WB
More on the oddity, for the curious.
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 14:17

Not much concern of anyone duplicating this. A resurrected ancient (1880's contrivance) adapted to the revolver some 40 yrs. ago. However this piece dates to 2008. A few clues as to the origins of the custom work, validating that is was from the Bowen workshop. The front sight seems to be a re-milled factory Ruger with some very expertly done file work. the contours and X-Y angles are truly that of a skilled person.

The crown is also subtle but precise. The rifling is stock .44 cal. which a 0.417" pin gauge should be the largest that will still gently slide down. However brief, I cannot yet measure the length of rifling, ahead of a smoothbore portion of reputed 0.451" diameter. As mentioned before the cylinder is straight through bored 0.480". I also note the fine touch of an expertly fitted Mountain cylinder base pin. The bore came ferociously heavily leaded. I'll need to attend to that.

I was hunting my pin gauge set that is still at large. I'm not supposed to lift over 10 lbs. yet anyway. But I did find my Bowen Custom Revolver book. He goes way overboard in the description and history of "Paradox" arms. Certainly everything you'd need to know historically. Little tidbits as well. It was hinted that lower velocity .45 Colt loads may shoot quite well as is. However for .44 Mag. level performance it becomes more of a trick. A worthy chase.

They devised a revolver bullet that mimic'd the original Fosbery/Holland design for Paradox, sort of. It allowed a deep band for displaced metal, that projects forward (!), but is to be devoid of lube. Metal will not displace lube, which cannot be hydraulically compressed. That is accomplished via lubed under bullet wad like a BP round. I looked around and found a mold I already have that they may have overlooked!? If this bullet could be easily adapted to shoot at around 1200 fps, as it does through a TC Hawken, it would be about perfect for most uses. A seemingly simple first goal. I'm very confident of the shotshell loading and performance, having some experience in fully rifled barrels.

A totally bonkers idea to begin, then resurrect and apply to revolvers! I'm also certain not a profitable enterprise and surely of very low numbers modified. They bored the cylinders, unscrewed the barrels, reamed, crowned, put them back and modded the front sight. I read that loading instructions and a bullet mold were also often included.