Another Colt

[WALKERs210]

Stopped at a flea market where one man makes Native American Indian items for sale. Found two different Possible bags that are great, one is made from Beaver pelt, the second was a Bobcat skin with the full face. While looking at his other items saw this 44cal Colt (Pietta) sitting there. He had taken it back down to bare steel, and changed the grips that he engraved. Long story short it came home with me. I will say it looks good, but when I tore it down to clean I do beleive that it has never in its lifetime ever been cleaned. But it does lock up tight and timing is right on. Just don't know if I will leave it white or re-blue it. Darn if I didn't forget to go back and look at the possible bag again.

 

[hardway]

She's a beut, I say leave it. The white grips look great with the color of the gun. I like the octagonal barrel.

 

[Loosenock]

I'd say leever-be..After awhile it'll gain some patina and look great. Looks great now, it'll just get better.


'Loose

 

[SC_Slowhand]

Nice Find

Great looking Pietta... Regarding the stand... what's sticking into the barrel to hold it there? Looks like a simple design, which is usually the best.

 

[WALKERs210]

Simple as can be. drilled mounted 3/8" dowel and it worked.

 

[Jaymo]

I say polish the sh*t out of it and wax it to prevent rust.

 

[junkman_01]

What kind of Colt is it? A 1860 Army with a .44 cal. '51 Navy barrel perhaps?

 

[WALKERs210]

The man I bought it from said it was the 1851 44cal Civilian model. Laid next to my 1851 Navy it is exactly the same except for the caliber.

 

[junkman_01]

They never existed in history. The cylinder on a 'NAVY' caliber '51 is not rebated, and thus has a different frame.

 

[WALKERs210]

Yes I have seen several that are listed as BLAAA BLAA THIS OR THAT and in truth those never existed. Looking at it closer now it does have a cylinder from an 1860 and barrel of 1851. Guess you could call it something on the lines of Johnny Cash song it's a 49-50-51-52

 

[junkman_01]

Still, I LIKE it!

 

[StrawHat]

I like your revolver, the grips are not quite to my tastes but they don't look bad. I also have come to appreciate the bare steel look on a nice revolver.

While the 44 caliber was never offered in the Model 1851, Colts did try to increase the bore size at one point and cut a few 1851 for a 40 caliber. About this same time they figured out how to build the 44 caliber by rebating the frame and increasing the forward diameter of the cylinder to accomondate a 44 caliber bullet. The new round barrel and creeping loading lever were introduced and the 1860 was the revolver that was introduced, not a 40 caliber. The 1860, 1961, and 1851 all use the same size frame. Just fitted a bit differently for the 44 cylinder.

 

[junkman_01]

I just noticed that the 'seperate' grip panels are a bit 'proud' on the grip frame. Do you intend to grind them down?