Building a custom single action.

I

Idaho 45 Vaquero

New member
Howdy All,

I love single action revolvers, I love them even more when they have been decorated up and customized. I carved out beautiful grips for my 45LC Vaquero and made a beautiful holster. I've made custom grip and a nice holster for my single-six .22 as well. I've always looked with envy at Hamilton Bowen and Linebaugh six-guns. Now, I kinda been thinking about trying something like that in a less common caliber. I have some experience in gunsmithing and lathe work (barrels), and my father is a professional machinist.

I haven't decided on the cambering for this theoretical piece of art., (.475 Linebaugh if I find a strong enough frame) (.455 British maybe if I find a smaller frame)

From just searching online, I can't find anywhere that sells Single Action Revolver Frames or cylinders. However, I can find any grip frame that I would ever want.

Where do I find the parts I need? Is this a crazy idea?
 
It depend on serial numbers

You can buy whatever parts you want without an FFL as long as it isn't the receiver or frame(for revolvers).
Not many companies like to sell cylinders because of what might happen if a moron might install a .45 colt cylinder on a .44 magnum chambered gun.

Your best bet is to buy a parts gun that is well used(or abused) and build up from there. Custom chamberings will likely require a qualified gunsmith for your cylinders. Ruger frames are very friendly to this practice.
 
Years ago there was an outfit making SAA receivers for the custom revolver trade, but it is long gone.

Colt46 has it, your best avenue to a custom single action is to start with a second hand single action. Anything as big as a .475 nearly has to be built on a large frame Ruger... unless you can find a Seville.

A .455 Webley would be of more use to me than a .475 monster magnum but its .530" rim would present a challenge. Even the .520" rim of a .45 S&W Schofield sometimes requires the Ruger ratchet to be relieved. I once read an article with an interesting take on how Colt managed it. Not something readily done one-off.
 
In a custom revolver, theyre'll only be ONE so yo'd better chamber it in a useful round!
The Webly chambering would be unique but locating factory ammo across the counter might be a chore!
Handloading is the reasonable alternative to a FULL custom revolver. Perhaps 44 Special might be the ticket? You could always chamber it as a .44 mag and have the versiality of shooting many cartriges through it! Versitility.
I like the heavy caliber, heavy bullet.
ZVP
 
I am not real recoil tolerant, my SAA .44 Special with WCF cylinder for CAS is about all the fun I care for.

I can imagine a Ruger Flattop .44, real or reissue, to be shot with moderate loads and Magnums in reserve. Or a distributor model .45 LC/ACP flattop.
 
A good place to start is an old Three-Screw Ruger .357 Magnum, preferably one that has not had the transfer bar conversion done. A blank cylinder can be had from Brownell's and bored to any practical caliber commensurate with the mid-sized frame. Also, in a newer gun, the Ruger Flat top .357 or .44 Special are mid-sized frames.

The .357 Magnum barrel can be rebored to any larger caliber, other barrels from larger framed Ruger Blackhawks can be used, but require turning down to mid-frame size. And custom barrels can be had in any boring.

Certainly the Colt New Frontier frame can be used, but these are pricey to begin with.

Anything is possible, it only takes money.

Here is my custom .44 Special, made before the Flat Top .44 Special was introduced:



It was a converted .357 Magnum Three-Screw Blackhawk. A steel grip frame, from an Old Army, was fitted, the gun was rebored and rechambered to .44 Special, the transfer bar mechanism was removed, a new hammer from Dave Clements was installed, and case hardened by Doug Turnbull. Grips from CaryC rounded out the conversion. It is now carried daily.

Bob Wright
 
Last edited:
Might I suggest that someone thinking of making a revolver from scratch from a block of steel might find choosing a caliber to be the least of his problems.

Jim
 
I agree with James K ....and he wrote...

" Might I suggest that someone thinking of making a revolver from scratch from a block of steel might find choosing a caliber to be the least of his problems ".
-------------------------
and while I understand what you're trying to do ....might be fun / it seems to me that just ordering what you want from Freedom Arms ...might be a way better option ...and way more successful...:D

Here is one I had made a few yrs ago ...in .357 Mag with a 4 3/4" Octagonal Barrel...full action job...model 83 - large frame...( and they will be very happy to mfg one in .475 Linebaugh for you...)...and while nothing is free - I paid around $ 3,200 for this one ....they are darn fine guns, in my view, and worth every penny !

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=82010&d=1339790943
 
Both of these guns were built home grown at the same time for about $1500.00 including guns, CCH, and a 12 inch barrel blank. Bluing and nitre included. First time attempts so it can be done. Both are 45 Colt.





 
Thanks All,

Beautiful revolvers folks,

I'll keep an eye out for an affordable used Ruger. I guess I'm in no immediate rush to add another project, I've just got that bug for nice six-guns.
 
Hi, rep1954,

Nice job. Looks like you copied the Ruger transfer bar, which is pretty tricky. For the receiver, did you start with solid steel or did you do a casting?

Jim
 
I would like to point out to the op that for an ocomplished machinist there would be many,many setups and time. Not to mention all of the extra details like case hardening, blind etc... Even in a modern shop like mine with any cnc or manual machine I want at my disposal I probably would steer clear of most revolvers. I could manufacture a 1911 with far fewer setups. If I were retired or still in school I might try and do the job just as a fun project. but, at least in my case I still have to service the customers to pay the bills.
 
James K, I think when I wrote "home grown" you were unintentionally missled. Both of these guns started out as Ruger old and new model 357 mag revolvers. The conversion of these two guns was done privately.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top