NM-OM Cylinders

[salover]

I have an OM Blackhawk that I had converted to 44 Special and am thinking about another cylinder in 44-40 for it. My question, will the NM cylinders interchange with the OM?

 

[princeout]

I've got OM cylinders in NM frames but I've never tried going the other way. Would think they would fit, pending actual length adjustments.
Tim

 

[DGW1949]

Depends on which frame size the NM cylinder is from and what caliber of OM revolver your "converted" .44 Spl was made from.
If you are asking about the possability of using a cylinder from an original-size NM Blackhawk in an OM-357 frame then the answer is definently....no.
On the other hand, if your gun was built on an OM-357 frame and you are contemplating using a cylinder from say, a New Ruger Vaquero, an "Anniversary" 357 Flatop, or rechambering the cylinder from a recent (2-pin) .44 Spl the answer is....maybe, depending on how it measures in comparison to your existing cylinder.

Hope that aint too confusing.

DGW

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

I've put a barrel from a New Model Flattop .44 Special in an OM and everything fit dimension wise with the OM cylinder, so would assume a cylinder from a New Vaquero or any new medium frame gun would fit, as DGW1949 has said. I've done what you want with my set of OM 3 screw Vaqueros in .44 Special, but used OM cylinders for mine; makes for a neat black powder set up.
HH

 

[salover]

Thanks guys, That's food for thought. Hadn't thought about the difference in NM frame size. Guess that's why they have these forums, more heads are better than one.

salover

 

[DGW1949]

Thanks guys, That's food for thought. Hadn't thought about the difference in NM frame size. Guess that's why they have these forums, more heads are better than one.

salover

Something that I forgot to mention;

The rim on a 44-40 is larger in diameter than the rim on a 44 Spl. So it could be that there aint enough room within the cartridge "circle" of an OM-357 sized cylinder to accomidate the extra rim diameter of the 44-40 cartridges without the rims touching (or overlapping).

That might be something to check on before plunking down your money.

DGW

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

Well, like I said above, I've done it and it works; here's a couple of pics for your purusal:

And from the business end, and in the gun:

And the set, with Old Army GF's, steel ERH's and elk horn grips:

HH

 

[dlhredfoxx]

NICE! Love the Old army grip frames on the Vaqueros! Would love to do that with my Vaqueros, but where to find two stainless Old army grip frames!

Where did you get the elk antler grips done? They are beautiful! That is a very classic combination.

Do you get any extra purchase with the old army grip frame? They look a good bit longer than the standard Vaquero grip frame... almost as long as a SBH grip frame...

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

The elk antler grips were done by a maker here in Arizona, over in Show Low. He used to advertise in The Cowboy Chronicle, but doesn't anymore. so Idon't know if he's still doing them or not. He made mine a little extra thick, as I have long fingers, and yes, they make for a good grip, and you really need it with the full black powder loads in 44-40. Somebody had a SS Old Army grip frame for sale here on the forum not too long ago, as I saw it and wished it had been a few months earlier, as I had to use a New Model grip frame with the adapter for this gun:

It 's the one I refer to above that I put a .44 flattop SS barrel in, so had to match the SS barrel with a SS grip frame and ERH. The rest is NP3 finishing by Robar Industries in Phoeni, Az.
HH