Question for gunsmiths on cap and ball conversions

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

There are a handful of .36 caliber cap and ball revolvers on the market that nobody makes a conversion cylinder for.   

Question to gunsmiths.  Is it possible to do a conversion on these pistols the "old fashioned" way by modifying the original cylinder, or is the steel they are made of not up to the task of so changing them?

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

I have seen many conversions done on these gun before the factories got involved. There was quite a cottage industry back in the 90's doing it.  BLACK POWDER ONLY in these conversions , but yes it can be done.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

My pard Ohio Cheatin' Charlie converted a pair of cap guns.

if you have access to some machinist gear & some skill, you can do it too!

--Dawg

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

16 minutes ago, Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 said:

My pard Ohio Cheatin' Charlie converted a pair of cap guns.

if you have access to some machinist gear & some skill, you can do it too!

--Dawg

 

I have neither of those things. 

[Sedalia Dave]

3 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

I have neither of those things. 

 

Then you'll need a pocket book full of cash. 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Take your BROKER to lunch.  Make it a really GOOD lunch.

[McCandless]

21 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

There are a handful of .36 caliber cap and ball revolvers on the market that nobody makes a conversion cylinder for.   

Question to gunsmiths.  Is it possible to do a conversion on these pistols the "old fashioned" way by modifying the original cylinder, or is the steel they are made of not up to the task of so changing them?

 

There is a gunsmith who does "one-off" cartridge conversions for odd-ball percussion revolvers, and revolvers that have been out of production for years.

I don't know his prices, I suspect it ain't cheap.

https://cartridgeconversion.com/ 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Gary Barnes is also known in the CAS community as "Hoofhearted".  Damn fine gunsmith.  No.  He ain't cheap, but he's righteous good.

[Texas John Ringo, SASS #10138]

Years ago (1980's/1990's) there was an article in at least one, maybe others, gun magazine on how to make conversions, long before conversions were available. But I don't remember the mag. Told/showed how to make the conversion ring and how to machine the rear of the cylinder. Didn't look all that complicated, thought about don't it just never got to it.