44 Special Project

[Lee Martin]

A lot of folks have asked me to document/photograph a Ruger conversion. Decided to finally do it with a 44 Special project I'm about to start. Here's the base gun:

It's your basic OM 357 from 1963. The plan is to de-anodize the gripframe and ejector housing, fit a 4 5/8" stainless barrel, and machine a cylinder out of 17-4 stainless. The frame, side screws, and loading gate will then get Mahovsky's Metalife (hard-chrome which looks like brushed stainless). I should be able to match the barrel and cylinder to the frame.

I'll periodically post pictures to this thread as it progresses (to include the machining & heat treating)

BTW, I was going to just hard chrome a Lipseys but thought this would be more fun.

 

[targetshootr]

Hot damn. Looking forward to watching this!

 

[pvtschultz]

Great thread idea Lee! I've got but one question for ya though. You say that you are a hobbiest gunsmith. Then what the heck do you do with all these fine revolvers that I see on this forum?

I just had to ask!

 

[B.Roberts]

Thanks Lee. I think there are a lot of us that are really going to enjoy watching your progress. Great idea!

 

[Lee Martin]

Then what the heck do you do with all these fine revolvers that I see on this forum?

I shoot the hell out of them :lol:

 

[stuger hawk]

I will stay tuned!!! stuger hawk

 

[Cherokee]

This will be interesting. Always like your work.

 

[ChuckS1]

It's a shame to do that to such a nice gun. Sell it to me and buy a beat up one to refinish. :mrgreen:

And living in Arlington, I bet you do have to shoot them a lot...

 

[Lee Martin]

And living in Arlington, I bet you do have to shoot them a lot...

You're thinking of that city across the Potomac. Arlington is a great place to live (minus the very liberal county board).

 

[Lee Martin]

I finally got around to blanking out the cylinder for my OM 44 Special. Here are some of the steps involved;

I start with blank 2” round 17-4 stainless:

 

[Lee Martin]

Rockwell testing to ensure it’s properly annealed:

 

[Lee Martin]

Outside turning to 1.72” (final cylinder diameter will be around 1.67”)

 

[Lee Martin]

Cutting off a length to a little over 1.90” (final length around 1.845”)

 

[Lee Martin]

Both ends faced in a lathe:

 

[Lee Martin]

Center drilling:

 

[Lee Martin]

Outside diameter finished (done on a mandrel so it’s concentric with the center hole):

 

[Lee Martin]

Ratchet step machined:

 

[Lee Martin]

We next switch to a vertical Bridgeport to cut the bolt stops and ratchet:

We have no CNC, but do use digital readout:

 

[Lee Martin]

Woodruff key cutter used to make the bolt stops:

 

[Lee Martin]

A 3/8” endmill is used to make the bolt stop leads:

A wheel cutter is used to cut the ratchet cogs: