OT - Did someone mention C&B revolvers? (lots of pictures)

[Ysabel Kid]

Well, I didn't want to hijack other threads (I know, I know - a first wiseguys ), but between J Miller's, Old Savage's and stew71's discussions on cap & ball revolvers, I got the hankering to take some of mine out and fondle them a bit. Wish I could take a couple out shooting, but it is still raining here today - and I'm not complaining (we still need it). Rained out our Cub Scout/Boy Scout camping trip this weekend. Oh well, taking out these and taking pictures helped chase away the blahs from the weather!

I'll apologize right now for those on dial-up!!!

Here's my collection of Colt C&B clones:



From the top left, a Pietta clone of the Colt 1836 Paterson:



Top right, my Armi San Marco Colt 1847 Walker Dragoon clone:



Second row, left - my Uberti Colt 2nd Model Dragoon clone (the sidearm of my nickname here):



Second row, right, an Uberti-made Colt 1849 Pocket Model:



Third row, left, an old Uberti (1966-ish) Colt 1851 Navy:



Third row, right, a Centennial (Belgium-made) Colt 1860 Army:



Bottom row, left - an Uberti clone of the 1862 Pocket Police:



Y2K owns the last one, and also has his own Navy, a "Wild Bill Hickok engraved variation. Here are the "dueling Navies":



And a close-up on Y2K's:



Now how about some C&B revolvers Colt should have made?



Top right, a 1851 in .44 (versus the standard .36), called the "London" model:



Middle row, a stainless-steel (bright) Pietta called the "1863 Sheriff"



And bottom, an Pietta 1860 Army in a "snub-nose" configuration:



Rounding out my Colt C&B clones are a pair of conversions (so, technically these aren't C&B revolvers, but I didn't think you'd mind). Here is a picture of the pair:



Top left, an Uberti-made 1851 Navy sporting the Richards-Mason conversion. This one fires .38 Colt and .38 S&W Special fodder.



Bottom right, an Uberti-made Colt 1872 "Open-Top". This was more of a transistion model, made at the factory for use with cartridges, but using up a lot of 1860 Army parts.



Of course, we all know what they introduced the following year. 1873 saw one three of the most celebrated guns of the old west brought into production - the Colt Single Action Army (Model P, or "Peacemaker"), the Winchester Model 1873, and the Trapdoor Springfield (new manufacture, not retrofitted guns). But those are pictures for another day!

I am going to have to get out to shoot some of these really soon!!!

[pokey]

wow. 14 by my count , you could start your own
reenactment group.

[Old Savage]

Well, you know now that you don't have to put up with that gaudy color case hardening.

[Ysabel Kid]

Well, you know now that you don't have to put up with that gaudy color case hardening.

Nope, for me I like them that way!

[Old Savage]

I like the Colt version - go back and look at my 1860 thread.

Ah, never mind that,



But I pretty much have to like what I have now on the clone. I am pretty good at that. I think it is even Biblical.

[kimwcook]

WOW! Thems a lot of C&B's. You're not partial to that era are you? Well, they're really cool. I'm not gonna drag my only ROA out and embarass myself with what you just showed us.

[GEOFF]

YK,

Hope I'm not being redundant here, but WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ONE??????

I apologize if you have already stated that preference in one of the other threads.

What did the old Civil War cavalry REALLY do? I've read places where like John Singleton Mosby and his men carried many revolvers. I can see this but I've also read where they carried just a couple of revolvers but MANY CYLINDERS loaded and slid them in. Is this myth or reality??? If they did, I wonder how they got the wedge out so easy etc........???

What are your thoughts on this?

Geoff

[TX Gun Runner]

WOW what a neat collection . Here mine

[20cows]

You DO need to go out and shoot some of those, If you'll bring me along, I'll help you clean 'em when we're done.

(Of course, I think your only a 20 hour drive from here).

[Old Savage]

Jay, how do you supposed they maintained these in the field????

Seriously Jay, great clone collection - you win a "cutting edge of going back in time" award.

[JohndeFresno]

Impressive firearms - all of them.

As for your collection of black powder pistols, YK, they are really beautiful. It gives one reconsider black powder shooting, despite all that cleaning, scrubbing, and fiddling with wads and caps and goose grease and such. But they do have a graceful look that the cartridge revolvers never recaptured. Thanks for all the photos, everyone.

[Ysabel Kid]

YK,

Hope I'm not being redundant here, but WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ONE??????

I apologize if you have already stated that preference in one of the other threads.

What did the old Civil War cavalry REALLY do? I've read places where like John Singleton Mosby and his men carried many revolvers. I can see this but I've also read where they carried just a couple of revolvers but MANY CYLINDERS loaded and slid them in. Is this myth or reality??? If they did, I wonder how they got the wedge out so easy etc........???

What are your thoughts on this?

Geoff

GEOFF -

Well, though I like the big heavy Dragoons just from a looks and size standpoint, the 1860 Army is the winner in my book. It is downright sleek, balances and points naturally, and is powerful (compared to the Navy in .36 which many perfer). I hate to even consider the thought, but if I could only have one, it would be the 1860 Army clone.

[Ysabel Kid]

You DO need to go out and shoot some of those, If you'll bring me along, I'll help you clean 'em when we're done.

(Of course, I think your only a 20 hour drive from here).

Heck, if you'll help clean them it might be worth the drive! Plus you have the land to shoot them on!!!

[rjohns94]

you forgot your Ruger Old Army's

[Ysabel Kid]

Jay, how do you supposed they maintained these in the field????

Seriously Jay, great clone collection - you win a "cutting edge of going back in time" award.

Fred, from what I've read, those who carried them, and whose lives depended on them, did take the time to make sure they maintained them well. Probably nothing would save the finish of a gun carried continuously in a holster outdoors. But my understanding is that at the earliest practical opportunity - usually evening - a person who had fired his weapon would field strip it into the barrel, cylinder and frame group, wipe off the frame (you don't really need to open it up for usual cleaning/maintainence). They unscrew the nipples, clean and scrub them and the cylinder, and then scrub the barrel. I've also read that some seasoned their guns enough that the threat of almost immediate corrosion was lessoned, but still those who couldn't afford malfunctions probably took the time to clean them thoroughly.

I think it was a myth though that most discharged their guns every evening to ensure they had fresh loads and primers. Wild Bill probably did, but blackpowder loads aren't corrosive themselves until fired, and will hold for a very long time as long as they don't get wet. Powder, primers and roundballs didn't grow on trees, and the folks back then were much more frugal than we are as a society now.

[Ysabel Kid]

you forgot your Ruger Old Army's

Nope - that's my next picture post. These ones are just the Colt clones...

[RIHMFIRE]

Where do you find the time to shoot'em all?
very nice collection.....

[Modoc ED]

Jay, how do you supposed they maintained these in the field????

Seriously Jay, great clone collection - you win a "cutting edge of going back in time" award.

Fred, from what I've read, those who carried them, and whose lives depended on them, did take the time to make sure they maintained them well. Probably nothing would save the finish of a gun carried continuously in a holster outdoors. But my understanding is that at the earliest practical opportunity - usually evening - a person who had fired his weapon would field strip it into the barrel, cylinder and frame group, wipe off the frame (you don't really need to open it up for usual cleaning/maintainence). They unscrew the nipples, clean and scrub them and the cylinder, and then scrub the barrel. I've also read that some seasoned their guns enough that the threat of almost immediate corrosion was lessoned, but still those who couldn't afford malfunctions probably took the time to clean them thoroughly. BUT -- the smart ones kept a pistol loaded off to the side at hands reach just in case something or someone snuck up on em while they were cleaning thier other guns.

I think it was a myth though that most discharged their guns every evening to ensure they had fresh loads and primers. Wild Bill probably did, but blackpowder loads aren't corrosive themselves until fired, and will hold for a very long time as long as they don't get wet. Powder, primers and roundballs didn't grow on trees, and the folks back then were much more frugal than we are as a society now.

[Old Savage]

Jay, I agree, 1860 Army wins but then I only have one. Well I do have a custom built Gentleman's Carriage Pistol, 45 Cal. single shot - need to get a 9 1/2" ram rod for it.

I could be interested in a conversion.

[stew71]

Kid...that's some serious gun porn. Nice collection!

Is there any commandment against coveting thy neighbors guns?

[Ysabel Kid]

Kid...that's some serious gun porn. Nice collection!

Is there any commandment against coveting thy neighbors guns?

If there is I will need to start going to confession again!

Thanks. I love C&B revolvers, as you can tell. I also love the fact that these are paperwork free!!!

[Griff]

VERY Nice, YK. Yep, I'm partial to the c&b era also... but I like the 1851... ain't it grand that they made one for EVERYBODY!!!!

[jd45]

Ysabel....Great collection!....Love that replica of Wild Bill's 1851 Navy with the ivory grips. jd45

[Sixgun]

Kid,
You have been holding out on us! Nice pieces! But................I believe they need a little powder residue on them.

Oh BTW, I know its late but the discussion on the MRE's have been at full discussion. We are negotiating a deal on 2 pallets. More on that later in a PM----------------Sixgun

[TedH]

I also love the fact that these are paperwork free!!!

At least for now.

[jhrosier]

I also love the fact that these are paperwork free!!!

At least for now.

Maybe a good reason to get one now.
Even the more expensive Ubertis are just over $300 new. You can't buy any modern largebore revolver for so little.
An 1860 Army or 1851 Navy would make a dandy paperweight & conversation piece, even if you were't planning to shoot it right now.

Jack