Tom Ball Revolvers and Conversion Cylinder for Sale

[Don Dixon]

I am assisting a former skirmisher in disposing of his skirmish guns. When he was skirmishing, he held the Distinguished Skirmisher and Distinguished Revolver Shooter badges from the N-SSA. For sale are two Model 1858 Remington revolvers in .44 caliber built by Tom Ball ($700 each) with the Ransom rest test targets fired by Ball, and a Taylors and Company .45 Long Colt drop-in conversion cylinder ($150). NOTE: Use of the conversion cylinder required a minor modification to the revolver to fit the cylinder, and only one of the two Ball guns has been so modified. Photographs of the revolvers and conversion cylinder follow. The purchaser(s) pay for packing and postage, which will be between $40 and $50 per revolver.

[Muley Gil]

Is the conversion cylinder for a Uberti or a Pietta?

[Don Dixon]

Gil,

Most of the Italian manufacturer's markings on Ball's guns disappeared when he removed the original barrels and replaced them with his own, and one has to go by weither there is a Uberti mark next to the serial number on the butt. I have two Ball revolvers (Ubertis) which have also been fitted for a conversion cylinder. Since the cylinder for sale will not fit either of my revolvers and the two revolvers for sale are not marked with the Uberti mark on the butt, I would conclude that the cylinder is for a Pietta. The Taylors and Company box and paperwork are not marked as to the model of the cylinder, and the paperwork merely says that conversion cylinders are "available" for 1858 Remington steel frame .44 caliber revolvers and Ruger Old Army revolvers.

Regards,
Don

[Muley Gil]

Thanks Don.

[hawkeye2]

I have a Taylor's conversion cylinder and it drops into my 58 Piettas with no modifications needed. I have a Ball Pietta 58, pre 2000, and a Ball R&S and I would hesitate to modify either one even in the slightest to fit a conversion cylinder.

[Don Dixon]

I have a Taylor's conversion cylinder and it drops into my 58 Piettas with no modifications needed. I have a Ball Pietta 58, pre 2000, and a Ball R&S and I would hesitate to modify either one even in the slightest to fit a conversion cylinder.

LOL. Welcome to the wonderful world of Italian revolver reproductions. The receiver castings for the reproductions are anything but uniform. Taylor and Company's literature accompanying their conversion cylinders states "Some revolvers may need a small amount of metal removed from the frame [i.e., receiver] (use a file or Dremel tool) to eliminate interference" [with the rotation of the conversion cylinder]. I have owned three Ball built reproduction 1858 Remington revolvers, and still have two. All three required the removal of a small amount of metal from the bottom of the receiver above the trigger guard so that the conversion cylinder would rotate freely.

That was what was done to the modified 1858 Remington being sold in this advertisement - by Rob at Tri-L. The conversion cylinder will not fit the other Remington advertised in the sale.

It helps if you know what you're talking about, particularly when raising a safety concern. Have nice day.

[Don Dixon]

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