I am a mechanic interested in working metal with lathe and mill, and I was wondering if anyone besides me was interested in a large (50-58) caliber blackpowder revolver.

I'd probably start with a known design and magnify the frame and cylinder and turn down a rifle barrel to make it work.

Any thoughts on what style pistol to start with? The Colt, open top design is simpler, and Colt made extremely large revolving shotguns and rifles on it's open top design, but the Remington is much stronger.

The point of this exercize is partly academic, and partly to provide a better blackpowder revolver for hunting. Heck, I've always wanted to have one since I've seen an old, 1800s vintage picture of a Colt's revolving 10 ga. cut down to make it into somewhat of a pistol.

Didn't Ross Seyfried have an article about one of these things recently in RIFLE magazine? I believe the one he was shooting was a .577" using cut-off brass shotgun shells for cases, and was a Webley style break-top action 6-shooter.

I could have sworn that I had seen that question somewhere recently and posted an answer to it! derf

I've often looked at my Old Army wondering if it could be converted to .50 for use with .515 round ball. I'm sure there's plenty of strength in the frame. I'm also sure it'd involve making a new five shot cylinder and cost boat loads of cash but I think it's a grand idea! You might could cut and stretch the frame (if you're a better welder than I am to get a bit more powder capacity and use a custom conical bullet mold for say a 300 gr .50 caliber SWC in front of 75 gr or so of triple seven? Now were getting somewhere!

I posted the same question on BO board. I'll go over there and check.

Derf - I'm interested in anything you have. And yes, I am interested in just building, especially if I end up with something cool and unique. I'd like to end up with a single shot pistol, AND a revolver.

As far as cutting up and welding a preexisting pistol, I'd much rather just mill an entirely new piece out of bar stock. Making a cylinder for a revolving pistol is not a terrifically big job, if you have a lathe, a mill and a drill press.

I'm also interested in making a black powder revolving shotgun.

Well dang boy! Get crackin'! While you're at it could you make the grip frame similar to the Ruger Bisley and make it in .54 caliber? Mights well work up a couple of mold blocks for a.54 caliber semi wadcutter ala Keith too.
P.S. How much time and money ya need?

Bisley grips? I'd think they'd "smart" just a little. As far as time and money, I don't get back from Iraq until at least March.
Are ya following me on my time horizon, here? It'll be awhile, but This idea has been cooking in my brain for quite a while.

Gotcha 120. Still, that timeline is better than what I had before which was, nobody seems interested in a cap and ball hand cannon.
Yes, I like the Ruger Bisley grip for recoil control. I have large..., er, huge hands and the standard single action grips give me nothing to grab! Second best would be a longer grip like the one on the 1860 Colt army revolvers. I have a devil of a time buying pistols and shirts.
BTW thanks for the service you're giving our country. If there's anything I can do for you just ask. Best Regards,
Steve