This is a "Small 45 Colt" conversion from Linebaugh Custom Sixguns. Linebaugh's handwritten note says, "This is a lot of gun & what I recommend for most folks unless they are hunting the biggest & the baddest." The factory cylinder was rebored from 44 Magnum to tight spec 45 Colt. The loads recommended on the data sheet supplied with the gun take a 260 gr cast bullet to about 1450 fps. I don't think this conversion is offered any more but it's a good one. It makes for a very shootable yet powerful 45 Colt when you need it.

I found this one about a week and a half ago in a craigslist ad. The older gentleman said he ordered it 20 or more years ago, when a friend of his mentioned Linebaugh's work and recommended he send his 44 Magnum Bisley in for the conversion. He told me that he took one black bear with it. The bore is leaded from using bullets that are too hard, I think, but I can try some things to get most of the lead out. I've looked in the stores for Chore Boy copper scrub pads, but I don't think they're carried here.

One thing I noticed right away about this gun is that it doesn't have any Linebaugh Custom i.d. on it. It says 45 Colt on the barrel, but that's it. It doesn't have a freespin cylinder either, but you can tell the action and trigger have had some attention. I might have to get some upgrades on it, but I think it will get a lot of use.