Manhattan Mysteries

[kBob]

Ok I know a couple of you guys have or had a Manhattan Navy out there and I had a few questions.

First has anyone got any photos comparing the Manhattan Navy with a Colt Navy? How about a Manhattan Navy with a COlt 1849 or 1862?

Anyone have experience shooting a Manhattan with the Spring plate? Did the plate actually fit between the hammer and nipple so the plate strikes the nipple rather than the hammer? Besides preventing cap debris in the action does the Spring plate prevent caps on the right side from becoming loose and cushing the hammer blow as sometimes happens on COlts?

Could something like the Spring Plate be made and improve the functioning of Colts?

I know some of the .31s had a repretation at some point for poor manufacture, especially on guns not marked Manhattan, but were there problems with voids and poor machining on the Navies?

DOes the Manhattan Navy use the same ".36" ball as the COlt and does it hold the same amount of powder and use the same caps?

Was the loading lever and system as robust as the COlt Navy?

Ilove this place because folks share such facts and opinions and hope some of you will write back answering some of these queries.

Thanks in advance.

-kBob

 

[pohill]

Contact Mike at this site:
http://manhattanfirearms.com/

Very helpful, with lots of info.

 

[Skinny 1950]

The gun at the top is a vintage 1863 Manhattan Series IV Navy .36 cal.
The middle gun is an original 1849 Pocket with a 5 inch barrel .31 cal 5 shot with homemade grips!
The gun at the bottom is a Armi San Paolo 1848 Baby Dragoon .31 cal
The Manhattan .36 cal is the same size ball as the 1851 Navy.
I will have to check the cylinder on the Manhattan to see if it is the same capacity as the 1851 Navy reproduction...never thought about it before.



Uberti 1851 Navy .36 cal on top ....1849 Pocket Colt with after-market grips and a period replacement cylinder below:

 

[kBob]

pohill,

Thanks for the very informative link. Now i just need to get up the nerve to ask miike.



Skinny,

Great photos and great info. Now I have to wonder why Manhattan bothered to copy the 1862 police as their Navy was so close to the same size.

Do you shoot your Manhattan?

I am running into discreperencies about years of production for the navy but hopefully I will figure it all out some how. Pictures of presentation guns with CSA providence on auction sites add to the confussion. My have to break down and buy "the book"

-kBob

 

[kBob]

ack.. because the 1862 clone was a metropolitan. Always get my Ms mixed up.

-kBob

 

[Skinny 1950]

kBob...I consulted with Mike at manhattanfirearms.com before I bought mine sight unseen, he was very generous with his knowledge and responded to my e-mails.
When I first got my Manhattan I did shoot it but the end play on the cylinder made it hard for the hammer to hit the caps hard enough. I put a blob of Krazy Glue on each cap and it worked great until the hand spring broke, now it will only index when pointed down. Haven't had the nerve to take it apart for repair but parts are still available.

 

[ofitg]

Skinny, I am particularly interested in the Manhattan's spring plate..... is your revolver equipped with one?

Would it be possible to see a photo of the spring plate?

 

[pohill]

Check this out:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=_xUAAAAAEBAJ&printsec=description&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[kBob]

pohill,

Thanks again! Interesting that the revolver in the drawing appears to be a first model Manhattan Navy ( the bulged grips and the cylinder safety notches being the give aways)

-kBob

 

[arcticap]

Would it be possible to see a photo of the spring plate?

Go to the dedicated Manhatten firearms website below and click on the "Guide to Pistols" tab at the top of the page and there are photos of pistols that have it. Clicking on the photos will greatly magnify them.

http://manhattanfirearms.com/

 

[ofitg]

Thanks, Arcticap, I was hoping to see a frontal view, similar to the patent drawing supplied by pohill. I guess I can assume that the patent drawing was accurate.

 

[Skinny 1950]

ofitg...my Manhattan does not have a spring plate,I will have to dig it out and check for screw holes where one may have been attached. Maybe that is why there is so much end play in the cylinder.

 

[kBob]

Skinny,

Please don't forget to compare the chamber capacity of your Manhattan with that period colt .36 cylinder's chambers while you have the safe open.

Now I have to wonder if installing a spring plate might be a fix for a colt with a jiggly front to rear cylinder. Mayhaps a temporary fix for over loaded brassers there. Some enterprising person might try to make the plates and screws for sale to pietta brass .44/51 owners with no ablility to use reasonable loads......

-kBob