FOUND!...1851 Colt Open Top (Clone)!

[rbertalotto]

Ok, big deal...I found a Armi San Marco 1851 Open Top in 38 Special.....Here is why it is a Big Deal.
If you live here in the horrible state of Massachusetts, we have a law that you can't buy any handgun (ANY!!!) that was not in the state of Massachusetts before 1998 (and you have to have proof) or it must pass a very involved test to assure it is safe to sell in Massachusetts if built after 1998. So just about any SAA revolver except Rugers (and only certain models) are available for sale as new firearms here in Massachusetts. Colt, Uberti, Pieta and all the rest have not gone through the nearly $10,000 per revolver required to get their SAA revolvers certified.

I wanted a pair of open top 38 special revolvers for years. At a gun show here in MA a few years ago I found one. 1851 Armi San Marco in 38 special. The price was $400 and I didn't think a second and bought it. The odds of finding even ONE pre 1998 open top 1851 is remarkable!




The chance of finding this pre 1998 revolver here in Massachusetts was a miracle!

A few days ago while sitting at the airport waiting to get on a plane for Australia I was scanning the local want ads and I found another "Mass Complaint" 1851 Armi San Marco for $400 . I contacted the seller and explained my situation. He said he would hold it until I got back. Nice guy!

Once I returned home I contacted him and made the deal.




So now I have a pair!





I also ordered a nice set of holsters from Western and Wildlife Wonders



Now I just need to resolve the grip issue. If they were two piece grips I could just swap them around and have checkered on the outside and smooth on the inside of both guns.

Or I'll just get the smooth grips checkered to match........

I need to go buy a lottery ticket............How rare are two Armi San Marco revolvers here in Massachusetts and both Mass Compliant!

[Buck Elliott]

Maybe you should leave MA and move to America...

Hard to believe one of the "Original Colonies" - especially one that figures so strongly in the birth of modern gun manufacture - could have fallen so far..

[rbertalotto]

If it wasn't for 8 grand kids I'd be gone tomorrow. But if I lived in a state where I could buy any gun I wanted I'd be totally broke.

[Gascozark]

Congrats! Nothing like a nice pair of matched revolvers. Nice holster rig too!

[M. M. Wright]

I really like those open tops. Get those smooth grips checkered or find a set to buy. I think that grip frame is the same as a SAA.

[Griff]

Well... I guess... If you just gotta have those suppository type cartridges!

Kiddin'... kinda! Very classy, and practicable if you need a speedy reload! What barrel length? Oh yeah, get 'em converted to use Ruger hand springs. I did that with all four of my Colt 1851s.

[firefuzz]

Nice guns. I've got a pair of Uberti 1872 open tops in .44 special I'm just dying to shoot. Open tops are just cool guns.

Lots of interesting reading here http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?board=56.0 about open tops, including tips on tuning them.

Rob

[Ysabel Kid]

If it wasn't for 8 grand kids I'd be gone tomorrow. But if I lived in a state where I could buy any gun I wanted I'd be totally broke.

But it would be a good broke!

Congrats on the 1851's. What a deal!!!

[1894c]

If it wasn't for 8 grand kids I'd be gone tomorrow. But if I lived in a state where I could buy any gun I wanted I'd be totally broke. :D

So...tell me again WHY that would be a bad thing...I left NY 17 years ago and live in the Pacific North West, it may be liberal, but I can buy anything, well accept a predator drone... :)

drone_strike.jpg

[3leggedturtle]

Those are beautiful pieces. I like the checkered grips too.

[nitro-express]

Technically those are conversions, not open tops. Open tops do not have the conversion ring. Conversions of the 1851 and 1860/61 were a design of Mason, Richards and a collaborative Richards-Mason conversion. Conversions by private gunsmiths existed as well. I believe both Mason and Richards also worked on the open top. One distinctive feature of the open top design is the rear sight is forged on the top of the barrel.

All of the original open tops were chambered in 44 Henry Rimfire.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Congratulations on a great find!

[jeepnik]

If it wasn't for 8 grand kids I'd be gone tomorrow. But if I lived in a state where I could buy any gun I wanted I'd be totally broke.

So...tell me again WHY that would be a bad thing...I left NY 17 years ago and live in the Pacific North West, it may be liberal, but I can buy anything, well accept a predator drone...
drone_strike.jpg

You do realize the purpose of the second amendment is to give citizens weapons parity with the government. Remember the writers had just overthrown their government and wanted the ability to do so again if needed.