FSCJedi
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Uberti makes a "London" model Navy that has a blued steel backstrap and trigger guard. Is there any historical significance to this?
1851 Navy "London" Model
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During part of the 1850's Colt had a factory in London. Some of the revolvers they made had iron rather then brass backstraps and trigger guards. After the London works were shut down a lot of spare parts, including iron backstraps and trigger guards were sent back to Hartford and used in production there. Consequently not all iron backstrap and trigger guard revolvers were made in England. They were prefered on those relatively few Navy's that were cut to accept a detachable shoulder stock.
The advantage to today's shooters is that the blued/iron parts are less likely to be discolored by black powder then similar brass ones. Keeping the brass polished (if you care about it) is a pain in the backside. That said, the brass is as functional as the steel.
The advantage to today's shooters is that the blued/iron parts are less likely to be discolored by black powder then similar brass ones. Keeping the brass polished (if you care about it) is a pain in the backside. That said, the brass is as functional as the steel.
Tommygunn
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It is said that the London factory helped save Colt.
I have a Uberty Colt 1851 Navy with the blued triggerguard/backstrap and IMHO it is a very nifty looking revolver. I also have the brass version with the squared triggerguard. Both are nice.
And yes, as Old Fluff said, there is a good history to them!
I have a Uberty Colt 1851 Navy with the blued triggerguard/backstrap and IMHO it is a very nifty looking revolver. I also have the brass version with the squared triggerguard. Both are nice.
And yes, as Old Fluff said, there is a good history to them!
FSCJedi
Member
Wow, thank you gentlemen. This is indeed interesting, and a good excuse to get at least one. 
They are very neat looking with the blued surfaces instead of brass. I wonder how they would be with conversion cylinders... hmm...
They are very neat looking with the blued surfaces instead of brass. I wonder how they would be with conversion cylinders... hmm...Be aware that the bores on most .36 caliber C&B revolvers are oversized for the common .358" diameter bullets used in .38 Long Colt and .38 Special cartridges. Consequently accuracy may suffer. Usually those revolvers made for a particular cartridge have the correct bore size.
Originally the .38 Long Colt cartridge, that was used in most C&B Navy conversions, had a heeled bullet similar to what we now see in a .22 LR cartridge. Thus the front of the bullet was the same size as the case, and it correctly fit the bore.
So don't spend any money on a new cylinder until you measure the bore of your particular revolver, or buy a reproduction of the revolver that is made for metallic cartridges.
Originally the .38 Long Colt cartridge, that was used in most C&B Navy conversions, had a heeled bullet similar to what we now see in a .22 LR cartridge. Thus the front of the bullet was the same size as the case, and it correctly fit the bore.
So don't spend any money on a new cylinder until you measure the bore of your particular revolver, or buy a reproduction of the revolver that is made for metallic cartridges.
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