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February 18, 2009
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Like some of you, I'd like someday to own one of these....... Since they seem pretty much non-existant I was thinking about converting a 445 to 414. Wouldn't the only differences (other than the shroud marking) be the barrel and cylinder?
I sent an e-mail to CZ just this weekend asking about these parts' availability and asked if I was overlooking any other differences between the two models. I made mention of having to possibly adjust cylinder timing, etc. Well, I received a reply today. I'm impressed at the response time but dissapointed with the answer. Here's the reply:
Bill,
I am sorry but our guns are all caliber specific and can not be changed for safety reasons.
Thank you and good luck with your quest.
Keith Lawton
Operations Manager
Dan Wesson Firearms
CZ-USA
I suppose there's such liability concern these days, but its not like someone with a decent mechanical understanding couldn't go about it in a safe manner. Has anyone converted a revolver to a different caliber?
Any place other than CZ to find such parts?
Thanks, Bill
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Bill,
I would suppose the real reason is that the serial number and model number are part of the frame which indicates the factory caliber. If you were to sell it or someone else get a hold of the gun and try to mismatch barrels that do not correspond with the guns chambers it would be an unpleasant mess. Could it actually be mechanically possible? i would think yes, but as Keith indicated the Dan wesson / CZ company would not want the liability of such a thing.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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January 24, 2009
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You may want to inqire into one of the custom smith's, to see if they'd be interested in doing such a thing. But as SMF stated, there may be legality issues with the serial number corresponding to the caliber.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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If you're thinking that a serial number is legally or irrevocably tied to a caliber, that is not likely the issue-I can put a .22 conversion on a 1911, and the SIG P250 allows for a variety of calibers on the same frame. In fact, SIG now sells a dedicated .22 lr version of the 226 and 229, for which you can buy a conversion to "caliber up" to 9MM . I think DW/CZ just doesn't want any part of something as complicated as this project sounds like.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Since we are all taking a stab at reasons why DW wont do this, here is mine. If you fab a new barrel and cylinder for a different frame you no longer have the one caliber only barrel thread size. Now it would be possible to mount the wrong barrel to a frame of a different caliber. Of course this all comes back around to liability. Just my 2 cents worth but all the aforementioned reasons probably play into the mix. There just aren't enough 414s to go around.
As much as I want one even if one came available I doubt I could afford it just battling it out with you guys.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Range Officers
February 25, 2009
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Speaking strictly from a mechanical standpoint it's very doable. I would start with a 357 max and rechamber the cylinder, then have a barrel turned to match the Max thread pitch in the frame.
As far as the serial number and the caliber just have a gunsmith convert it and everything is good. Linebaugh converts Rugers all the time.
If I remember right reading an article writen by John Taffin the first 445's were conversions on the DW's in 357 Max. Ok, I looked and found the article here is an excepert from Taffin;
When the .357 SuperMag from Dan Wesson first appeared on the scene, more than one wildcatter was waiting with reamers in hand to do one thing: Turn it into a true big bore. The largest number of these were turned into .44 SuperMags, and I had the privilege of doing extensive shooting of one such early wildcat, the .44 UltraMag. The .44 UltraMag used .444 Marlin brass cut to 1.600", and this brass being larger in diameter than .44 Magnum brass, was swaged and turned on a lathe until it matched .44 Magnum dimensions. The reason, of course, was to also allow the use of the shorter .44 Magnums in the same cylinder.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
~Thomas Jefferson~
January 22, 2008
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I think lbruce hit the nail on the head. It would create the possibility of someone installing the wrong barrel / cylinder combination.
While I'm sure that would not happen with most of us here but you never know...
I'm sure we've all read stories where someone blows the tip of their finger off using a 460 S&W because they put their finger at the b/c gap...
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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I agree, most of the reason they don't want to do it is because of the potential "idiot factor" that may be lurking out there.
Tigger brings up a good point...you would probably want to start with a .357 SM & bore things larger, than start with a .445 & have to go smaller to get to .414. Going smaller would require actually having to get a new cylinder & barrel made...that could get expensive in a hurry.
February 18, 2009
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Thanks for all your replies. I can see how the liability concern would keep a manufacturer from selling parts, etc. That's a good point about starting with a 357 Supermag and being able to bore the cylinder....now if I only had one of those cylinders laying around...
Thanks again, Bill
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