I am a true newbie. I am a retired Police Sergeant and have been an avid shooter and advocate for the 2nd Amendment. I had been researching the guns of the New York City Police Department and I am now interested in the Colt 1862 Police New York Metropolitan. Keep in mind that a week ago I new nothing about Black Powder. I have spent a lot of time this week learning about it ( mostly from this site) and now I have to have one. I would like to find a replica of the NYM but for now I am going to order a Uberti. From what I can find I think that the only difference was a nickel,or some other silver plate, trigger guard and back strap. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate it. In the mean time I have the fever bad for a Black Powder and will probably order the Uberti. When finances allow I would also like to order the Cabelas Pieta 1862 Police, I learned from here that it is not a true replica but I can then get the cartridge converter for it. Thanks for any info. Jim
Colt 1862 police NYM
- Thread starter jcowan
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Acorn Mush
Member
Welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of the information you desire, but sombody here will and be happy to share it.
As a member of a family with two people in law enforcement (one current and one retired) my hat is off to you sir for your public service.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of the information you desire, but sombody here will and be happy to share it.
As a member of a family with two people in law enforcement (one current and one retired) my hat is off to you sir for your public service.
I have the Uberti 1862 .36 Pocket Police (retired, cop, too) and it's a great gun, but it had some of the typical Uberti problems (loading lever latch fell off, a little out of time) but nothing really bad.
I have handled the Pietta version, and though it's a great gun, it's not close to the originals.
I've seen the 2nd Generation Colt 1862 Pocket Police and it is a great gun but about 3 times the price of the Uberti.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122293756
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122151460
I have handled the Pietta version, and though it's a great gun, it's not close to the originals.
I've seen the 2nd Generation Colt 1862 Pocket Police and it is a great gun but about 3 times the price of the Uberti.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122293756
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122151460
DoubleDeuce 1
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Welcome and glad you made it out in one piece.
I myself would like to get the Uberti version for a shooter. I have a Colt 1862 Pocket Police. It is a beauty. I don't have any intentions of shooting it right now. That is why I would like to get the Uberti, for the fun part.
I myself would like to get the Uberti version for a shooter. I have a Colt 1862 Pocket Police. It is a beauty. I don't have any intentions of shooting it right now. That is why I would like to get the Uberti, for the fun part.
During the time that the 1862 Police Model was being made (as a cap & ball from 1862 to 1872 and as a converted metallic cartridge revolver from 1872 to about 1885) New York City officers were required to buy their own sidearms, and there wasn't and standard issue. Unquestionably some officers purchased Colt 1862 Police revolvers as well as others.
Backstraps and trigger guards were normally silver plated, but the plating was thin and soft, and soon wore off except in protected places.
The Police Model was built on Colt's small 1849 Pocket Model frame, that was modified to use a rebated cylinder (larger diameter at the front then the back, with a step in the middle) which allowed 5 chambers of .36 caliber. Some reproductions are incorrectly made on the larger 1860 Army frame. These are 6-shot revolvers.
Backstraps and trigger guards were normally silver plated, but the plating was thin and soft, and soon wore off except in protected places.
The Police Model was built on Colt's small 1849 Pocket Model frame, that was modified to use a rebated cylinder (larger diameter at the front then the back, with a step in the middle) which allowed 5 chambers of .36 caliber. Some reproductions are incorrectly made on the larger 1860 Army frame. These are 6-shot revolvers.
AdmiralB
Member
Is this generally true of all Colts, or just the Police?
It's generally true of those commercial models that had brass backstraps and trigger guards. Iron backstraps and/or trigger guards were blued. On military contract revolvers the brass was usually polished but not plated.
Some revolvers were nickel or tin plated (all over) for additional protection against corrosion, but both finishes were unusual except when the guns were purchased for service on ships.
Some revolvers were nickel or tin plated (all over) for additional protection against corrosion, but both finishes were unusual except when the guns were purchased for service on ships.
Smokin_Gun
Member
Here's a pic comparison of and Old '62 Pocket Police I have next to an Old '60 Colt Army.
SG
SG
madcratebuilder
Member
Welcome to the forum Jim. A 2nd or 3rd gen Colt would be closest to original and the highest cost. Some of the Gunbroker prices are just out of sight and don't sell at those prices. Occasionally you can find one in the 450-550 range, sometimes even less. The Uberti or Pietta clones are good little revolvers and it would not be hard to have the grip frame parts silver plated. The silver plating can be a DIY project.
Thanks all for the quick reply, SG thanks for posting the pics that gun is awesome. Old Fuff, I was told that from 1870 to 1896 it was the only authorized firearm (New York Metropolitan) I am not sure if this is true. Madcratebuilder, I was under the impression that the Colt 2nd and 3rd gens were made by Uberti and that their quality control has gotten a little better recently. Do you know if that is true?Glad I found this site, what a wealth of information.
Second Generation Colt percussion revolvers were finished and assembled in the US by Colt Manufacturing Co. from rough castings made by Uberti and shipped to Colt. Colt Manufacturing Co. considers them to be genuine Colt products. Third Generation Colt percussion revolvers were finished and assembled by Colt Blackpowder Arms Inc. in the US under license from Colt Manufacturing Co. using rough castings made by Uberti and shipped to Colt Blackpowder Arms, Inc. Colt Blackpowder Arms, Inc. was not a part of Colt Manufacturing Co., but in fact a separate company with separate facilities in a different city. There is some controversy as to whether Colt Manufacturing Co. recognizes Third Generation guns as genuine Colt products. I have never seen any documentation from Colt Manufacturing supporting either position.
Smokin_Gun
Member
Jcowan, a good way to go and you know what you want.
I got a 2nd gen. colt commin' finally...have had a 3rd Gen/Signature Colt Dragoon a while and it couldn't be made better. Took me over 30 revolvers to get a deal on a NIB 2d Gen Colt. Is it worth the xtra money...it always is if it's what you want... Same answer I'd give for the other 30+ revolvers. :O)
I'll tell ya what Jcowan I'll keep an eye out for that NYC Metro 1862 Silver strap P/P .36...If the price is right I'll grab it and let you know I got it...I believe they were a limited run not too many made...or shipped to the States.
SG
I got a 2nd gen. colt commin' finally...have had a 3rd Gen/Signature Colt Dragoon a while and it couldn't be made better. Took me over 30 revolvers to get a deal on a NIB 2d Gen Colt. Is it worth the xtra money...it always is if it's what you want... Same answer I'd give for the other 30+ revolvers. :O)
I'll tell ya what Jcowan I'll keep an eye out for that NYC Metro 1862 Silver strap P/P .36...If the price is right I'll grab it and let you know I got it...I believe they were a limited run not too many made...or shipped to the States.
SG
madcratebuilder
Member
Good choice. You can bet that there well be several more to come. While firearms can be addicting in general, BP revolvers are particularly addictive.
Smokin_Gun
Member
PRM those pre-ban grips really set it off. a Great lookin' Pistola...
I don't know ifin I'll be able to buy faux Ivory 3 piece grips after seein' yours. :O(
SG
I don't know ifin I'll be able to buy faux Ivory 3 piece grips after seein' yours. :O(
SG
PRM
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Jerry Meacham (704-485-3374), Locust, NC, did the ones on my Pocket Police. Jerry was reasonable on the grips - $350.
As far pre-ban ivory Vs faux ivory, I have had both. Even had a set of Tru-Ivory for about a year. Tru Ivory is supposed to be the closest thing to actual ivory in the imitation line. Once you have had the real thing, there is just no comparison. Its worth the wait in saving for them. After all, you will most likely have the gun a life time.
As far pre-ban ivory Vs faux ivory, I have had both. Even had a set of Tru-Ivory for about a year. Tru Ivory is supposed to be the closest thing to actual ivory in the imitation line. Once you have had the real thing, there is just no comparison. Its worth the wait in saving for them. After all, you will most likely have the gun a life time.
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arcticap
Member
It's actually quite simple to silver plate the brass backstrap and trigger guard of a reproduction revolver to give it the look of an original.
It's a liquid named Silver Brite that bonds to brass, copper and bronze without needing electricity or a plating tank.
The surface only needs to be prepared and then the liquid applied.
The plating that results is ultra thin but it's shiney and easy to touch up.
A fellow on another forum applied it to all of his revolvers to make them look like original Colts and the results were beautiful.
The price of the liquid plating solution only cost a fraction of having real silver plating applied to all of his guns, which was priced at $50 to have just one of them done locally. The bottle easily contains enough solution to plate over a dozen revolvers.
He recommended to simply buy the refill bottle of solution and not the kit and apply it with cotton balls or cloth.
http://www.metalbrite.net/page/848836
It's a liquid named Silver Brite that bonds to brass, copper and bronze without needing electricity or a plating tank.
The surface only needs to be prepared and then the liquid applied.
The plating that results is ultra thin but it's shiney and easy to touch up.
A fellow on another forum applied it to all of his revolvers to make them look like original Colts and the results were beautiful.
The price of the liquid plating solution only cost a fraction of having real silver plating applied to all of his guns, which was priced at $50 to have just one of them done locally. The bottle easily contains enough solution to plate over a dozen revolvers.
He recommended to simply buy the refill bottle of solution and not the kit and apply it with cotton balls or cloth.
http://www.metalbrite.net/page/848836
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Pancho
Member
Jim, Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service. Once you buy your gun check out www. dellsleatherworks.com. They make holsters just for the 1862 police and they are beautiful. I have a pair of the Uberti's and the holsters. He even makes a shoulder rig for about $80 that will be my next purchase.
If I remember right the company is in New York state and he did a lot of historical research to pattern his holsters. They are of the military style with a flap cover.
If I remember right the company is in New York state and he did a lot of historical research to pattern his holsters. They are of the military style with a flap cover.
messerist
Member
Just my 2 cents to add here. I shoot a Pietta 1862 police C&B revolver. I have been shooting it since 1998 and have only had one problem. The spring on the hand/spring assembly broke while I was disassembling it. My fault entirely not the spring. A quick call to VTI replica gun parts and I was back in the saddle smoking up the range. My better half is a New Yorker too. She bought me the revolver right after we married. Both of us were graduate students so money was scarce. Wife knew I owned firearms and loved to shoot but she knew absolutely nothing about firearms let alone Black Powder revolvers. Right before my birthday she noticed a Cabelas catalog in our apartment and saw that they were having a sale on the Pietta. $90! She thought that it was a cartridge revolver and ordered it. When my birthday rolled around she presented it to me with a box of .38 spl!! After I explained to her the difference she felt ignorant and foolish but when I told her that it was the most thoughtful gift that I had ever received she perked right up. Of course now every time I want another C&B revolver she rues the day she ever got me hooked on this addiction
I was able to find a 1862 Police NYM made by Pietta. Although it is not an honest representation, I love the look of it and the price was really good. I am still going to get the Colt 2nd gen 1862 Pocket Police when I can. I also want that stainless Sheriff that pascalp posted and a 51 Navy, (Damn, I think I am going to have to sell one of my motorcycles) In the mean time I will start making smoke with my Pietta.
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