Alex
Member
It's been years since I've purchased a brass frame revolver, but this afternoon I couldn't resist the purchase of one of Cabela's 1851 Reb revolvers, a brass frame copy of the 1851 navy in 44 caliber. Due to an excellent sale I walked out the door with one new in the box for $51.00. I've been reading up on the history of Confederate pistols and I have yet to find one exactly like this, but I don't think it out of the realm of possibility that it could have happened. I plan on refinishing it to something more like what would have rolled out of a factory such as the Augusta Machine Works. My thoughts are either a browned or rust blued finish, to replace the shiny blue and a satin finished brass frame to take the place of the bright buffed finish it currently wears. Of course all the nasty markings will dissappear in the process and I might even stamp (the correct) serial numbers on the frame and cylinder like some of the originals that I have seen. The grips would also get attention in the form of an oil finish. All in all it should turn out to be a fun project and an interesting gun for the occasional sunday out plinking (though I'm aware of the possiblity of shooting a brass frame loose). Anyone else out there own any brass frame revolvers?