]

Congrats on feeling better and putting in the hard work to get better. Back surgeries can go either way, glad you had a positive outcome. Those are some sweet looking pistols. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Carl]

Very cool!
By conversion, do you mean they now fire centerfire ammo??

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Bob,

Glad to read that your getting back to better health, and your productive lifestyle. Keep On Keepin' On!

Best regards
Vince

 

[MLBob Furia]

Very cool!
By conversion, do you mean they now fire centerfire ammo??

Yes, conversions from black powder revolvers can fire centerfire or rimfire depending on the conversion cylinder used.

 

[William Reinicke]

This is badass! Glad you are doing good Bob. I always love seeing your work.

 

[Carl]

Very cool! I'd love to hear more.
Are you mainly dropping down to rimfire?
Can these frames handle the pressures of centerfire pistol loads?

 

[Bob M]

Glad you are doing well Bob

 

[MLBob Furia]

Very cool! I'd love to hear more.
Are you mainly dropping down to rimfire?
Can these frames handle the pressures of centerfire pistol loads?

Carl,
Start here: HowellArms.com
I have converted my revolvers to .22 LR, but you can go to .38 SP, , .45, center fire ammo depending on caliber of the black powder revolver (36 or 44) you are converting.I have conversion kits from Howell that include a .22 sleeve that fits snugly inside the barrel of a .36 cal black powder revolver, in addition to the appropriate cylinder.

I'm punching holes in paper at the range and can't see dropping that kind of money for 38 & .45 loads when I can shoot .22 LR all day for Pennies.

Kirst Konverters is another outfit, but I found their cylinder action cogs too touchy to get consistent timing, and they don't offer a .22 twist barrel liner, just a short adapter - so not very accurate. My Howell converted guns shoot excellent groups out to 60 feet with the supplied full- length .22 liner. + Have had no issues with timing with my Howell conversion cylinders.
In the larger calibers, steel frame revolvers will handle conversions to larger calibers with no issues. However, you'll see them advise against using larger caliber center fire ammo in brass frame revolvers. Not an issue with .22 LR at all.