Lyman 1858 gun kit

[BowerR64]

I found this in a box my dad had put away because he was frustrated with the results of the finish on the frame.

He said it was from lyman and it was all unfinished he had to blue the barrel and frame and stain and finish the grips.

he said he blued the frame 5 different times and it looked good at first but then after a few days it would turn purple. He thinks it was because the frame is heat treated or someting.

Anyone ever build one of these "kit guns" i didnt even know lyman sold guns i thought only reloading stuff.

What caused the blueing to turn purple like that? Its not brass i put a magnet to it. It reminds me of how brass kinda looks when its blued but its not.

I dont really mind the color it makes it different then all the other 1858s im going to leave it.

Best part is it has an adjustable front site!

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Lyman imported several guns and still does with some. The Lyman Deerstalker is a pretty popular rifle.

I have a couple Uberti made/ Lyman branded 1858's, but they were not kits. Lyman also imported and branded some Armi San Paulo 1858's.

I would expect that yours is made by either Uberti or ASP

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

It's probably a Uberti. A friend had one that he bought back in the early 70's, but not a kit. It was a very nice piece.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Alot of the older cap guns turned that color.
Euroarms especially.
I've even seen it on old Winchesters.
--Dawg

 

[44 Dave]

I have a Uberti 1858 made in 1968 and over time the loading lever has turned that "purple".
Wonder what would happen if it was stripped and browned.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have a lee enfield that was blued and the safety turned that exact same color.

 

[BowerR64]

Did it turn purple because the frame is a cast? He said he got it hot but not red hot he was a fraid of warpin the frame.

He said it was like a $70. kit in the 60s and it was unfinished the barrel was unfinished and not blue and he said the frame was rough like it was casted? He had to file the barrel and finish the frame.

He said he had to take the barrel out of the frame also.

There is faint markings on the side of the barrel i can see. I think it says BLACK POWDER ONLY but thats about all i can make out.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

$70. in the 1960's was a pretty good chunk of change, especially for a kit.

 

[BowerR64]

$70. in the 1960's was a pretty good chunk of change, especially for a kit.

Yeah and he said it was alot more work then he thought it was going to be too. He got so mad that he eventually just bought one from cabelas already compete.

 

[Hellgate]

If the barrel to frame juncture is pretty smooth (barely a step down to the barrel) it is probably a Uberti. The ASPs had a greater step but a shallower cutout around the barrel threads. I can't see from the photos how many threads are showing to tell if it is an ASP or Uberti. Look under the rammer near where the barrel screws into the frame and look for the superimposed letters DGG. If so, it is an ASP. If not, the letters may be filed away or it is a Uberti. Both had dovetail front sights. The ASPs were smaller in grip and frame than the Ubertis and very much smaller than Piettas which had the post front sight. I have both ASP and Uberti Remingtons but no Piettas which to me were "clunky".

 

[Skinny 1950]

I have a pair of Cavalry 1860's...these were made in the early 1970's by Colt, notice the plum colour on the cylinder of the lower gun. I also have a Colt 1911 which has the same colour on the grip safety.

 

[BowerR64]

If the barrel to frame juncture is pretty smooth (barely a step down to the barrel) it is probably a Uberti. The ASPs had a greater step but a shallower cutout around the barrel threads. I can't see from the photos how many threads are showing to tell if it is an ASP or Uberti. Look under the rammer near where the barrel screws into the frame and look for the superimposed letters DGG. If so, it is an ASP. If not, the letters may be filed away or it is a Uberti. Both had dovetail front sights. The ASPs were smaller in grip and frame than the Ubertis and very much smaller than Piettas which had the post front sight. I have both ASP and Uberti Remingtons but no Piettas which to me were "clunky".

Can you tell from this image? not sure why my dad thinks its a lyman if it wasnt.

I have a pair of Cavalry 1860's...these were made in the early 1970's by Colt, notice the plum colour on the cylinder of the lower gun. I also have a Colt 1911 which has the same colour on the grip safety.

Yeah it does look more plum in color. I havnt seen this very often its kinda rare to me.

 

[goon]

I had a Finn M39 Mosin Nagant that had sort of a purplish tint to the barrel. Personally, I found it quite lovely.

 

[BowerR64]

This gun might look nice with a set of purple heart grips!

The trigger guard is actually brass. wow was it ever tarnished

 

[[email protected]]

My Ruger Old Army cylinder turned purple. It was made the first year they came out. 1972 I think.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

... not sure why my dad thinks its a lyman if it wasnt.

Lyman didn't make the revolver but they could have imported it and put their name on it. Since it was a kit they probably just put their name on the box. If Dad says it was a Lyman kit there is no reason to doubt him, but it was likely made by Uberti or ASP.

One cool thing about the kits is they usually don't have as many markings so they start out half defarbed. There may not be a date code or makers mark on it anywhere.

 

[toolslinger]

I still have a bunch of Purple Heart if you want me to send you some.

 

[BowerR64]

I still have a bunch of Purple Heart if you want me to send you some.

That would be cool, do you need anything?

Caps, powder? maybe we can work out a swap?

 

[BowerR64]

I finally got the action all settled on this one.

I didnt realize my dad had robbed the hand and spring from this kit and put it in the shooter model. The shooter works good so i wasnt going to remove that hand and spring so i got a new one from the local black powder shop (i actually have one near me if you cna believe that)

I had issues with it not wanting to fully cock. I decided it was the new hand was to long or tall.

After tearing it down like 5 times taking a little off the top of the hand little by little i FINALLY got it to move the cylinder into position and fully cock.

 

[thralldad]

Nice gun!

 

[72coupe]

My 58 is one of the old Lyman kit guns. I have never put the time in on it to get a good finish.

The frame on mine is cast iron and very porous. It is an ASM.

 

[toolslinger]

That's cool Bower. Just PM me your address and I'll send you enough for a couple pair o grips. I got more than I will ever use. Now it will be a couple weeks cause I just left town to go back to work.

 

[Dframe]

That purple coloration is not uncommon and seems to have no effect on quality. I have a Python with a very purple cylinder latch. Heavily used and still shoots and works perfectly.

 

[BowerR64]

Thats what my dad said was that it was cast and he had to clean alot of the frame up, i still see little pits that look like airbubbles or something just under the surface.


How much of these guns are cast? what other parts? do they all have cast frames?

 

[Palehorseman]

I had a Finn M39 Mosin Nagant that had sort of a purplish tint to the barrel. Personally, I found it quite lovely.

Did the Finn have a "B" barrel? If so, should be stamped B and the barrel was made by FN in Belgium with high nickel steel and rifled by them. They are at a premium for collectors.

I have three M39 rifles, one 1942 Sako Continuation War veteran and two 1968 unissued and like new No Names.