lentuk
Member
Finished the bird head grip conversion on my 1860 awile ago. just wanted to get your feedback.
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1860 Snub with Bird Head Grip
- Thread starter lentuk
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lentuk
Member
Can someone help me with posting pictures.
Thanks kungfuhippie.
Thanks kungfuhippie.
kungfuhippie
Member
DixieTexian
Member
So how'd you do it?
Son of Sam
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2006
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- 47
Yeah, that's pretty sharp. Those snubbies are really growing on me. The grip gives it an especially nice look to it. One day, I'd also like to have one in my collection...
lentuk
Member
The metal work was not bad, but that's what I am good at.
I removed the back strap cut off the sharp rear corner of the butt with a sawzall then heated it with a torch and pounded it flat on an anvil. I then removed all the rest with a grinder until it was long and flat.
I wish I would have taken more pics, I then heated again and wrapped it around a piece of pipe until I got the right curve.
Once I had the right curve I trimmed it where it met the brass front strap drilled a new hole and the easy part was done.
The wood grip took me longer, but I am not good at wood work you can probably see in my photos the grip is not perfect.
As you can see I'm not the best photographer either.
I also rounded off the end of the barrel, it was to sharp.
I removed the back strap cut off the sharp rear corner of the butt with a sawzall then heated it with a torch and pounded it flat on an anvil. I then removed all the rest with a grinder until it was long and flat.
I wish I would have taken more pics, I then heated again and wrapped it around a piece of pipe until I got the right curve.
Once I had the right curve I trimmed it where it met the brass front strap drilled a new hole and the easy part was done.
The wood grip took me longer, but I am not good at wood work you can probably see in my photos the grip is not perfect.
As you can see I'm not the best photographer either.
I also rounded off the end of the barrel, it was to sharp.
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Imaginos
Member
Keep up the good work.
If congress keeps pulling these unrecorded voice votes to pass gun control, undocumented weapons may be the only ones we have.
If congress keeps pulling these unrecorded voice votes to pass gun control, undocumented weapons may be the only ones we have.
0007
Member
Did you shorten the barrel yourself also?
dstorm1911
Member
ohhh man!! Now I gotta find me a civilian model 60 colt (no stock screws) just so I can shamlessly copy your work of art!! Now see your causein undo stress to my marriage! 
GREAT JOB!!!
BTW I suck at the wood working end too, can do ANYTHING with metal but....... took me a week to finish an 1860 grip blank to replace the ugly white plastic Cabellas put on their "commemorative 1860!! And in the end I ended up cuttin it into seperate sides and middle fitted each piece then drilled/doweled and gorrilla glued em together........ ya can't tell it now other than somehow I forgot to account for the glue thickness and got a lil gap on one side at the bottom too......
Again that is a great job ya did there!!
GREAT JOB!!!
BTW I suck at the wood working end too, can do ANYTHING with metal but....... took me a week to finish an 1860 grip blank to replace the ugly white plastic Cabellas put on their "commemorative 1860!! And in the end I ended up cuttin it into seperate sides and middle fitted each piece then drilled/doweled and gorrilla glued em together........ ya can't tell it now other than somehow I forgot to account for the glue thickness and got a lil gap on one side at the bottom too......
Again that is a great job ya did there!!
lentuk
Member
Thanks for the complements.
0007,
This was a Cabelas shortie already; it just had a very sharp straight cut barrel end so I rounded it off for easier "shove it in the pants" carry.
I think this one is going to the classifieds to fund another project.
0007,
This was a Cabelas shortie already; it just had a very sharp straight cut barrel end so I rounded it off for easier "shove it in the pants" carry.
I think this one is going to the classifieds to fund another project.
MISSEDSHOT
Member
1860 snub-nose bird's head
If I may ask one question, do you have an accurate scale such as a postage scale and if so , could we get a weight in ounces, unloaded and loaded with five cylinders??Thank you for the photos and descriptions.MISSEDSHOT....
If I may ask one question, do you have an accurate scale such as a postage scale and if so , could we get a weight in ounces, unloaded and loaded with five cylinders??Thank you for the photos and descriptions.MISSEDSHOT....
SWC Bonfire
Member
Great job to the OP. I never thought of doing something like that. I suppose most people don't reload a snubby anyway, so sticking a conversion cylinder in wouldn't be much different than carrying a normal revolver as far as operation was concerned. Does the wedge get in the way? I could see the next logical steps would be a shortened/profiled wedge and a hammer mod.
Pretty neat. Definately way up there on the coolness scale.
Pretty neat. Definately way up there on the coolness scale.
KiltedClaymore
Member
that is mighty spiffy. id like to see it with a cartrige converter for added cool factor.
lentuk
Member
MISSEDSHOT,
Sorry I don’t have a scale that would be accurate with that much weight.
SWC Bonfire,
The wedge does not bother me but lowering the hammer spur like a Bisley might be next.
KiltedClaymore,
I tried to get one of those conversions but they seem to be hard to find and a little costly.
Sorry I don’t have a scale that would be accurate with that much weight.
SWC Bonfire,
The wedge does not bother me but lowering the hammer spur like a Bisley might be next.
KiltedClaymore,
I tried to get one of those conversions but they seem to be hard to find and a little costly.
Yankee John
Member
This modification that you have done is terrific! I love my snubnose 1860 as it is, but I really love the look of your birdshead grip.
I am half-tempted to send my backstrap to you to modify like you did on yours (I can handle modifying the grip).
Looks GREAT!
John
I am half-tempted to send my backstrap to you to modify like you did on yours (I can handle modifying the grip).
Looks GREAT!
John
Cincinnati Slim
Member
Birds head grip
Howdy,
Percussion and SAA grips are interchangeable. I put a longer 1860 "Army" grip on my Uberti Cattleman to fit my long digits better.
I'f y'all like the birds head style grip but don't want to do any cuttin' bending or grinding you could just order a "Lightning" style grip from VTI gunparts.
Think they are like sixty bucks complete with fitted walnut grip. All you need is a credit card and a screwdriver...
Slim
Howdy,
Percussion and SAA grips are interchangeable. I put a longer 1860 "Army" grip on my Uberti Cattleman to fit my long digits better.
I'f y'all like the birds head style grip but don't want to do any cuttin' bending or grinding you could just order a "Lightning" style grip from VTI gunparts.
Think they are like sixty bucks complete with fitted walnut grip. All you need is a credit card and a screwdriver...
Slim
Tommygunn
Member
Cincinnati Slim said:
Does VTI carry birdshead grip[s by Pietta? Does Pietta make the lightning, or Uberti? Would Uberti grips fit a Pietta revolver?
Cincinnati Slim
Member
Grip frame swaping
I'm betting they'll swap OK.
I've got both Pietta and Uberti Colt clones. Like I mentioned, I put a 1860 grip assembly on an Uberti Cattleman SAA so I have a Uberti SSA grip in my parts box. I'll try it on one of my Pietta Colt clones when I get home...
Slim
I'm betting they'll swap OK.
I've got both Pietta and Uberti Colt clones. Like I mentioned, I put a 1860 grip assembly on an Uberti Cattleman SAA so I have a Uberti SSA grip in my parts box. I'll try it on one of my Pietta Colt clones when I get home...
Slim
That is a mighty nice bit of work there Lentuk. One question, How do you load it? Also I noticed it doesn't have the safety notches between the nipples so I guess you need to have one empty cylinder. Or else take the chance of shooting off a bit of your anatomy that you really don't want shot off when you stick this in your belt or pocket.
Tommygunn
Member
Colts have pins on the heel of the cylinder that fit into a notch cut into the heel of the hammer. You're thinking of Remingtons or Whitneys, no doubt.
PS -- Pietta provides a brass loading tool that is a "plunger" with a large end that fits in the palm of the hand for loading it.
SigfanUSAF
Member
Nice work! My dad likes the black powder stuff for defense too, why, I don't know, 'cause after you'd call 911 telling them you just shot an intruder, you'd have to explain why they may wanna dispatch a fire truck as well
If you actually plan on carrying that thing for CCW, well, I honestly think that's awesome, otherwise, good work on a fun little shooter!
If you actually plan on carrying that thing for CCW, well, I honestly think that's awesome, otherwise, good work on a fun little shooter!
Old Dragoon
Member
That's WHY you use a BP arm for Home/Self Defense, not only does the bullet do harm by tickling the innards, it'll set the perps clothes on fire too at close range. Sorta adding insult to injury.....and maybe set the house on fire too.
lentuk
Member
I did not really intend to carry it, I just wanted something different. And it just looks good next to the rest of the old gals.
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