[Timthinker]

Recently, I noticed that some "high end" caplock revolver manufacturers do not offer open top Colt replicas. When I examined Feinwerkbau, Pedersoli and USFA, I noticed none of these companies offer Colt caplocks. Is this a coinsidence? I have a theory, but I would like to read the opinions of others before stating my viewpoint. Thanks.


Timthinker

[4v50 Gary]

Flooded market? Is there money to be made considering the cost of tooling up?

[Old Fuff]

Those high-end makers usually target serious shooters, especially those that are into international competition (yes, there is such), and these competitors prefer revolvers with a topstrap for various and sometimes obvious reasons.

This is not to say that open-top Colt's aren't equally accurate - at least in theory. But in practice it's a bit hard to overcome problems with the sights and the way the barrel is mounted to the frame.

[sundance44s]

I beleive Old Fluff has the answer ..I didn`t know how to say it with out sounding like I was bashing the Colt design ..In the Colt class shooting competition ..the shooters seem to prefer the Remington and Rogers & Spencers ..a more solid frame design ,and these guys shoot alot . I don`t know why they call it the Colt Class ..with no one shooting Colts ..Remington just can`t seem to get credit for a timeless design .

[mykeal]

Remington just can't get credit for a timeless design.

?????

Several companies, both in the US and abroad continue to produce replicas of Remington's 1858 design. None, like in zero, zilch, nada, nunca, have said they intend to stop producing the design. It's 2008. That's 150 years. They're building it because people are buying it. No credit? Aren't you being just a little silly with that statement?

[sundance44s]

No Credit ...Not really ...Seems every one thinks the Colt Peace maker won the west ...fact is the west was won before the Colt Peace Marker ever got into the hands of the people ..The Army got theirs in 1873 ..the civilians didn`t get theirs untill 1876 ..There were alot more Remingtons involved in the winning of the west than they ever get credit for ...The Remington cartridge conversion cylinders were on the scene much earlyer than the Colt Peace Maker . Mykeal I know you already knew this ...I just run into people all the time , that don`t know this .......I have friends that started into cap and ball revolvers with the Colts because they thought the 1858 Remington was akin to the Ruger ROA and not historically correct . The Remington was ahead of it`s time .

[mykeal]

I respectfully suggest that your perception of others attitudes is not an accurate indication of the general population of black powder enthusiasts.

I'll state my thesis another way: why would all of the Italian replica companies include Remington designs in their catalogs, and why would the premier US replica manufacturer invest in adding a very fine Remington replica if it were not considered a credible design? To answer the question in your original post: they're doing it because people WANT it and will PAY good money for it. Is that not the ultimate American expression of 'giving credit'?

What are you looking for? Do you want all the Colt owners to rush out into the streets and fling their replicas into the gutter with expressions of disgust? Are you looking for statues of Remington revolvers to be erected in town squares across the country? Ain't gonna happen, but that doesn't mean the design is hated.

Personally, I only own 1 Remington, and I own 10 Colts, 2 Rogers and Spencer, 1 Ruger and 1 Starr. The best of the lot is the Ruger, by far. I thoroughly enjoy the Colts and the R&S. And the Remmy. It's only fault is the famous base pin fouling issue, and with enough forethought I can avoid that if I try. It's a fine design. Not the best I own, but certainly very nearly so.

Quit looking for reasons to feel it's not appreciated. It's a self-fulfulling mission.

[sundance44s]

OKOKOK ..I wasn`t Colt bashing ..sorry you took it that way .

[StrawHat]

Yeah but Hollywood says the Model P, (in the hands of John Wayne at the direction of John Ford), won the west and maybe the Civil War!

Getting back to the original posters query I believe Pedersoli is quite content anad quite busy making quality competition grade rifles.

USFA, makes a high cost Model P, so maybe they see the OT as somehow being competition.

FWB, I thought they made the top of the line air rifles and maybe rimfires. Have they gotten in the black powder camp?

Perhaps the replica companies have gone so far as to replicate the "Gentleman's agreement" between Colt and Winchester.

[DuncanSA]

I don't know why people seem to be getting a bit heated here. I own and shoot 2 Uberti 1860 Army Colts and 1 Pietta 1858 New Army Remington.
For accuracy and reliabity the Remmy is probably the best, but I feel a bit more comfortable shooting the Colts - they fit my hands nicely and seem more "pointable". I enjoy shooting all three and have fun with them which, after all, is surely the objective of us BP shooters?

[Old Fuff]

I didn't notice any Colt bashing.... :confused:

I don't think that anyone will dispute that the solid frame/topstrap revolvers are more popular with "in-to-it" serious shooters, but on the other hand a lot of folks that are just having fun get along fine with their open-tops. At the top of the list we have those obviously crazy nuts with their Walkers. :D

I suspect that with a few exceptions most shooters can't hand-hold a cap & ball revolver of either style and get 25 yard groups that are substantially different, and only match competitors would give a hoot.

The name of the game is to have fun, so chose whatever revolver(s) float your boat. :cool:

[oneiron]

There was post on the board that Uberti was droping the 1858 Remington from it's production after this year..

[mykeal]

Apologies if I sounded a bit strident. It wasn't intended.

I also did not discern Colt bashing. What I inferred, and wanted to correct, was perceived disrespect for the Remington: someone who likes the design felt it wasn't sufficiently appreciated by the body of bp enthusiasts. Well, I disagree with that perception - I think the design is generally venerated. I used hyperbole to suggest perhaps the OP was expecting too much in the way of praise for the design, and my choice of language was probably a bit over the top.

[Timthinker]

Old Fluff expressed my theory accurately and concisely. I agree with his view that a Colt open top should possess quite good accuracy, but the solid frame Remington seems the better choice for reasons that have been discussed before.

Also, Gary is correct about the cost factor involved. This is a subject I have discussed in two previous threads. Thanks for the input.


Timthinker

[Jim K]

A while back some very serious shooters preferred the open top Colt because they could throw the gun back over the shoulder and let the fired cap drop out when the gun was cocked, something that wouldn't happen with the Remington. Not a big concern unless you are being shot at or some one who doesn't like you is waving a saber in your direction.

Jim