diff --git a/core/conversations/src/context.rs b/core/conversations/src/context.rs
index 49b9a3a..dfb5443 100644
--- a/core/conversations/src/context.rs
+++ b/core/conversations/src/context.rs
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ impl<T: ChatStore> Context<T> {
 
         let dr_state: RatchetState = self.ratchet_storage.load(&record.local_convo_id)?;
 
-        Ok(PrivateV1Convo::from_stored(
+        Ok(PrivateV1Convo::new(
             record.local_convo_id,
             record.remote_convo_id,
             dr_state,
diff --git a/core/conversations/src/conversation.rs b/core/conversations/src/conversation.rs
index 4e15373..31ef831 100644
--- a/core/conversations/src/conversation.rs
+++ b/core/conversations/src/conversation.rs
@@ -29,15 +29,14 @@ pub trait Convo: Id + Debug {
     fn remote_id(&self) -> String;
 
     /// Returns the conversation type identifier for storage.
-    fn convo_type(&self) -> &str;
+    fn convo_type(&self) -> ConversationKind;
 
     /// Persists ratchet state to storage. Default is no-op.
-    fn save_ratchet_state(&self, _storage: &mut RatchetStorage) -> Result<(), ChatError> {
-        Ok(())
-    }
+    fn save_ratchet_state(&self, _storage: &mut RatchetStorage) -> Result<(), ChatError>;
 }
 
 mod privatev1;
 
 use chat_proto::logoschat::encryption::EncryptedPayload;
 pub use privatev1::PrivateV1Convo;
+use storage::ConversationKind;
diff --git a/core/conversations/src/conversation/privatev1.rs b/core/conversations/src/conversation/privatev1.rs
index 3cd506d..3ab9116 100644
--- a/core/conversations/src/conversation/privatev1.rs
+++ b/core/conversations/src/conversation/privatev1.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use crypto::{PrivateKey, PublicKey, SymmetricKey32};
 use double_ratchets::{Header, InstallationKeyPair, RatchetState};
 use prost::{Message, bytes::Bytes};
 use std::fmt::Debug;
+use storage::ConversationKind;
 
 use crate::{
     conversation::{ChatError, ConversationId, Convo, Id},
@@ -60,6 +61,15 @@ pub struct PrivateV1Convo {
 }
 
 impl PrivateV1Convo {
+    /// Reconstructs a PrivateV1Convo from persisted metadata and ratchet state.
+    pub fn new(local_convo_id: String, remote_convo_id: String, dr_state: RatchetState) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            local_convo_id,
+            remote_convo_id,
+            dr_state,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn new_initiator(seed_key: SymmetricKey32, remote: PublicKey) -> Self {
         let base_convo_id = BaseConvoId::new(&seed_key);
         let local_convo_id = base_convo_id.id_for_participant(Role::Initiator);
@@ -78,19 +88,6 @@ impl PrivateV1Convo {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Reconstructs a PrivateV1Convo from persisted metadata and ratchet state.
-    pub fn from_stored(
-        local_convo_id: String,
-        remote_convo_id: String,
-        dr_state: RatchetState,
-    ) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            local_convo_id,
-            remote_convo_id,
-            dr_state,
-        }
-    }
-
     pub fn new_responder(seed_key: SymmetricKey32, dh_self: &PrivateKey) -> Self {
         let base_convo_id = BaseConvoId::new(&seed_key);
         let local_convo_id = base_convo_id.id_for_participant(Role::Responder);
@@ -224,8 +221,8 @@ impl Convo for PrivateV1Convo {
         self.remote_convo_id.clone()
     }
 
-    fn convo_type(&self) -> &str {
-        "private_v1"
+    fn convo_type(&self) -> ConversationKind {
+        ConversationKind::PrivateV1
     }
 
     fn save_ratchet_state(&self, storage: &mut RatchetStorage) -> Result<(), ChatError> {