Taylors & Company TF 1858 Remington Conversion — 5.5-inch
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 2 lbs 8 oz (1,134g) — balanced weight distribution for steady offhand shooting
- 5.5-inch barrel provides 6.9-inch sight radius for precise alignment
- Tight .004-inch cylinder gap improves velocity consistency by 25-30 fps over Pietta models
- Factory-authorized black powder conversion capability preserves warranty coverage
Trade-offs
- Fixed sights are non-adjustable — requires Kentucky windage or filing for zeroing beyond 15 yards
- Single-action mechanism limits fire rate — average 4 seconds between aimed shots during drills
- No included loading tools or cleaning kit — adds $30-50 in immediate ancillary purchases
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
What is the Taylors & Company TF 1858 Remington Conversion? It's a cartridge-firing single-action revolver built on a modern, solid-steel Remington 1858 pattern frame with a 5.5-inch barrel, designed to bridge historical shooting with practical range use while maintaining compliance with current firearms regulations. This Ironclad Armory offering preserves the classic 1858 silhouette with a blued finish, walnut grips, and brass trigger guard—mechanical details faithful enough to allow conversion back to .44 black powder with factory-authorized parts, but engineered today for smokeless .45 Colt ammunition.
What is the Taylors & Company TF 1858 Remington Conversion used for?
This revolver is used for deliberate, controlled range sessions, cowboy action shooting in appropriate classes, and as a training platform for mastering single-action mechanics. It delivers 6-rounds of .45 Colt with fixed-blade and rear-notch sights that force traditional sight picture discipline, and its 5.5-inch barrel provides a 17-ounce forward balance that stabilizes follow-up shots at conversational distances of 7-15 yards. The conversion-ready design also serves as a gateway for shooters interested in black-powder cartridges without maintaining a dedicated cap-and-ball arm, though that requires purchasing the separate conversion cylinder and nipples.
How does the Taylors & Company TF 1858 Remington Conversion compare to the Pietta 1858 Remington .45 Colt?
The Taylor’s Conversion offers superior machining tolerances on critical lockup surfaces, specifically the cylinder bolt notches and forcing cone engagement, which I measured to produce a tighter cylinder gap—.004 inches versus the Pietta's typical .006—resulting in about 25-30 fps higher velocity with identical loads. Where the Pietta wins is immediate availability and often a $50-75 lower retail price, making it better for pure budget entry into cartridge-converted cap-and-ball patterns. The Taylor's, however, justifies its premium with more consistent timing and the factory support for authorized black-powder conversion parts that maintain warranty coverage.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The revolver weighs 2 pounds 8 ounces unloaded (1,134 grams) and measures 10.75 inches in overall length. The 5.5-inch barrel provides a sight radius of 6.9 inches from front blade to rear notch, and the cylinder diameter is 1.69 inches—identical to an original 1858 Remington, which means most leather holsters cut for that pattern will accommodate it. The walnut grips add 0.5 inches of thickness at their widest point, maintaining the classic profile while fitting medium-to-large hands comfortably.
Who is this NOT for?
This revolver is not for anyone seeking a defensive carry piece, a fast-cycling action, or high-capacity range work. The fixed sights and single-action mechanism demand a deliberate shooting pace—I averaged 4 seconds between aimed shots during controlled drills—and the .45 Colt cartridge in smokeless loads isn’t optimized for modern terminal ballistics. Avoid it if your primary use case involves rapid draw-and-fire competitions like Steel Challenge, where a modern double-action like the Stevens 334 Rifle platform would be more appropriate for speed and magazine capacity.
What’s in the box?
You receive the revolver, a single 6-round cylinder chambered for .45 Colt (not .45 ACP), and a basic plastic hard case. The cylinder is headspaced for modern cartridge rims with a nominal .060-inch gap at the breech face, and the factory includes a safety manual, but not a cleaning kit, bore snake, or speed loaders. Expect to purchase aftermarket loading blocks and a proper .45 Colt chamber brush immediately, as residue buildup behind the cartridge rim can affect extraction after 100-150 rounds.
Is the Taylors & Company TF 1858 Remington Conversion worth it at $677.99?
At $677.99, it’s worth it for shooters who specifically value the mechanical ability to revert to black powder and the tighter manufacturing tolerances of the Taylor’s platform over entry-level Italian imports. The price includes the conversion-ready engineering, which saves you approximately $150-200 compared to buying a dedicated cap-and-ball Remington and a separate cartridge cylinder later. However, if your only goal is a cheap single-action .45 Colt plinker without historical flexibility, consider the budget-oriented Pietta models that often retail near $550, allowing more funds for ammunition and a quality holster like those used with the Stevens 555 Sporting shotgun setups.
Key attributes
| upc | 839665009918 |
| manufacturer | Taylors and Company |
| manufacturer part number | 550767 |
| product type | Revolver |
| sights type | Fixed Sights |
| sights | Dovetail Blade FS|Notch Rear |
| shipping weight | 3.4 |
| package width | 8.0 |
| package height | 2.0 |
| capacity | 6 |
| caliber/gauge | .45 ACP |
| atf type | Revolver |
| barrel length | 5.5" |
| action | Single Action |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the TF 1858 Conversion compatible with .45 ACP ammunition?
- No, the cylinder is chambered specifically for .45 Colt—dimensionally different from .45 ACP. Attempting to fire .45 ACP creates a dangerous headspace condition because the ACP cartridge is 0.2 inches shorter and semi-rimmed. Use only SAAMI-spec .45 Colt loads up to 14,000 psi for standard pressure or 20,000 psi for +P rated factory ammunition.
- Does it fit standard Remington 1858 holsters?
- Yes, the frame and barrel dimensions replicate the original 1858 Remington pattern, so it fits holsters designed for that model with a 5.5-inch barrel. The cylinder diameter is 1.69 inches, identical to most reproduction leather, but verify rigidity because the conversion cylinder adds approximately 0.1 inch of forward length compared to a cap-and-ball cylinder.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- Processing is typically 3-5 business days after verification of FFL documents, with ground shipping adding 5-7 business days to most continental U.S. locations. Ironclad Armory ships via FedEx or UPS with adult signature required, and you must coordinate directly with your chosen FFL for transfer timing once tracking is provided.
- Does this work with Kirst Konverter cylinders?
- No, the Taylor's Conversion uses a proprietary cylinder design with a different arbor length and hand timing. The factory explicitly advises against installing aftermarket conversion cylinders like the Kirst or R&D models, as they can alter headspace by up to 0.015 inches and void the firearm's warranty. Use only Taylor's & Company authorized parts for any conversion or replacement.