Hi, I am new to cap n ball shooting and just bought a Pietta 1851 US Marshall Sheriff 5.5" .44 revolver, polished steel, fits/points very well in hand. Someone challenged my choice stating that this revolver is not a Navy because it is not .36, and not worth much from a history point of view, i.e., it has no known battle history to be proud of. Please help me in researching the history of this model, if any? Thanks.
Help with history of 1851 Navy Sheriff
- Thread starter bztian
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If you like the gun, that's all that matters. Colt had some prototypes that were a combination of the 1851 Navy and the 1860 Army but they were never produced. The original 1851 "Navy" was .36 caliber with a hinged loading lever and octagonal barrel, while the 1860 "Army" was .44 caliber with the "creeping" loading lever and the round barrel. Shoot it, have fun and I'm willing to bet it won't be your last gun.
Tommygunn
Member
I don't think any modern repro has "known battle history."
Technically a .44 1851 Navy is not an accurate representation of the 1851 Navy, because it's .44. Not many reproductions are valuable anyway, barring perhaps a few. Colt has made some that aren't technically "repros" since they're continuations of the line, and they are nice guns.
If I were you, like Pohill said before me, load it, shoot it, enjoy it. I have revolvers that aren't technically accurate reproductions of bona fide real Colts but they're still fun to shoot and attractive guns to own!
Technically a .44 1851 Navy is not an accurate representation of the 1851 Navy, because it's .44. Not many reproductions are valuable anyway, barring perhaps a few. Colt has made some that aren't technically "repros" since they're continuations of the line, and they are nice guns.
If I were you, like Pohill said before me, load it, shoot it, enjoy it. I have revolvers that aren't technically accurate reproductions of bona fide real Colts but they're still fun to shoot and attractive guns to own!
scrat
Member
Colt never made a 44 caliber Model 1851. They did make a few experimental 40 or 41 caliber ones. After several of those blew up they discontinued the experiment.
Not everything that comes from the reproduction market is an accurate reproduction of anything.
Somebody makes a good 5 shot Pocket Navy and someone else has a six shot version. Both call them Model 1862s. They can't both be correct!
Someone even markets a brass framed Remington revolver and calls it a Confederate copy. Of what?
As long as you like it, who cares?
As for battle proven, there are not to many people who have used a percussion revolver for self defense lately.
Not everything that comes from the reproduction market is an accurate reproduction of anything.
Somebody makes a good 5 shot Pocket Navy and someone else has a six shot version. Both call them Model 1862s. They can't both be correct!
Someone even markets a brass framed Remington revolver and calls it a Confederate copy. Of what?
As long as you like it, who cares?
As for battle proven, there are not to many people who have used a percussion revolver for self defense lately.
cmidkiff
Member
Nobody made lever action carbines in .44lc either, but they sure as heck are popular with the cowboy action crowd!
Shoot it, enjoy it.
Shoot it, enjoy it.
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