5-shot SBH conversions???

[JamesP]

Hi all, great forum!

I have a RSB Bisley in 44mag that the previous owner wacked the barrel off at 5". I was shooting some heavy loads a few years ago and the front site went bye bye. So it has been locked up in my valt ever since. Well I took it out the other day and knocked all the cob webs off. Now I am in the mood to get that site fixed but now I am thinking why not go a little further and turn it into what I really want. 45/454 with a 5-shot unfluted cylinder.

Has anyone had this done or have any recommendations? Any recommendations for smiths?

Thanks!

[Fiveshooter]

 I have been very happy with the work that David Clements has done for me. That being said there are several good smiths that can do the job for you. John or Dustin Linebaugh, Bowen, Jim Stroh of Alpha Precision all do outstanding work as well. Most of these smiths have very long waits so if you want it soon your choices will be limited but be wary of any smith that does NOT have a backlog as quality custom revover smiths are in big demand. Also expect it to be expensive as quality gunsmithing always is.
 The better smiths dont turn out large numbers of conversions per year so they have to be expensive just to make a living.

Best of luck with whoever you choose.

[2 dogs]

Another option is Alan Harton out of Houston.  He has done some fine work for me that I have written about on sixgunner.com.  Alan is not quite so backed up as some of the other smiths and is an expert with a torch, which you would need to reattach your front sight.  Let me know if you need further information.

[MS Hitman]

John Gallagher over in Jasper AL is another good choice.

[Lloyd Smale]

what he said!

I have been very happy with the work that David Clements has done for me. That being said there are several good smiths that can do the job for you. John or Dustin Linebaugh, Bowen, Jim Stroh of Alpha Precision all do outstanding work as well. Most of these smiths have very long waits so if you want it soon your choices will be limited but be wary of any smith that does NOT have a backlog as quality custom revover smiths are in big demand. Also expect it to be expensive as quality gunsmithing always is.
 The better smiths dont turn out large numbers of conversions per year so they have to be expensive just to make a living.

Best of luck with whoever you choose.

[JamesP]

Thanks everyone. Well I got a few prices

A custom Bowen would be great but I would just assume I had a Freedom Arms as it would be several hundred buck cheaper. His conversion goes much further then just a new cylinder and barrel. Gary Reeder was over a $1000 less then the Bowen and would probably be more then adequite for my liking. It seems he will do the job without all the extra stuff which is more of what I am looking for. I am happy with the action/trigger.

Anyone have any experience with any of reeder's work? i had him do a 7GNR in a contender barrel years ago and he did an excellent job.   

[2 dogs]

I sent Reeder an e mail once asking him if he linebored his cylinders.  I was not very happy with the tone of his response and choose to send my custom work elsewhere. I am not thin skinned or anything but I have met and spoken with most of the sixgunsmiths recommended above and prefer to work with any of them.

[Boxhead]

I second Alan Harton. He has done a fair amount of work for me including 3 full blown customs. Great work and a great person. Here's the latest one he did for me, a 41 Special Single Six.