Which 1861 Colt pistol to get

Depends. If you want a historically accurate one with 7 1/2 inch barrel and original profile grips, it'll be either a Uberti, or an older 2nd Gen or Sig Series from an auction site. If you don't care about barrel length, the current Pietta's have an 8" barrel. Or, you can choose from one of the 5 inch barreled models from Pietta, either new or an older NIB one from one of the auction sites.

My personal choice is the Uberti or 2nd Gen - those are what I use for CAS and are as close as you can get to an original.

Quality is pretty much a toss up between Pietta and Uberti. Uberti fit and finish is usually better that the Pietta; although the last couple Piettas I've gotten were really nice.

I bought a Uberti military model with the steel grip and it has a 7 and a half inch barrel. I want another one with the brass grip but my dealer says his supplier is out. I looked on the Cimarron retail site in Texas and they say they have them for $270. Has anyone here ever bought a black powder gun from them direct?

''Which 1861 Colt pistol to get''

Why not buy an original? Those are nice too.

Cabelas has the Pietta version (8" barrel, steel grip straps).

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104701680;cat104503680

tpelle said:

Cabelas has the Pietta version (8" barrel, steel grip straps).

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Pistols|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104503680/1861-Steel-Frame-Navy-36-Caliber-Revolver/739977.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-black-powder-pistols%2F_%2FN-1100201%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104503680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104792580%253Bcat104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104792580%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat104503680

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WOOF!

That just Pietta looks WRONG........

Get the one from Texas Jacks

http://www.texasjacks.com/BlkPowder/TJ-CA063-1861NavyCivBrass.htm






Now that is a HANDSOME pistol. One of my favorites as far as looks go. The longer barrel and the goofed up grip Pietta puts on them just "ain't right...."

Swampmouse, I have bought pistols from Texas Jack's. They have a return policy that will allow you to return it if it is messed up, otherwise you have to pay a restocking fee. You can also check with Buffalo Arms, they may have some, but they are probably MSRP. I think they are back ordered.

Where do you live, they are located in Fredericksburg and they have a show room that is stocked with pretty much anything they sell online. If you call ahead you can make sure they will have a couple to choose from.

~Mako

Everyone beware, the texasjacks.com web site is infected with a virus (accordng to Komerad Kaspersky).

Cabelas has the best price going (on Sale $199) for a Piettia. Yes the BBL is 8" and it does have "that" grip... But it's a sound and reliable revolver.
I just ordered one of the 5" models myself! I wanted the semi-rebated cylinder and the short barrel just for fun.
The BEST model in my opnion is the Uberti "London" model. It has the Modern Colt Gripframe shape and has a steel backstrap.The BBL length is the correct 7 1/2". Prices vary on this model so shop around...
HTH,
ZVP

ZVP said:

Cabelas has the best price going (on Sale $199) for a Piettia. Yes the BBL is 8" and it does have "that" grip... But it's a sound and reliable revolver.
I just ordered one of the 5" models myself! I wanted the semi-rebated cylinder and the short barrel just for fun.
The BEST model in my opnion is the Uberti "London" model. It has the Modern Colt Gripframe shape and has a steel backstrap.The BBL length is the correct 7 1/2". Prices vary on this model so shop around...
HTH,
ZVP

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ZVP,
1. You need to check your facts more carefully. The 1861 is NOT on sale for $199. That is an 1851, which is an entirely different animal. The Pietta 1861 is on sale at Cabelas for $280, which is not as good a deal as the one at Texas Jack's.

2. There isn't a 5" version of the 1861 available from anyone. There never has been.

3. Any "semi rebated" (just call it rebated, I'm not sure if "semi-rebating" is even possible) pistol on a Navy frame would be a .44 Caliber pistol unless you've stumbled onto some bastardized Pietta version of the 1862 Navy model. But that's just silly, why put a rebated cylinder for a .36 caliber on a 6 shot Navy frame?

So in short, this post is about the 1861 Navy model, not an 1851 or one of the Pietta platypus pistols.

tepelle,
According to Viper there isn't any threat.

Regards,
Mako

I like the so called .36 ''1862 Police'' [should be a five shot built on the Pocket Model .31 frame] , which is in fact, an 1861 [a six shot built on the Navy frame, with ''creeping'' loading lever, as seen on the 1860 Army] not a 1851 [six shot w/hinged type loading lever] with as you pointed out, a semi-fluted barrel ... while it may not be entirely correct [Colt records show only 100 of the 1861 Navys ever made with fluted cylinders] they are the best handling of all the Pietta brand percussion revolvers, IMHO.

BHP FAN,
ZVP said rebated, do you think he meant semi-fluted? I guess that is possible. When you say rebated you should talking about the stepped cylinders 'a la the 1860 Army or the 1862 Navy (not the Police) model.

There is a certain appeal to the semi fluted cylinders I think it's because they look "correct" to those of us who grew up with modern revolvers. However I think the original 1862 Police model and the Uberti reproduction are very good looking.

I don't think the original Colt's 1861s with the fluted cylinders were as appealing as a plain 1861. They have the full length flutes like the 1860 Army models had.

Here's one:



Regards,
Mako

Makos Goods said:

2. There isn't a 5" version of the 1861 available from anyone. There never has been.

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Makos, Pietta/Traditions has made a 5" version of the 1861 in various configurations for years (since at least 1991). Cabelas 1862 Army Police is in reality a 5" barreled 1861 Navy. Traditions has sold nickel plated 5" barreled 1861s with laminated grips and a model with gold plated cylinder - I had a pair of the gold plated cylinder models till someone wanted them more than me. Got a reeeeeeaaaal good price for them.. In 1991 they sold a photo engraved in the white model. The photo is of mine.

Fingers,
I'll take your word for it. But.................I have NEVER seen a true 1861 cylinder 5 inch 1861. Every one I have seen has been exactly what you have shown. Which is the semi fluted version they normally call their 1862 Police model.

Is that the pistol you are speaking of?

If I saw the pistol you posted I would Identify it as a Pietta model they call the 1862 Police.

As far as Traditions goes they haven't sold a revolver in a while.

I obviously haven't seen every wild idea that Alchimista has dreamed up after a bad Chinese dinner, so I guess anything is possible.

Regards,
Mako

Regarding the virus warning, I have the latest update to Kaspersky Labs anti-virus running, and when I click on the link you posted, Kaspersky complains.

Just trying to save some folks some grief.

Makos Goods,
Thank you. Thats to far I am North of Baton Rouge not terribly far from the river. I am going to call them today.
I think the virus that tepel saw was just a persistent cookie. I use AVG which is what my tech guys at work put on my computer and it doesn't show anything. I have spy doctor to if there is a virus and it says nothing.

Makos, OK, I understand your comment now. You do not consider half fluted models to be true 1861 Navies. Under that premise, none of Piettas products are TRUE 1861 Navies.

RPRCA website has a picture of a round cylindered 5 inch barreled 1861 by Pietta.

That's a really fine looking Pietta, Fingers, and I really like engraved pistolas. Makos obviously has very good taste as well, and an encyclopedic knowledge of percussion revolvers...

Fingers McGee said:

Makos, OK, I understand your comment now. You do not consider half fluted models to be true 1861 Navies. Under that premise, none of Piettas products are TRUE 1861 Navies.

RPRCA website has a picture of a round cylindered 5 inch barreled 1861 by Pietta.

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Fingers,
I guess Pietta doesn't consider them 1861s since they don't call them that.

But, I know what a fan of the pistols you are and as I said above there is definitely an appeal to them. What's really funny is that I've seen Pietta Police models like yours witht he 4 screw configuration and the recoil shield cuts and they just unabashedly call them 1862 Police models.

Now that I've gotten my "puritanism" out of me I want to complement you on that fine looking half fluted 1861. See how quickly I can turn? Because you sir are correct! Pietta, is being sneaky in calling them 1862s, they are on the wrong frame and have the wrong number of chambers to be a '62. So now I understand where you were coming from. You are right they should be called a 5 inch '61 with a half fluted cylinder.

It's too bad Colt's never made those, they would have been a fine pistol. That cased fluted '61 I showed has different flutes from the other '61s I have see. It's sort of halfway between the 1860 Army fluted models and the '62. The flutes in front of the locking notches look more like the '62 Police models and it's almost like they added the flute to the rear as an afterthought. I have some pictures somewhere of two more original fluted '61s and their cylinders have the one constant depth flute from stem to stern like the Army models. I like the look of yours better.

Oh, and you need to get a few more Colt's pattern pistols. It seems you are down at least two judging from your comments in your post. I think between you, me and Hellgate we could be categorized as having a "sickness." But I think you have more than Hellgate and I put together. You my friend are one sick puppy...

Your friend,
Mako

Makos
I called them and talked. They had two and the guy I talked to put my name on the one he thought was the best one. I had to order it through the internet though for the price which seems strange. He promised me they would ship it today and send me a tracking number.
I hope its as pretty as the one in your a picture. I got a left sided holster to so I can wear both. I can hardly wait.

But I think you have more than Hellgate and I put together. You my friend are one sick puppy...

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Thank You . I'll take that as a compliment.

Love the picture of the full fluted cased set. Getting hold of one of Uberti's full fluted models is high on my list.

Regards,

Fingers