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Author Topic: Richards Mason Conversion replicas  (Read 31220 times)

Offline Zulch

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #60 on: March 15, 2022, 12:55:17 PM »
Thanks Cap. So why did they move to centerfire over the rimfire? What was/is the advantage.

Ever have a rimfire .22 require multiple strikes to set off the cartridge? Or not at all?
Yeah, that.
Also, reloading rimfire ammo is an impractical, costly and darn near impossible field endeavor compared to centerfire ammo. CF was the next logical step in the evolution of the cartridge.

OH YEAH!! Makes perfect sense. Especially the fact that a rimfire cartridge is a one time use? Hope I understood that correctly.

Offline Zulch

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #61 on: March 16, 2022, 11:28:21 AM »
So I found another good article on the Richards Mason transitional Gun or Model 2.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/1860-richards-transition-model-sixgun/


Short video clip also:
« Last Edit: March 16, 2022, 11:56:49 AM by Zulch »

Offline Captainkirk

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #62 on: March 16, 2022, 12:48:33 PM »
That's some kinda shooting!
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Offline Zulch

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #63 on: March 16, 2022, 12:57:46 PM »
I thought so too Cap.

Offline Captainkirk

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Offline Zulch

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #65 on: March 23, 2022, 10:01:32 AM »
Hey Cap. Great and thanks I’m headed for some good reading😁👍

Offline Bishop Creek

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #66 on: November 18, 2022, 12:32:39 PM »
Good articles on the history of the RM conversions

https://gunsmagazine.com/guns/handguns/colts-cartridge-conversions/

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/colt-conversion-sixguns/

From the first link, the author states:
"Surprisingly, the Colt Conversions made in the greatest numbers were those built on the 5-shot frames of the .36 caliber Model 1862s. According to Flayderman’s Guide To Antique American Firearms, Colt produced about 25,000 of these between 1873 and 1880. They too became .38 caliber cartridge handguns: some rimfire and some centerfire.

The cartridges developed for these conversions are likewise interesting. What was done to make them was simple. The bullets were built like those used in cap and ball revolvers, the elongated projectiles and not round balls. These had a reduced diameter shank at the base that fit into the cap and ball cylinders. Then the wider portion was swaged as the projectile was forced into a cap and ball chamber by the rammer. Cartridge designers of the 1870s built cases that fit onto that reduced diameter shank and made the widest part of the bullet the same diameter as the outside of the cartridge case. These are called “heel-base bullets.” End of quote.

I think the author is a bit confused, he is actually referring to the Thuer conversion made by Colt in the late 1860s to circumvent the Rollin/White bored through cylinder patent. It was Colt's first attempt at a cartridge conversion model. The Thuer conversion cylinder was not bored through and the cartridge was loaded from the front using the loading lever.

« Last Edit: November 18, 2022, 12:44:08 PM by Bishop Creek »
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Offline StrawHat

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #67 on: January 24, 2023, 06:53:51 PM »
I have two of the ASM version of the Richards Conversion of the Colt’s 1860.

You can see the shorter ejector rod housing, the rear sight on the conversion ring and the loading gate.

In the second image, you can see the spring loaded firing pin in the conversion ring.

In the third image you can see the modification to the hammer face.

These are both chambered for the modern 44 Colt cartridge. The original 44 Colt used a bullet of about .455 caliber with a heeled base and loaded it into the case only as deep as the heel.  The modern 44 Colt utilizes technology similar to what Colt’s did with the 41, 38 and maybe the 32 Colt when the modernized them.  They used a bullet that would fit inside the case and tightened the bore to match.  In the case of the 44 Colt, ASM chose to use a .430 bullet and a .429 bore. (Just like the 44 S&W Special and the 44 Remington Magnum).

I load a 200 grain RNFP cast bullet over as much black powder as I can comfortably squeeze into the case. BP lube and a primer and I am good to go. 

No one currently makes a copy of the Richards Conversion which is too bad.  To me it is the finest of all the conversion revolvers.

Kevin
« Last Edit: January 31, 2023, 06:15:27 PM by StrawHat »
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Offline Captainkirk

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #68 on: January 24, 2023, 08:15:55 PM »
Nice looking hardware, Kevin! You still have those pieces?
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Offline StrawHat

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #69 on: January 31, 2023, 06:14:57 PM »
Yes, still have them and exercise them a couple times a year.

Kevin
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Offline G Dog

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #70 on: October 14, 2023, 06:53:33 PM »
Good and long (and long winded in spots) treatment of this topic at CASCity.  From 2020.  Good pics.  They work the topic over rather well.

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=63491.0
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                                                   --   Aristotle

Offline Captainkirk

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Re: Richards Mason Conversion replicas
« Reply #71 on: October 14, 2023, 08:52:18 PM »
Good and long (and long winded in spots) treatment of this topic at CASCity.  From 2020.  Good pics.  They work the topic over rather well.

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=63491.0

Indeed they did! (7&
"You gonna pull those pistols, or whistle Dixie?"