Proving notch on Uberti/Taylor's 44-40 Conversions

[PJ Hardtack]

Check out my posting under 'Gunsmithing' on making my 44-40 conversions safer and more RO friendly at the loading table.

Prior to having a notch cut over the rim of a chamber on each cylinder, the only way to prove an empty chamber under the hammer was to put a dowel down the barrel, marked with a couple of rings - loaded/empty. I didn't like putting my hand in front of a loaded cylinder.

Now the rim of a brass case shows up like a neon sign due to the 1/4" cut. These guns ought to come this way, and it might make sense to cut such a notch on each chamber. Doesn't look unsightly and I have to point it out for anyone to notice.

[Montana Slim]

Good idea...I recall early conversion cylinders didn't have the cuts..... and the simplest way to show empty (for me) was to show the empty chamber (left of the alignment pin), then place the cylinder cap on...then insert the cylinder into the revolver and show placement of the aligning pin as the cylinder was indexed and hammer lowered. All with the direct attention of the loading table officer. No-one every disputed this procedure, nor any problems encountered. Easy enough for a person without ATD..

Later, we carefully filed a notch in each chamber as an indicator, similar to what you did with your factory conversion. Of course the 6-shot conversion cylinders all come with the notches today.

If a person did not wish to cut their cylinders, an alternate method is to mark the empty chamber with white-out or white paint, etc and show this one as empty when loading, then show it aligning with the hammer down. Paint is probably  abetter option as it is more easily removed with typical gun solvents....W-O can be quite durable (at least so on Mn-Phosphate finish surfaces)

Slim

[PJ Hardtack]

Montana Slim

My experience with loading supervisors is that their attention wanders when something is happening nearby. No, it isn't supposed to happen, but it does. The easier I can make it, the better for all concerned. Safety concerns need to address the lowest common denominator.
I wasn't aware that factory 6 shot conversion cylinders had the chamber notches cut. My 44-40s certainly didn't, but then they were built as cartridge guns. That makes the case for the notches even stronger.

The paint idea is a solution, but it still doesn't visually show the chamber empty. It also requires the full attention of a loading supervisor smart enough to visualize the sequence. And yes, I know some for whom it would be a challenge ..... ;>)

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[Montana Slim]

...have been waiting for someone to catch my embedded "ATD" joke. 

[PJ Hardtack]

Would that properly be -  ADD: Attention Deficiency Disorder .... ?  My wife deals with such cases in school on a daily basis. I call it the "pay attention, stupid ...' disorder.

An NCIS "Gibbs" slap upside the head usually brought me around ... ;>)

[Montana Slim]

  good, someone's paying "attention"   

[The Swede]

I use a small mirror held in front of the cylinder so they can see the 5 bullets...

[PJ Hardtack]

What about the chamber under the hammer .... ;>)

The whole idea of the notches is so that the most dull witted RO can be shown the EMPTY chamber about to be indexed under the hammer.
Nothing else accomplished this as effectively. However, they're your guns and your range. I just feel a lot safer with the mod.