New Cap n' Balls?

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Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Do you think any of the big makers like Uberti, Pietta etc. will ever bring out any new models?

I'm not just talking about a new barrel length for one of their existing models, I'm talking an "all-new" model we've yet to see to hit the cap and ball market.

There are a lot of cool cap and balls that were used during the Civil War that weren't the same Remington or Colts we see reproduced everywhere. Guns like the Starr DA and SA, Adams, Savage Navy, and others are cool as well. I myself would love to see a repro of the Adams which was used on both sides of the war and is cool because it's a double action:

FHG_1497_2.jpg

I think it would be really fresh and exciting to see one of the Italian makers come out with something we've yet to see. It's just all the same Remington or Colt/Confederate Colt copy type stuff. There's variety sure, but really how much variety? I for one thing it's cool there are so many Colt models out but personally feel like once you own one open top Colt, you've owned them all.

Sorry if I sound jaded or stupid... it's been a long day. What are your thoughts on this fellas?
 
It would be nice if they expanded their lines. Pietta already makes/made the starr revolvers in both single and double action. Palmetto made a nice replica of the Whitney a few decades ago.

Biggest reason no new ones are forthcoming is the size of the C&B market. It just isn't cost effective for new tooling. Taking what already exists & embellishing or modifying them is much more profitable.
 
We are in a declining consumer economy. It is highly unlikely that given the low return on the investment that any firm will gear up to produce a new cap 'n ball.
 
I would like to see a Bacon or Manhattan pocket revolver, they look kinda like a Colt with a Remington style grip.
 
One thing I would like to see is a truly new design. If they mimicked a hand ejector smith, a Chiappa rhino or whatever that would be ok too. I understand c&b is an antiquated technology full of single action colt type guns (broadly speaking of open top single action revolvers) and Remington type guns. The last "new" design I can think of is the NAA mini revolver or the ROA, and I'm not too sure which came first.
 
In looking at cap & ball gun listings at various sellers I was struck by the variety of makes and models is noticeably less than 5-10 years ago. I guess the market is contracting as less people are getting into cowboy action shooting or in my case buying the guns because I like them and enjoy shooting them. My collection is pretty well filled up(replicas) so I am not actively searching for any. My collection consists of 1 Walker, 3 1858 Remington's(2-44,1-36), 3 1951's, 1 1848, 1 Rogers&Spenser, 1 1860 and 1 NAA mini cap & ball .22. Not a large one but I enjoy it.

The Dixie catalog lists a lot of cap & ball guns(looks like the same lineup for the last 10 to 15 years) but I wonder how many of them are actually available given that out of business manufacturers guns are listed and they list a number of guns by manufacturers that are still in business but are no longer listed as models they currently manufacture. I would hope Dixie has warehouses filled to the brim with guns from manufacturers no longer in existence and guns no longer manufactured by current manufacturers but I doubt it. At this point I rather doubt we will see a major manufacturer bring out a new replica of a cap & ball that has not been made before or even bring back a discontinued model. Just my opinion.
 
I never thought I would see the Burgess rifle or the Spencer rifle built but they were.

If there is a demand, it will be filled. First by the custom makers and then by the mass producers.

Currently, no demand.

Kevin
 
Does a Dragoon (or other current models) with totally new coil and plunger actuated solid bolts and hands, and trigger return (i.e.Ruger) qualify as "new"? This would give the user familiar looks with Ruger type dependability and no parts breakage.

Just wondering. . . . .

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks
 
Well I know if they made an Adams, they could make it in the original 5-shot .50 caliber configuration. Then you could tell everyone "yo boy I got me a .50 cal pistol!" to impress them. :D
 
I would buy a Kerr or Adams if they ever produce them. I already have a mold and have cast up several balls waiting for the day that they do become available
 
The answer depends on:

Is they're a market demand for the proposed new gun?

Can it be made and sold at a price point that market will support?

Is it attractive in the eyes of importers/distributors?

Any candidate for a new product mast be able to answer all three of those question, "Yes."

To bring out an entirely new gun from scratch the manufacturer must make a considerable investment. They are unlikely too do it unless they can see a clear path to profitability.
 
I wonder, though, with the global economy, especially there, if they'd even gamble with it as the startup funding is rather steep. If current parts could be used I could see the possibility, but with an outright all new gun I'd be skeptical.

I'm quite intrigued by this new gun and am curious about the cost as well. I hadn't even heard of it until today.
 
So I'm 67 and a product of countless westerns on TV so guns are in my blood from an early age.

As a teenager I was enthralled with the Life and Look magazine articles on the Civil War Centennial and about went nuts when my dad said that the family vacation would be to Gettysburg July of '63.

Realistically I have fewer collecting days ahead of me than I have behind me.

I wonder what the age demographic is on collectors of unusual cap & ball varieties (Old?) when the market for the same-olds seems to be shrinking?

How many of you on this forum are under thirty, how can the interest of the young be piqued and what can be done to stir the market as it was back in the '60s???

I had high hopes for the sesquicentennial but it seems to have flopped not to mention the War of 1812's bicentennial that was soundly ignored by the media.

Sorry, just crying in my beer!
 
Ephraim: I'm 43 and wasn't interested in much history prior to WW II until my father gave me my ROA. He had been telling me for years that I should take a look at BP guns but they just never piqued my curiosity much at all.

And now I own a Remington NMA and an ahystorical .50 cal percussion muzzleloader (Lyman Deerstalker) and have become quite interested in the Civil War era as well as our War of Independence as it was found going back quite far that we are most likely related to John Hancock.

I have a rather long list of wants now, but just not enough hobby funding. That puts the more expensive arms out of my hands for the foreseeable future.

I was often approached at the range and enjoyed explaining what I could and allowing those interested to fire off something to see if they grinned wide enough.

Only one of 5 friends were interested enough to consider one themselves. For most the slow loading process was just not enough for them, which spurred me to try making paper cartridges. Funny enough the one friend interested is more inclined to get a muzzleloading rifle.
 
So I'm 67 and a product of countless westerns on TV so guns are in my blood from an early age.
I am 64 so I am in the near genre as you
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As a teenager I was enthralled with the Life and Look magazine articles on the Civil War Centennial and about went nuts when my dad said that the family vacation would be to Gettysburg July of '63.
I have no idea about that but I hope you got to go!
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Realistically I have fewer collecting days ahead of me than I have behind me.
You and me both, and I started late and have limited funds. The interest is still there.
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I wonder what the age demographic is on collectors of unusual cap & ball varieties (Old?) when the market for the same-olds seems to be shrinking?
Very good question. I was always intrigued with the Walch pistol, and the Savage pistol, and other originals. Others may not think that interesting.
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How many of you on this forum are under thirty, how can the interest of the young be piqued and what can be done to stir the market as it was back in the '60s???
Insofar as I have seen, most 20-somethings and even 30-somethings really don't know/care about mid-1800/Civil War history. They are interested, if at all, about tacticool modern firearms, and history is lost to them.
Click to expand...
I had high hopes for the sesquicentennial but it seems to have flopped not to mention the War of 1812's bicentennial that was soundly ignored by the media.
The media has no interest in "ancient" U.S. history. OMG, we have been around for over 200 years! They are firmly fixated upon the "now", think that the U.S. has been here forever, and not a thought of the past. For them, the "past" might only go back to FDR.

Very sad.
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Sorry, just crying in my beer!

Your post has me crying in my whiskey rocks. :)!
 
Presently, BATF does not consider cap and ball firearms to be real guns. I sincerely hope this does not change.

The only scenario that I can foresee that might increase the market for percussion firearms would be the absolute outlawing of cartridge firing firearms, leaving percussion firearms more easily obtainable. Think many European countries, in which cartridge guns are virtually unobtainable by common citizens, but in which cap and ball guns can still be owned and shot.

I would rather have a "limited" number of percussion guns available as we have now, rather than stimulate the market demand in that fashion!!
 
Guys, I'm 31 and proud to say I'm interested. For me it's the history and inginuity that excite me. I have a fondness for odd machines from history, and an overflowing love for firearms which exhibit these traits.

Yes I know I myself am an oddity.

As for revitalizing this area of shooting, I think it has to be part of a fun game. Folks my age still grew up with HeeHaw, and Gunsmoke so there is still some childhood cowboy dreams to live out. The problem I see with SASS is the expense, and I see few if any cowboy matches that aren't SASS matches. Get the ranges open to more affordable fun events and I think that more folks will choose that form of recreation. Sad thing is that this seems to be par for the course. Guns, ammo, and gear prices are high and economy is slow. Other groups could take off and be a hoot to shoot if we could just get the word out that there's things to do. Prime example is Zoot Shooters. Yeah I know, you haven't heard of them...not c&b but a lot of fun that most of the world will never know about.
 
Mr. Kibbey raises a good point. The Civil War sesquicentennial was a dead bust. The War of 1812, too. The next big event will be the 250th anniversary of independence in 2026.

But I think the real problem is that all the precision shooting disciplines are under pressure. People want to run around and shoot targets 10 feet away, not master 50 yards.
 
I think a replica of the ruger old army would be awesome- especially if a decent copy for the 200.00 range :)

I think they would sell a bunch of them
 
A Kerr. I want a Kerr. And I want it for $200.

Bill it as the most Confederate of ACW handguns as it out numbered the original "CSA made" guns in the field.

-kBob
 
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