Colt square back trigger guard

[Quincy12]

Is there a reason for having both square back's and round ones, other than aesthetics? I prefer the look of the square back, but are there any issues shooting it, the guard hitting your finger from recoil for instance?

 

[mavracer]

I prefer the look of the square back, but are there any issues shooting it, the guard hitting your finger from recoil for instance?

Not with a 51, A .36 just doesn't produce enough recoil a Walker or Dragoon might but I don't have any personal experiance, I will say that a Ruger Super Blackhawk with it's square dragoon style trigger guard will most definitly bite with heavy loads.

 

[rodwha]

I've read many complain about the square trigger for that very reason with the .44 cal pistols.

I, too, prefer the look of the square guard and with smaller hands figured I'd be fine.

 

[Noz]

The square back trigger guard was invented as an attempt at gun control. It hurts bad enough that it discourages gun ownership.
A truly evil thing.

 

[expat_alaska]

Squareback trigger guards have been a bone of contention since Colt manufactured the Walker, the 1st/2nd Model Dragoons, the 1848 Pocket, and the 1st/2nd Model 1851 Navies.

Nathan L. Swayze's treatise " '51 Colt Navies" (1967) states on pg. 28-29:

The design of the square back trigger guard was probably made with the question of appearance alone in mind, for it certainly does not does not seem to have any useful or practical value. In fact, it would seem that such a design would be highly impractical because of the chances of the pointed rear of the trigger guard proper becoming fouled in the holster, or pocket, from which it was being drawn. The square back design is attributed to Colonel Talcot of the Ordnance Department of the U.S. Army, who seemed to have a fondness of the symmetry and beauty of the design. Since Colonel Talcot had much to do with the purchase of handguns for U. S. Army - a potential purchase of some size - Sam Colt was certainly one to cater to the whims of those who could help him sell his handguns; so the square back trigger guard it was! The story is that when Colonel Talcot was convicted by a court(s) martial, Colt immediately discontinued his production of the square back design and changed to the small rounded trigger guard.

Whether this anecdote by Swayze is correct or not, it is apparent that Colt went with the rounded (variously large and small) trigger guards on both the 3rd and 4th Model 1851 as well as the 3rd Model Dragoon, as well as the 1849 Pocket.

Having said all that, I love the look of the square back TG.

As the OP stated, many folks find it uncomfortable/painful to shoot due to the impact upon the middle and possibly ring fingers on the shooting hand.

I have never found that to be a problem and have owned a Ruger 3-screw Super Blackhawk .44 Mag for years and have never encountered any problems of that sort.

I own Piettas. The upper pistol is the newer (2015 [CN]) G&G based upon their newer grip style with the round TG. The lower pistol is a (2014 [CM]) 1851 Navy with a Pietta RB TG that I ordered from Cabela's but ordered from Taylors the Pietta SB TG from them back then to replace it.

I plan to purchase a new Pietta 1851 Navy with the round TG so all I have to do to create nearly 13 variations is to swap barrel assemblies and cylinders. Piettas (since ~2000) are all CNC machined and therefore those parts all interchange effortlessly.

Just for comparison.





Just for SB TG comparison, I also have this Replica Arms/El Paso Texas 1848 Baby Dragoon .31 with load lever/rammer (date code [XIX] 1963).




Thanks for looking,

Jim

 

[Quincy12]

Very interesting, thanks for the thorough details!

 

[Blackpowdershooter44]

I love the look of the squareback triggerguard, never thought about it being a problem with recoil, it never has bothered me on a walker. It might make for bad gun spinning though...

 

[Navy Six]

One thing to consider is that the squareback trigger guard(as regards the 51 Navy Colt) has a little less room between the back of the trigger guard and the frontstrap when compared to the rounded one. I own a pair of both types made by Uberti and there is a noticable difference in "feel". The squareback model tends to crowd my hand a little( I have average size hands ) but because of moderate recoil there's no real problem. I did discover a benefit from this. When shooting one handed the squareback feels perfect. Its only when I shoot two handed that my grip feels "crowded". The round triggerguard is just the opposite. This allows me to pick a pair of Navies to best fit the type of shooting I'll be doing on that particular day.
I also have a pair of Uberti 2nd Model Dragoons with the squareback triggerguard. The Dragoons have a larger grip and I've experienced no difficulties as the back of the triggerguard does not contact my knuckles upon firing.

 

[Noz]

Squareback trigger guards have been a bone of contention since Colt manufactured the Walker, the 1st/2nd Model Dragoons, the 1848 Pocket, and the 1st/2nd Model 1851 Navies.

Nathan L. Swayze's treatise " '51 Colt Navies" (1967) states on pg. 28-29:



Whether this anecdote by Swayze is correct or not, it is apparent that Colt went with the rounded (variously large and small) trigger guards on both the 3rd and 4th Model 1851 as well as the 3rd Model Dragoon, as well as the 1849 Pocket.

Having said all that, I love the look of the square back TG.

As the OP stated, many folks find it uncomfortable/painful to shoot due to the impact upon the middle and possibly ring fingers on the shooting hand.

I have never found that to be a problem and have owned a Ruger 3-screw Super Blackhawk .44 Mag for years and have never encountered any problems of that sort.

I own Piettas. The upper pistol is the newer (2015 [CN]) G&G based upon their newer grip style with the round TG. The lower pistol is a (2014 [CM]) 1851 Navy with a Pietta RB TG that I ordered from Cabela's but ordered from Taylors the Pietta SB TG from them back then to replace it.

I plan to purchase a new Pietta 1851 Navy with the round TG so all I have to do to create nearly 13 variations is to swap barrel assemblies and cylinders. Piettas (since ~2000) are all CNC machined and therefore those parts all interchange effortlessly.

Just for comparison.





Just for SB TG comparison, I also have this Replica Arms/El Paso Texas 1848 Baby Dragoon .31 with load lever/rammer (date code [XIX] 1963).




Thanks for looking,

Jim

The Super BlackHawk with the square trigger guard is the only pistol that I have ever sold that I don't want back. Every shot was painful.

 

[bannockburn]

Never really cared for the square back trigger guard design. Always a matter of contention with that blasted trigger guard hitting my middle finger. A friend of mine had a really nice set of oversized grips for his Ruger Super Blackhawk and they worked wonders taming that square back beast. I think I will stick to the round trigger guard design like the one on my Colt 1860 revolver. Much more pleasant to shoot and looks great!

 

[expat_alaska]

The Super BlackHawk with the square trigger guard is the only pistol that I have ever sold that I don't want back. Every shot was painful.

Your experience probably (IMO) indicates you have big paws. I never had a problem with the SBH 3-screw and factory wood grips. I have small hands, long fingers, and when I shoot it, it just rocks back in my hand to the 12 o'clock position. Not fast to get back on target, but that's OK here. It is not like a 1911 wherein one has to lock the wrist in order for the action to work.

One just has to relax, sir.

If you want to experience pain, just shoot a TC Contender in a 10" .44 Mag. All of the recoil comes back to the wrist and it is not pleasant. My son now owns it. Good luck to him.

Never really cared for the square back trigger guard design. Always a matter of contention with that blasted trigger guard hitting my middle finger. A friend of mine had a really nice set of oversized grips for his Ruger Super Blackhawk and they worked wonders taming that square back beast. I think I will stick to the round trigger guard design like the one on my Colt 1860 revolver. Much more pleasant to shoot and looks great!

I tried that. Oversized grips never worked for me, and rubber kinda standard/oversized grips were terrible. I tried them all. The wood grips that Ruger designed work best for me.

Regards, sir.

Jim

 

[LonesomePigeon]

On octagon barreled guns like the 1851 Navy or the Baby Dragoon, I like the looks of a squareback trigger guard. On round barreled guns like the 3rd Model Dragoon, 1860 Army and 1861 Navy I like the round trigger guard. The exception being the Walker which I think looks good with a squareback.

 

[bannockburn]

expat_alaska

My friend bought a set of oversized grips (I think they were made by Mustang Grips and looked something like the ones in the photo), and it work wonders into making his Super Blackhawk very comfortable and manageable to shoot.