44 Special Project

[Lee Martin]

Threading the barrel:

Checking shank depth to set the barrel gap:

The final gap came in just under 0.002"

 

[Lee Martin]

Cutting an 11 degree forcing cone:

Crowning the muzzle:

 

[Lee Martin]

…and the highlight of the project so far is the grips arrived:

Claro walnut, matte finish, right-side blind, with flat bottoms. They're made by Cary Chapman and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out.

Well, that's all for now. The frame and ejector housing are going out for hard-chroming this week (brushed satin, not matte).

 

[p.d.]

Stunning.

 

[don44]

Very nice! You sure know what you're doing.

 

[Grendel]

Any updates?

-JT

 

[2ndamd]

This might be the most interesting thread I have read here!
Great job Lee!!!!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[mm6mm6]

This thread is awesome! Thanks for taking the time to post all the photos and info. I'm salivating for more!

 

[Lee Martin]

No updates right now. The frame is off being hard-chromed (I should have it back in a week or two).

 

[dougader]

This might be the most interesting thread I have read here!
Great job Lee!!!!
Thanks for sharing!

Ditto. I find it incredibly interesting, and love to see the process of a true artisan.

 

[Lee Martin]

The frame and ejector housing just came back from being hard chromed:

I should have this project wrapped-up this week (finally!).

 

[REP1954]

Hey Lee any reason you didnt change or remove the 357 Cal. from the frame?

 

[Lee Martin]

Hey Lee any reason you didnt change or remove the 357 Cal. from the frame?

Since I don't do this as a business, I never bother to change the inscription. I actually have an engraving machine that'll replicate factory lettering.....maybe I'll start on my next conversion.

 

[Aeroscout9]

That is looking real good. Man I wish I had your tools and knowledge!

Joe

 

[Kevin Keith]

So Lee, after you get yours done, how much to do mine?

Thanks guys. Never considering doing it as a business. For one, I don't have an FFL. Secondly, there're a lot of great pistolsmiths already out there (Clements, Linebaugh, Bowen, Harton, Stroh, etc). It's hard to compete with established names.

Lee, I'll bet they're very happy you feel that way!

Simply facinating thread. You are a very talented young man and I am proud to be on this board and your own Single Actions with you! Keep it up!

 

[rkrcpa]

That hard chrome sure looks nice. I have a Bisley I'm thinking about having chromed, who did yours?

 

[Lee Martin]

That hard chrome sure looks nice. I have a Bisley I'm thinking about having chromed, who did yours?

www.mahovskysmetalife.com/

He does really nice work and the turnaround is 30 days or less.

 

[MK111]

Hard chrome is the only way to go. Years ago I had a blued Bisley cut down to 5.5" and the gunsmith electoral nicheled it. Boy did it look pretty. Then I shot the first round and all the finish pealed off. So he thought just a bad plating job. It pealed off again. Then he found out you can't electral plate a Ruger. So sent it off to be hard chrome. Never a problem after that.

 

[Cherokee]

Lee this has been a great project, got to see how it turns out !!

 

[stikshooter]

Great thread Lee,cant wait to see it finished.