How much difficulty is it no make a cylinder from scratch ? how many Smiths have done so ?
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I used to do it with some frequency. Takes a lot of tooling, jigs etc. not something i even have the tooling to do anymore.
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What about rechambering ?
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I would think when re-barreling a revolver a cylinder could be re-bored/ line bored to the new caliber with a few tools and a good mill. Way easier then making one, but way harder then just getting the caliber you want to start with.
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Line boring is pretty standard. For my 41 Special conversions i start with a 357 mag. Line bore it and chamber it. Then either rebarrel or make a custom 41 Special barrel
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Do you use the barrel threads in the frame for the alignment? Alignment jig that threads into the frame?
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Al, i was reading above you talk about it would be way easier to start with the caliber you want. What happens when your favorite caliber or just a caliber you really want to play with is a wildcat and not produced as a saami spec cartridge?
You make one. So my favorite cartridge i got from Elmer Keith in Sixguns by Keith page 280 the 41 Special! I shoot a 215 Keith bullet. Love the cartridge and making a custom gun that fits me carries great, is balanced in my hands…. Just so much fun! So with all that said…. There are lots of times to just go ahead rechamber and enjoy the new gun.
As to how…. Again get a copy of Jerry’s book. Then go to a very good qualified gunsmith and he can show you how to execute the instructions in the book. It is way more to it than what i can type here.
Sam
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Copy that.
If you have the skill or know someone who does! 
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Ok fair enough! Lol. I do know how!
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Have any photos of the set-up or operations?
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No i really dont. I work on it not taking pictures of it. It would take someone else taking pictures while i work or i would never get anything done. People dont pay me for my pictures just my finished products! Lol
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Just a hobby for me, so if someone, for example, asks how to modify a government frame to make a commander, or cut a bushing into a bull barrel slide, I’ve got photos of the process, the tooling, etc. Everyone likes photos!
If I had a doner revolver I would rebarrel and bore, just for the fun, but all mine are too nice to be practiced on!
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Yeah Al, i understand but that isnt what i do. I do the work i dont instruct other how to do it. I grew up with it, went to school for it, worked under some master gunsmiths and gun makers guild guys. So after 34 years i am not going to give my knowledge away. I take guys or gals in to apprentice and see who really has the natural aptitude and pour knowledge and experience into them. So i never feel as though “I am casting my pearls before swine”.
For me to even take time out and respond is a major deal for me. I have waited quite a but of time for this site to take off. So i will support it financially and with my time. But i am just not going to do gunsmithing instruction on here.
Hope you can understand
Sam
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So was it SDI or another school ?
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What is SDI?
I have had several people come in the shop and tell me they are going to gunsmithing school on line. Not being a computer guy, i do not understand that at all. How can you learn machine shop, bluing etc on line? I dont understand that and makes no sense to me. I went to the oldest gunsmithing school in the country. Lassen community college right after i got discharged from the military the first time. Yes that was back when Ronald Reagan and the first Bush were in office! So been a fee years ago.
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I want us in the future to have a gunsmithing category. In my mind that means pointing things out to help people get their firearms more accurate. To help them understand what a forcing cone actually does. How to get a better trigger pull. Not to teach gunsmithing but if they go to a gunsmith are they getting what they paid for? Do they need a gunsmith? Hope you are able to see the difference. I want guns to be in the line of Elmer Keith and John Taffin! I like wildcat cartridges custom revolvers but i dont think i could teach that through this site.
I do want to say i am very grateful the site is being resurrected. I admire efforts being put forward and hope i am a positive influence to the site
Sam
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This site has also been a yearning of mine for sometime . I always liked the original sixguns and now this site will carry onward and upward the great traditions of Sixguns.
Absolutely @samlcolt1873 I have really liked a lot of your post been very affirming and inspirational as well as informative. I think we are all learning a little about each other a bit at a time complete cohesion doesn’t happen over night all though the core is already there. Soldier on !!
@samlcolt1873 your presence on this site has already been an asset & I only see signs of growth from all of us.
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