Question about Taylors Hickock 3" Open Top revolvers

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Good Afternoon:
I have a pair of Taylors 38 Special Hickock Open Top revolvers.
To me, they appear to be standard 38 Special Uberti Open Tops with Army Grips and 3" barrels.

Does anyone know if a standard 44 Russian/Colt/Special cylinder and barrel can be put on these?

I'd like to add another option to these if possible.

Thanks in advance

--Dawg   

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Mine were not conversions they were just 1872 Open Tops with short barrels.  I wound up hating the Army grips more than I thought I would so I sold them after a couple of matches.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Hi Larsen:
In the old days, I had a pair of Open Tops, and I had different caliber barrels & cylinders for them.
It made them more versatile.

I'd like to do that again -- Do you know if 44 cylinders and barrels will fit these guns?
Thanks in advance

--Dawg

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I do not know for certain.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I don't see why not .

Rooster 

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Yep, I wasn’t certain either.

i agree that there seems no reason why it shouldn’t work, but I thought I’d ask. 
Thanks

—Dawg

[Bailey Creek,5759]

Maybe VTI would know.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I am 99% sure that they will as it appears to be a standard OT frame.  There would be no reason for it to be any other frame.

 

What I am not sure of is why they called it the Hickock model as there is no relation.  But I know the importers all like little pet names for their guns.  Maybe call it the Stoudenmire model, that would be closer except most people don't know who he is. 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

They could have called it the Abilene.  He's famous.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Yep!!!

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Then people would know it is a good looking gun.  If they want them to know it is a good-shooting gun, they should name it the Larsen. 

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

I believe it will depend on timeframe of production.  My early '72 pair in .38 special have smaller diameter cylinders and smaller ID frame dimensions than the pair of pistols I purchased from you in .44.  Therefore, the .44 cylinders will not fit within the frame dimensions of the .38 pistols.  The .38 cylinders do fit the .44 frame guns but with the larger frame opening dimension, the bolt doesn't engage the cylinder notches as strong as it should. The third .44 I purchased from you as a backup does interchange with both.38 caliber guns.  Almost identical cylinder diameter.

Tomorrow I will get the digital caliper out and give you some diameter measurements.

Chas B 

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Chas, that was my recollection.  My first OT's were in .45 and they had problems with those.  The metal at the barrel throat was paper thin and many of them broke.  The .38s were fine.  The .45s not so much.

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

My first pair were in .45 Colt as well.

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

The first production run were all chambered in .45 Colt due to an error in production.  The pistols were supposed to be .44 caliber.

The barrel blanks were sent to be bored and rifled with the instructions stating .44 cal.  Being they looked like .44 cal percussion barrels, they were cut to that spec.  With a run of barrels bored larger than .429-.430, the decision was to chamber the cylinders in .45 Colt in order to use the barrels.

With the smaller cylinder diameter of the early production guns and being chambered in .45, made for thin cylinder walls.  Those guns were shipped with a warning regarding CUP pressure.

[Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104]

The first three pics and the last. one out of order,  are of early production .38spl pistols.

The next four are of two later production .44spl pistols.

The next two pics are of an early production .44spl pistol.

The next two pics are of the outer chamber wall thickness of a later production .44spl pistol and an early production .44spl pistol.

 

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Thanks for the pictures Chas.
I'll have to get out my calipers, and measure mine.
Then I'll call VTI and ask.
Although Coffinmaker told me that VTI has sold, and the gal who really knew everything no longer works for VTI, so I don't know if calling them will produce good results.

--Dawg

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Try calling Taylors.  I have had good luck finding parts (usually at not a bad price) and they are always helpful.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Like Larsen said.  Getting VTI on the phone can be difficult and the knowledge base has deteriorated somewhat.  Call Taylors and try to get a hold of the gunsmith.  You will get answers.