.44 Navys?

[Old Fuff]

Seriously, I like the "Navy" in .44 because the same mold works for my Pietta '58 Remmy.

Well then!!! This whole mess is your fault...

Enough folks like you got the attention of some importers, who in turn contacted their source in Italy (or wherever). Both the importer and gunmaker smelled money $$$$.

So they threw history under the bus and ACTUALLY made something Colt hadn't. Oh, the shame of it... How awful.

 

[MCgunner]

Yup, that's it, twas me! Now, I'll find me some cover to shoot from ...bring it on. .

REMEMBER THE ALAMO...oh, wait, no revolvers at the Alamo. REMEMBER BULL RUN!

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

No revolvers AT the Alamo fer sure, but one of Colt's favorite gunsmiths did make a pre Paterson .52 cal revolver prototype in 1835...can you imagine if Travis, Crockett, and Bowie had a hundred of those...quien sabe?

 

[mackg]

http://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/category.jsp?catid=76171

Many buyers don't shoot much and know even less. It started as a way for everybody to maximize on the "collection" market, filling a void in the offer.

I remember asking the question as a young man and being answered variations of "gruffgruffmumblemumble, of course it does exist that's one!!"

Now if you're asking me, it's all replica at best and I like the idea of a lookalike in a bigger caliber (if built on a steel frame). So who's going to start makin' five shooters in .50 cal.?

 

[YumaKid]

"I'm just a dumb hick in a cow hat", and nowhere near as knowledgeable as most everybody on this board; and I guess I'm missing the point of all of this.

But I can tell you one thing...
3-4 years ago, my brother ("Don Coyote" for you SASS folks) gave my son Matt a " '51 Navy .44 cal 'Sheriff's Model' " (with 5-1/2" barrel) that his wife ("Squeaky Hare") had won at a match someplace. He knew but didn't care that it was not "period correct", didn't care about the "Confederate" brass frame; didn't care whether or not it had been even a fragment of a dream of some barrel maker in Hartford 150 years ago or just an Italian guy's idea for putting more lira in his pocket. And he D@mn sure didn't care if there's an EMF stamped on the stocks and a typical Pietta 'Billboard' down the right-hand side of the barrel!

All he cares about is that he can load a trimmed-down .38 Spcl case with powder (and he doesn't even mind if it's Pyrodex), dump it down a chamber, follow it up with a Wonder Wad and a .451 ball.... and make smoke and noise and a big hole in a target.
The kid went nuts over it; and another BP lover was born right there.

He's 18 now, just graduated from High School. He's been saving up for another BP revolver; but it's slow going, what with the typical expenses of his age - maintaining a pickup truck that's 5 years older than him, college textbooks; and of course, the greatest financial drain for male of his age, a girlfriend. (Although she has a job of her own and and can cover much of her own expenses, "a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do"; and he has to make a lot of pizzas to cover his necessities.)

Guess what? He's been sending lead downrange with that "fake everything" revolver, as well as with my "period incorrect" Pietta NMA's; since I have been inundated with work and a little health issue my wife is having with one of her hips.
So here we have another 'youngster' that's enjoying BP the best he can; while a bunch of us turn curmudgeon about a revolver that doesn't exist. Except that it does exist, if for no other reason than some company builds it; and some "historically ignorant" people buy it.

The real problem with this is?

 

[ivankerley]

"I'm just a dumb hick in a cow hat", and nowhere near as knowledgeable as most everybody on this board; and I guess I'm missing the point of all of this.

But I can tell you one thing...
3-4 years ago, my brother ("Don Coyote" for you SASS folks) gave my son Matt a " '51 Navy .44 cal 'Sheriff's Model' " (with 5-1/2" barrel) that his wife ("Squeaky Hare") had won at a match someplace. He knew but didn't care that it was not "period correct", didn't care about the "Confederate" brass frame; didn't care whether or not it had been even a fragment of a dream of some barrel maker in Hartford 150 years ago or just an Italian guy's idea for putting more lira in his pocket. And he D@mn sure didn't care if there's an EMF stamped on the stocks and a typical Pietta 'Billboard' down the right-hand side of the barrel!

All he cares about is that he can load a trimmed-down .38 Spcl case with powder (and he doesn't even mind if it's Pyrodex), dump it down a chamber, follow it up with a Wonder Wad and a .451 ball.... and make smoke and noise and a big hole in a target.
The kid went nuts over it; and another BP lover was born right there.

He's 18 now, just graduated from High School. He's been saving up for another BP revolver; but it's slow going, what with the typical expenses of his age - maintaining a pickup truck that's 5 years older than him, college textbooks; and of course, the greatest financial drain for male of his age, a girlfriend. (Although she has a job of her own and and can cover much of her own expenses, "a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do"; and he has to make a lot of pizzas to cover his necessities.)

Guess what? He's been sending lead downrange with that "fake everything" revolver, as well as with my "period incorrect" Pietta NMA's; since I have been inundated with work and a little health issue my wife is having with one of her hips.
So here we have another 'youngster' that's enjoying BP the best he can; while a bunch of us turn curmudgeon about a revolver that doesn't exist. Except that it does exist, if for no other reason than some company builds it; and some "historically ignorant" people buy it.

The real problem with this is?

there is none, i think its a personal thing. alot of guys want it as close to accurate as possible and alot of guys dont care about that. As long as youre happy with it its all good to me. Im in the middle myself my first smokepole was a 80's CVA Hawken rifle noway historically correct gifted to me and i wouldnt trade it for nothing and it will outshoot its owner all day long! I for sure wouldnt turn away a 51 in .44, but if i was buying one myself im gonna get a .36 partially cause i havent shot a .36 yet and wanna see what thats all about even though a .44 makes more sense since ive already got that caliber covered. Im weird ;-)
Your son Matt sounds like a great young man, which seems a rarity these days
No shame in shooting anything that puts a smile on your face, need more people in the sport
Gene

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

The real problem with this is?

NOTHING!

Great story, My first revolver was a 44cal ASM Confederate "Navy" when I was a teenager. Been hooked ever since. I still have it and probably wont ever let that one go.

mackg, Yes a 50 cal 5 shot would be great. I'm not ready to spend what it takes for an ROA conversion, but if Pietta put out a $200.00ish, 5 shot 50 cal Remington they could put there name on all 8 sides and I'd still buy it.
I know I'm dreaming but...

 

[MCgunner]

No revolvers AT the Alamo fer sure, but one of Colt's favorite gunsmiths did make a pre Paterson .52 cal revolver prototype in 1835...can you imagine if Travis, Crockett, and Bowie had a hundred of those...quien sabe?

MAN, well, you COULD say what if Travis had a BAR, too, ya know.

There was an early skirmish with Comanche between by lone Texas Ranger and his Paterson at Enchanted rock. Can't remember the ranger's name, but it was one of the earliest successes of the Colt revolver in service. Surprised the heck out of the Comanche I'll bet. They thought they had him as he had to reload......PSYCH!

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Just sayin that there was at least one large caliber operating Colt's Revolving Pistol in existence a year before the stand at the Alamo and before the Paterson, and 12 years before the Walker. He reportedly unsuccessfully tried to get an Army contract for that .52 cal revolver prototype. The Alamo defenders did have hand grenades, fused cannon shells filled with powder, that they did not have the opportunity to use due to the predawn surprise attack on the north wall.
Also, there is some doubt regarding Ranger Captain Jack Hay's lone stand on top of Enchanted Rock. It was a tale oft told and retold by old Rangers under his command but never related by Hays himself. However, there is plenty of evidence regarding the Battle of Walkers Creek, or Hay's Big Fight as roll engraved on the Walker and Dragoon cylinders.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Fingers
It looks like a .36 G&G, but it definitely is a .44. I said it was an odd ball Pietta.

OK, I probably shouldn't but I have to ask... How does the brass frame stand up to .44 caliber recoil?

 

[mykeal]

Depends on how much powder you use.

Use 20 grains, it'll do fine. Use 35 grains, you'll have problems eventually.

 

[MCgunner]

Pietta advises no more than 25 grains 3F and ball in the brassers. I shoot 21 grains and ball and cornmeal filler over the powder. Works fine. When I was 20 or so, in College, I bought my first .44 "Navy" brasser. I just had to get it, was 50 bucks and I had 50 bucks. My roomy had an ROA and I got the bug. I knew nothing and would stuff it full of 3F when I shot it. It lasted about 5 years of occasional shooting. I have educated my self a bit on cap and ball since then. I think the cylinder pin pulled out on it just lookin' back on it, might could have even repaired it, but I gave it to a buddy who wanted it as a wall hanger.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, I was fiddlin' around with one of my IWBs, a home made holster I made for a 3" .38, but the little '51 fits pretty good, barrel sticking out the bottom. I could actually carry the thing concealed if I HAD to, not sure why I'd have to, but it could be done.

Anyway, I think she's pretty. I mean, how am I supposed to resist, especially given the sale price of $119.

 

[Tommygunn]

MCgunner; that looks like it's still wet with preservative oil. It also looks like a Pietta on a Uberti box.
Neat looking gun if not historically accurate.

 

[MCgunner]

It was fresh out of the wrapper. The box is a Cabela's box. The brass is a bit more, well, aged, now.

I bought a wedge to fit it and a 7" barrel off gunbroker. I was going to snub it, but the barrel is more accurate than the 5" and I lost the desire.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I bought my 44 caliber brass 'Navy' in 1968 when I was still a teenager. Yes, I know better now, but back then it was the most affordable revolver I could buy. It cost $40 if I remember correctly, which was a lot of money for a kid still in high school back then. I borrowed my Dad's car to drive down to the old Navy Arms showroom in Ridgefield NJ to buy it. As I recall it was advertised in the catalog at the time as the Army '60. Yup, that's what old Val was calling it.



You purists can hold your noses up all you want, but if you were a kid back then, and could only scrape up 40 bucks, you might have done the exact same thing.

Regarding powder charges, my old brass 'Navy' is a wall hanger now. Too many 30 grain loads eventually sprung the frame. So beware of heavy charges.

 

[Pancho]

In reality Ruger and the Italians are not the Smithsonian they are manufacturers out to make a profit (most of us wish Ruger was still in the game even though the ROA is a "Fantasy gun"). I'm thankful that they have chosen to make historically accurate products and I don't blame them for making "Fantasy" guns. Whatever it takes to get people shooting C&B is fine with me.
The more popular the sport the more readily available are the products that support that sport. As it stands right now don't hold your breath until readily available cheap percussion caps show up on store shelves and heaven help we that need musket caps.
This being said we have benefited by our sport not being so popular. We have been under the radar for government control.

 

[Willie Sutton]

"I borrowed my Dad's car to drive down to the old Navy Arms showroom in Ridgefield NJ to buy it"

Driftwood, where did you drive from? I was hanging around that place myself once upon time. Enjoyed poking thru their stuff without a kid-dollar to spend.

I think that all of us recognize that there are two families of C&B enthusiasts. Those who just want to shoot and those who are collecting and enjoying affordable samples of historical arms. I would hope that folks on both sides of the understand and respect the other viewpoint, and similarly that many of us straddle both to one degree or another.


Willie

.

 

[Old Fuff]

I think that all of us recognize that there are two families of C&B enthusiasts. Those who just want to shoot and those who are collecting and enjoying affordable samples of historical arms.

The Old Fuff enjoys being in both camps, but suggests that .36 caliber rather then .44 is a better choice if you get a Colt-style revolver with a brass frame.

However a .44 will do fine if you use reduced powder charges combined with a wad or filler. Never, ever use a reduced charge without seating the ball/bullet so an air space is left between the powder and projectile.

Also if you are "buying brass," check into Remington or Whitney reproductions that have a topstrap.

 

[MCgunner]

The Old Fuff enjoys being in both camps, but suggests that .36 caliber rather then .44 is a better choice if you get a Colt-style revolver with a brass frame.

However a .44 will do fine if you use reduced powder charges combined with a wad or filler. Never, ever use a reduced charge without seating the ball/bullet so an air space is left between the powder and projectile.

Also if you are "buying brass," check into Remington or Whitney reproductions that have a topstrap.

True enough. I have a brass frame Remington pocket .31. I stuff it to the gills with pyrodex and shoot 00 or cast ball out of it and have tested 777 behind a 60 grain conical in it and it's doing just fine. Of course, don't think it holds quite 15 grains. I don't shoot it a lot, though. I got it 20 years ago from Gander Mountain when they were an order house for 65 bucks on sale. It was made by ASM.

But, the .44 Navy is a fun gun downloaded with 21 grains pyrodex and ball and, man, just HOW am I expected to RESIST $119 for a hand gun? I also like short barrel guns and this one is handy as heck, though it shoots better with the longer barrel I got for it. I like it, and well, I bought it for me, not anyone else.