2nd gen colt 1851 advise needed

[Tinpan58]

So I was at a local gun store tonight and found this 1851 2nd gen their on consignment, and ended up walking out the door with it, doesn't appear to have ever been fired, the wedge pushed out with thumbs, but had to tap a few times with a rubber mallet to get the barrel off. Had the black box kinda beat up, no other paper work, Probably paid to much $550 but couldn't help myself. So do I shoot it or not? I am off tomorrow and was going to the range any way. I was surprised placing it next to my pieta, the pieta looks pretty good except for the grips the little tail they put on the back throws the gun off the colt fills much better and points the gun in line much better, also the finish and case color are much better on the colt, but the square back trigger guard is almost to tight but doable. Who am I kidding I am going to have to shoot it. Dose anyone know about the internal parts, can I get them or will pieta or uberti parts work if I break something? Thanks

 

[tom e gun]

i have absolutely no answers to any of your questions, i simply wanted to say oooooh fancy!

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

Tinpan,
I have a second generation Colt 1851. I got it a long time ago and shot it a lot. I have never had any problems with parts breaking. Maybe I was lucky. I did get some Italian copies to shoot, mostly Ubertis. I put the Colt away now just to keep. I would guess if you did need a part, Uberti would be the place to get it from.

 

[arcticap]

Many of the 1851 Colt parts are available here:

http://coltparts.com/pt_51navy.html

http://coltparts.com/parts1.html

http://coltparts.com/

 

[junkman_01]

Your 2 Gen Colt was built using Uberti parts, so yes, Uberti parts will work.

 

[Tinpan58]

Thanks guys, thats great to know about the uberti parts. I haven't taken it completely apart but did make sure I could loosen all the screws, not sure it has ever been apart. the screws look untouched? I have decided not to take it today, I am going to shoot it, but have lodes on my favorite remmy as well as the howdah that I want to work with, wasn’t plaining to buy another gun last nite just happened. I know these were made by uberti and hand fitted by colt, but it is so cool having the colt name on it, colt is kinda the harley davidson of guns and even though I favor remmies I really like the 1851s

 

[Fingers McGee]

Congrats on your new F Series 1851 Navy. $550 for one in 98% or better condition with the box is a decent deal. As Junkman said, Uberti parts will work if you should need to replace anything; but, other than possibly a hand/spring, you will probably put a few thousand rounds through it before that eventuality.

 

[Foto Joe]

colt is kinda the harley davidson of guns

Hopefully Colt's will remain "Made in U.S.A." and refrain from importing parts from China.

Why don't you put your Pietta next to the 2nd Gen and take a picture. I'd like to see the side by side comparison of the two.

 

[Tinpan58]

Here you go Foto Joe, pietta on top as you can see the flair they put on the grip hits the hill of your hand pushing the barrel up, why you would do that to a gun that is known to be one of the most natural pointing guns of all times is beyond me. Thanks fingers I was hopping I did ok on the deal, I had been looking on gunbroker. even opened a account haven't bid on anything yet, probably will at some point, looks like it might be fun, just don’t like the idea of sending a copy of my DL to someone I don’t Know.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Re: Gunbroker, Once you get started, there's no stopping - don't ask me how I know. I've scanned my DL with a big "SPECIMEN" overprinted on it and the number blacked out.

 

[Tinpan58]

Thanks fingers thats a great idea.

 

[Foto Joe]

The Colt is purdy, of course so is the Pietta but I see what you mean about the grip. Still, for those of use who can't or won't (I being the latter) spend the money on real ones, the repros do a decent job.

I had an opportunity to pick up a 2nd Gen '51 last year in Parker Arizona, the shop was asking $500 for it and I was REAL tempted but I decided the money could be better spent on a S&W SS 1911. Sometimes our choices are difficult aren't they?

 

[PRM]

Shoot or Not

Tinpan58, Ive been shooting Colt 2nd Generations since the late 70s. They are great guns in a class all their own. I upgraded mine with pre-ban elephant ivory over time. Small springs do break on rare occasions ~ goes with all Colts and their clones. VTI Gunparts is a great source for replacements.

http://www.vtigunparts.com/

You got a decent deal on your gun. The days of picking those up for $250-$300 are gone. You will probably always be able to get your money back on it if you got tired of it. They are not that rare, so shooting it is not that big an issue. If you do, just clean it good. Shooting a gun does not necessarily destroy the overall condition or value. Colts should be shot ~ not looked at.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

So I was at a local gun store tonight and found this 1851 2nd gen their on consignment, and ended up walking out the door with it, doesn't appear to have ever been fired, the wedge pushed out with thumbs, but had to tap a few times with a rubber mallet to get the barrel off. Had the black box kinda beat up, no other paper work, Probably paid to much $550 but couldn't help myself. So do I shoot it or not? I am off tomorrow and was going to the range any way. I was surprised placing it next to my pieta, the pieta looks pretty good except for the grips the little tail they put on the back throws the gun off the colt fills much better and points the gun in line much better, also the finish and case color are much better on the colt, but the square back trigger guard is almost to tight but doable. Who am I kidding I am going to have to shoot it. Dose anyone know about the internal parts, can I get them or will pieta or uberti parts work if I break something? Thanks

As said above...Uberti internal parts mostly fit. If you change the hand it is not directly interchangable without changing the hammer (Uberti has a smaller pin) at least that was the case yesterday on the one I was working on.........

The "tight" trigger guard is a correct copy of the early Original Colt.

Regards, HH

 

[Dudemeister]

You got a good deal to be sure. As for whether or not to shoot it, I had the same exact dilemma. A little over a year ago, I too bought a second gen Colt in an unfired condition in a gun store in Bakersfield. Mine is an 1862 Pocket Police .36 cal.

So I wrestled with the idea of shooting it, but instead I bought a used Uberti version and shot that one. My Colt is still in the box, unfired, and will probably remain like that.



The only thing I've considered doing to it is to, maybe, have it engraved.

Gouse Freelance Engraving does some very fine firearm engraving at very reasonable prices. In fact they had done a 2nd gen 1862 and from the pictures is looks stunning

 

[Tinpan58]

Nice guns PRM, got to love the ivory grips, Thanks for the info Hoof Hearted, I disassembled it today and gave it a good cleaning, I have a parts kit for my pietta 51 from cabelas and matched the parts and the hand was the one thing that was a almost perfect fit and the pin fit like a glove, so no problem there, the spring for the bolt/trigger will also work if you trim a little off the trigger part, The main spring also almost identical, the other parts could probably be made to work but not the best fit, but at least the springs are covered. After close inspection I fill the gun has been fired, it’s just in really good shape. The riffling in the colt is noticeably deeper and more pronounced than the pietta so I really have no choice I have to shoot it. Nice guns Dudemeister. and that is some fine engraving indeed.