I originally wanted a lightweight FA 97 with 45 ACP when it first came out, but FA said I "had to" buy a 45 colt first, then get the 45 ACP as an extra cylinder. Just couldn't afford it, so buddy said he would attempt to build me a lightweight 45 ACP single action if I sent him a stainelss blackhawk frame and cylinder. Anyway, I found a stainless .44 mag for cheap, and first time taking a gun completely apart, sent my buddy the frame and cylinder, and sold the rest of the parts. From his box of gun parts, he had a FA 83 454 take off barrel with its sights, and a one of a kind alloy bisley grip. He line bored the .44 cylinder to 45 ACP, along with contouring the cylinder to smooth out its edges, along with taking weight off. I told him I had a lot of 45 AR cases, from previous S&W 25's, and asked if he could take off some material in the back of the cylinder, so I could use the AR cases? He said he could, but didn't want to take off that much metal, because the rim was so thick. He said he preferred to recess the cylinder, for a better look. I later found a .357 mag SS cylinder, and had him line bore it to a tight chambered 45 Colt chamber(like FA 454 tolerances) and he did the same contouring to it, as well as flat topping my frame and taking metal off where he safely could. Project came out to a light 29 ounce single action, with a round butt alloy bisley grip, with replaceable FA front blade systom, and a countoured 3 3/4" barrel. I shoot primarily 45 ACP/AR, but its round butted bisley grip comfortably shoots a 340 LBT bullet I designed for packing in the bush. I like AR case, because I like shooting my RCBS 255 SWC bullet, crimped into its crimp groove, along with it headspacing on the rim. And best of all, the project cost me about 1/3 of what the FA would have cost me.
