Piettia Colt New Police?

[ZVP]

I just ordered one from Cabelas and I wonder if anyone has had experience with this revolver? It was a toss-up between the .36 Remington and the Colt copies, I chosethe Colt just because of asthetics.
From the Pictures on the Cabela's site I noticed that this revolver seems to be built upon the .36 Navy frame (medium) rather than the .32 (small) Pocket frame as the origonals were. There is no rebate cut in the watershelf and it appears this is a full size 6 shot cylinder instead of a 5 shot cylinder? It's hard to tell the chamber count in the catalog picture and no mention (either on site or in the catalog) If indeed the 6 shot cylinder is used. either count it should be quite a Belt Pistol! The short barrel combined with a Navy model frame should make for a nice handling piece!
If anyone has one of these Piettia Police models, what powder charge do you use? Is the partially rebated cylinder capable of 20-22 gr powder charges like a a Navy model is?
Just as a matter of note, way back in the 70's I built a CVA New Police Kit and it's just a wallhanger as the Nipples are too long to allow the cylinder to rotate. These days being a bit more familliar with Colt reproductions, I still can't locate nipples to allow this attractive little pistol to function properly. It's just a $89 wallhanger which was fun to build. I can't see how this revolver would have been able to function in the first place, The clearances just aren't there! I am sure the origonal Colt .36 caliber Police was better designed and fully functional...
Though not historically correct this Piettia looks to be a nice little revolver which should be a GOOD shooter!
I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for the backorder to fill and the shipment to be filled! Any information will help fill the hours waiting for the gun to arrive!
ZVP

 

[arcticap]

The nipple cones on the CVA can be shorten to enable the cylinder to rotate even if only one is done as a test.
If the maker or the threading can't be determined, then maybe one nipple with the proper length cone can be sent to Blomquist Percussion Works to either match up or manufacture.
Or Blomquist may know the correct size just by mentioning that it's a CVA.

http://www.blomquistpercussionworks.com/default.asp

Good luck with your Pietta Colt New Police.

 

[Jabez Cowboy]

Pietta 62

Howdy ;

I have one with 6 1/2 inch barrel, it is indeed a 6 shooter ...
Best check your chamber mouths as Pietta has rather mis-matched specs. on a lot of guns .... Mine came with the biggest cyclinder mouth .3675 and a bore of .3787 doesn't help it shoot straight ...
It was so poorly fitted that all internals were refitted and polished ,,, before shooting .... The barrel and wedge were also in need of fitting ....

After all this work it is about as good as a out of the box Uberti as to ease of function ,,, but won't keep it balls in as tight a group at 7 yards as my Uberti 51 will at 50 ...


Jabez Cowboy

 

[hawksnest88]

ZVP, you are going to receive what I got, a semi fluted cylinder, heavier but very nice 6 shot .36 cal. revolver. I also have an older Replica Arms '62 police, which is considerably smaller and lighter, and is a 5 shot .36. This older gun shoots very well for years now, but I keep it at or under 20g of BP. Back in the 80s, I got into electroless nickel plating. I plated my 1860 Colt and it is very nice still. However, I used a batch of nickel that had already plated a couple handguns, on the 1862 police, and it turned out blotchy, but the gun still shoots good, and doesn't look too bad. I never stripped it and re-plated. I may sell it one day. Bill

PS After plating my 1860 colt army, I shot it for awhile, and then loaded it up, caps and all, packed it away, then found it when we moved in this past Feb. I pulled it out of the holster which was in a military metal can, saw it was still loaded after almost 30 years with 3F BP. In stead of pulling the cylinder and taking out the loads, I just went outside and shot all 6 loads. They fired as if I had just loaded them. Upon checking the cylinders, there was no pitting or damage from leaving it loaded, not that I'm recommending this to anyone.

 

[BHP FAN]

Folks back east are still finding loaded Civil War guns that shoot just fine.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Pietta uses the same frame for the 1851, 1861 & 1862 police.
Frame, cylinders & barrels are all interchangeable.
Makes for a neat little gun, even tho it is not "correct"
I have one frame with several different barrels (3" snubbie, "police", 1861, & 1851 barrels)
Depends on who I wanna be that day.
--Dawg

 

[StrawHat]

As has been mentioned, you are buying a short barreled 1861 with a half fluted cylinder. Nothing wrong with that but it is not a Pocket Police revolver. I have a pair of 1861s and they are without a doubt the nicest shooting 36s I have ever handled. Mine have the 7 1/2" barrel and it is easy to see why Col Colt thought so highly of them.

 

[ZVP]

Thanks for the info guys!
I was gonna order a basic Navy Model 7 1/2" but the more I looked ath ehe "Police" Model I thought why not get somthing differenr? I already have a Uberti Londin Navy.
Yea I thought it'd be a 6 shooter, which is fine with me! Nice looking from the pictures I found on Cabela's site!
If this one is as good as my Piettia .44 caliber '51, then it'll get a LOT of use!
I like shorter barrels (My 5 1/2" '58 Remmie is a jewel!) It gets lots of shooting in. Handles and draws with ease!
I think that Cabelas invented the name for their catalog's sake. I mean it sorta looks like a Police Model... Ireally like partially fluted cylinders, they look "correct" on a revolver. Just too many years of Cowboy Movies I guess?
I just called Cabela's and they are now in stock! I hope my order fills soon!
Boy I am getting stoked really bad waiting for a new gun!
Thanks again!
ZVP

PS:
I just contacted Cabelas and mine still isn't ready to ship. At least they have em and it'll probablly be a couple days till the gun is pulled and the order filled, I don't wanna wait! New guns affect me that way...

 

[StrawHat]

Some eye candy while you wait.

My Pocket Police.



Pocket Police with 1860 Snubby, and Short Mort. (This photo also shows the relative size of the three different frames commonly offered by Colts Manufacturing.)

 

[PRM]

Strawhat ~ Is that a Walker Snub? How does that loading lever work for ya, looks like it would have some bite to it. Bet that's like the 4th of July to shoot.

 

[StrawHat]

PRM ...Strawhat ~ Is that a Walker Snub? How does that loading lever work for ya, looks like it would have some bite to it...

Yes, Short Mort is a Walker snub. I originally bought it with the intention of rewtoring it by lining the lug with a 45 ACP barrel but the more I handled and fired it, the more I liked it. The loading lever, not so much. I made a cheater bar for it from a piece of 1/4" ID pipe and used it for a while but eventually I removed the lever from the revolver and load the cylinder off the frame. Next up will be a set of American Ivory for grips and I'll call it quits on modifications on that revolver. Even with the short barrel (5"), it is not going to be mistaken for either a concealed piece of a fast draw revolver.

 

[ZVP]

Strawhat,
Thanks for the eye candy I needed more to get all excited over!
Nice grips on those, you say that you make them?
I've never tried to refit grips on a Colt-style frame I was always concerned with scratching the Grip strap beyond repair.LOL!
Yes, I see the difference between the different frame sizes. I know that the origonal Pocket Police was built on the small .31Cal frame with a rebate cut to allow for the bigger .36 cylinder. I did a little reserch on the origonal gun years ago. I think that Colt really had a good concealment gun going on back then! The caliber was a good choice for Police work.For portability and power, the real Offical Police was just about right. The looser fitting clothing of that era made the revolver easier to conceal.
This Pieitta is called a "Army Police" model by Cabelas, but I think that's just something they made-up for their catalog. I prefer to just call the revolver a Short Barreled .36 and not try to confuse folks! It's definately not an Army and the caliber is definately Navy Caliber.
No matter what the real nomenclature is (maybe the box will tell?) I think that this is going to be one sweet shooter!
Can't get it out of my mind!
You know that you're a gun freak when all you think about is a new gun!
ZVP

 

[BHP FAN]

....and the count down begins, LOL!

 

[Dellbert]

Well!!!

I sign in as a gun freak. Can't wait for my next one to show up, and haven't ordered it yet. I want another .36 to go with my .36 51 Colt. Can't make my mine up between the 58 police, and the model 61 Colt. :banghead: Whats a guy to do ?

 

[ZVP]

For pure shooting's sake I'd go with the Army as it is more dependable in the way it shed's off Cap fragments. The small framed Police has some issues and needs mod's to get the Caps to go around and out. The mods are described elswhere but essentially you need to drrpen the channel on the right of the backplate and round the sholder off to pass the Caps and their fragments by.
The Piettia Police is built on a full sized .36 frame and so far it works the Caps just great! It is not exactlly a "correct" copy but it looks really good and the fluted cylinder adds to make it look like it's namesake.
Mind you even the big Army will still ocasionally allow a Cap fragment to go astray. However it is a much more dependable preformer! Everything that revolves and uses caps can have an issue with them.
If the budget allows, take a year and get both guns... Yea we all said "only one" but soon had a bunch!
HTH,
ZVP

 

[ZVP]

For pure shooting's sake I'd go with the '51 as it is more dependable in the way it shed's off Cap fragments. The small framed Police has some issues and needs mod's to get the Caps to go around and out. The mods are described elswhere but essentially you need to open the channel on the right of the backplate and round the sholder off to pass the Caps and their fragments by.
The Piettia '51 Police is built on a full sized .36 frame and so far it works the Caps just great! It is not exactlly a "correct" copy but it looks really good and the fluted cylinder adds to make it look like it's namesake.
Mind you even the big Army will still ocasionally allow a Cap fragment to go astray. However it is a much more dependable preformer! Everything that revolves and uses caps can have an issue with them.
If the budget allows, take a year and get both guns... Yea we all said "only one" but soon had a bunch!
HTH,
ZVP

 

[ZVP]

Sorry

Sorry for the double post!
Can't get one to delete!
ZVP

 

[BHP FAN]

I like pairs, so I just buy another of the last thing I bought....until the next thing catches my eye....I must be part magpie, I guess...