Buck Doff Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 If a 45colt SAA is converted to 22lr can it be converted back to 45colt? Thanks BD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 If a 45colt SAA is converted to 22lr can it be converted back to 45colt? Thanks BD Most things can be undone, just takes money. Cut a barrel too short - put a new one back on. How'd you change a .45 to a .22 - a new cylinder and barrel & what firing pin arrangement? One could assume you'd just swap the parts back . . . . Shadow Catcher p.s. - If you provided a little more information perhaps we could get a more informed answer . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Doff Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Have a chance to buy it but have not seen it yet, just trying to get a clue about the conversion. I'm guessing there's more to it than just a barrel and cylinder swap. It is a first generation made in 1898 with a letter from Colt so I thought it would be nice to put back to the original caliber. Thanks BD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Have a chance to buy it but have not seen it yet, just trying to get a clue about the conversion. I'm guessing there's more to it than just a barrel and cylinder swap. It is a first generation made in 1898 with a letter from Colt so I thought it would be nice to put back to the original caliber. Thanks BD I have a 1st Gen SAA made in the 1880's. Have a letter. Came from the factory as a .44-40. It is now a .32-20. Colt has no record of doing any conversion, and there is nothing to suggest that it was done at the factory. One fellow I know who is knowledgable about Colt's made an educated guess, saying the change was made no earlier than the 1920's. It may have been renickeled, and at a glace looks really pristine. To be honest, I'd not even consider recoverting it. The changes give the gun some interesting character and history, as well as some mystery. Now, none of that may matter to you and your pistol, but, give that some thought. If in the end, you want to restore, go for it. On the other hand, if haveing something with some odd history appeals to you, keep it as is. That being said, I think having a full size Colt in .22 would be really cool. Especially of the hammer has the firepin still on it, and no transferbar was put into it. If you decide you don't want it, tell me if the place that does has a website! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jake1001 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Being that the Colt was made in 1898, it is an antique and doesn't require an FFL to do transfer paperwork. Cash and carry. Don't let anyone fool you and charge for this, check with BATFE if you want to. Just sayin' Big Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I had a Colt New Servcie sleeved from .45 Colt to .30 Carbine in the 1940's. The owner used it to kill sharks as a professional fisherman (not saying that is right or wrong, just what he did). .30 Carbine is a lively and flashy revolver round. I just sold a Bisley (ca. 1902) in .32 WCF that someone had nickled in the 1950's. It was a $1000 gun, not equal to the $2800 that a 50% original would bring. Once the gun is not original, once it has been altered, it has little collector value; it is just an interesting shooter. I would suggest that you get into this only for your enjoyment. If your goal was to have a smith bring it back to .45 and make it more shootable than an original, then there is shooting value to this project. Smiths like Cylinder-n-Slide and Sixgun Specialists are just two that work new life into a SAA. I would expect: - rebore the cylinder - new barrel (you might be able to find a decent barrel on your own and save time and money) - new hammer if the original could not be modified - likely to run $500-750 not counting any refinishing - 2-6 months, These guys are often very backlogged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Harley, #14153 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 What Tom said. Any conversion can be made with enough dollars and time. In this case, ask yourself why you want to make the conversion. Personally, I think the 22 conversion is a pretty cool oddity. Find yourself a 1st generation Colt in 45 Colt and keep both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Doff Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thanks for the info and things to consider, I'm a mounted shooter so I always think 45colt. Here's a followup question just for fun, this is kind of a strange situation, I have to choose between two guns, one is this Colt SAA converted to 22 and the other is a Remington Rand 1911, same price for each and I haven't seen either yet. I've been wanting a 1911 so I'm leaning that way, which one would you guys go for. BD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 It is a first generation made in 1898 with a letter from Colt so I thought it would be nice to put back to the original caliber. Howdy Can I ask a really dumb question? What caliber does the letter say the gun left the factory chambered for? First Gen Colts were available in a bewildering array of calibers, and there were a few made that left the factory chambered for 22 Rimfire. 107 in the standard SAA configuration and 93 as target models according to my books. SAAs chambered for 22 Rimfire showed up as early as 1883. If that puppy left the factory chambered for 22 Rimfire it is worth a whole lot of money just the way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Howdy Can I ask a really dumb question? What caliber does the letter say the gun left the factory chambered for? First Gen Colts were available in a bewildering array of calibers, and there were a few made that left the factory chambered for 22 Rimfire. 107 in the standard SAA configuration and 93 as target models according to my books. SAAs chambered for 22 Rimfire showed up as early as 1883. If that puppy left the factory chambered for 22 Rimfire it is worth a whole lot of money just the way it is. Good point. Seems kind of odd that someone converted a 45 Colt to 22 when 22 revolvers were plentiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Well a total of 200 ain't exactly plentiful, as a matter of fact it makes a 22 Colt pretty rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muleshoe Bill SASS #67022 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 No telling what some folks will do, but to convert a SAA to .22 seems a mite odd. I would get a look at the gun and check barrel markings and the letter out. I agree with Driftwood, if it is originally a .22 you may want to jump on it if price is right. To convert a .45 to .22 would take new barrel, cylinder & hammer and some work to the frame to allow the rimfire hammer to strike the cartridge rim, probably a new hand and tuning the mainspring. All that would cost more than just buying a .22 pistol even if it was decades ago. That being said.. I am going to go examine a SAA and check out the frame and how it would work converting to rimfire from center fire.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Doff Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 I'll try to find out what I can and report back. Thanks again. BD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Well a total of 200 ain't exactly plentiful, as a matter of fact it makes a 22 Colt pretty rare. No, Driftwood. Meant 22s in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 If it is converted, depending on who done it, it may be worth more converted than original. Alonso Krull, R.F. Sedgeley, and some others converted some and they would be worth quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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