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Howie6267

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Hi guys, I've been reading some great information here. I am knew to BP. I just bought my first two. A Thompson Center Hawken .50 and a 1861 Navy .36 pistol. I won't have the pistol until Friday, I bought it off a buddy so I'm not sure if it's an Uberti, Piatti or something else. I've handled it once when he bought it but did not look that close and he says he can't find any markings on it. I look forward to discussing things here but for now I have a lot of reading to do.

Updated to add pics

1860%201.jpg
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My friend bought the pistol and never got into using it. My other friend that I bought the TC from is going to take me out and show me the ropes with BP. Here is a pic of the pistol. I don't know if anyone would be able to identify it I know I couldn't from the pic. I got it for 2 silver dollars an old elgin watch and $50 cash. So about $150. The TC I paid $275 for and got a lot of extras and a scope.
 
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You got a HUGE deal, especially if the bore on the TC is in good condition. You should consider giving the friend some venison if you ever hunt with it. :D

You also are very smart ;) to get a friend to show you the basics. You should (imho) remove the scope if it isn't off already, and shoot with the iron sights first. This is assuming you don't need the optics due to vision requirements.

After that you have the option of replacing the scope and learning to shoot with that, or simply having fun with the iron sights.

Also, try BOTH patched round ball and conical bullets like T/C Maxi-balls. There are pros and cons for both, and both are fun to shoot. Oh and give real black powder a try if available in your area, before you try a substitute.

Welcome to The Dark Side

LD
 
I know I got a pretty good deal on the TC from what I could tell. My friend is meticulous with his firearms. This thing is almost like brand new out of the box. I have been trying to decide if I shoud take the scope off. I would like to shoot with the iron sites and then maybe put the scope back on for deer hunting. He also gave me a set of fiber optic sites with it. The whole reason for buying it was to go hunting next fall, I'm 44 and have never been.
 
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Howdy

It really is not possible to tell from a photo just who made your pistol.

Here is a link to a page that will tell you all about the logos and proof marks used by all the Italian gun makers. Uberti is pretty consistent in always marking their guns so they are identifiable. If it was made by Uberti it should be marked. Some of the others are not so diligent. Don't forget to lower the loading lever and look underneath it, some of the makers put their marks there.



https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/POWDER/MBPProofmarks.pdf
 
Thanks for the link I will take a look. I figured once I get the pistol I should be able to find out what it is.
 
Um, I don't think that's a .36 cal 1861 Navy. It has a rebated cylinder; the 1861 Navy has a straight cylinder:
R0010930.jpg

The 1862 Pocket Police is the only .36 cal Colt I know of that has both a rebated cylinder and the round barrel; it's a small frame 5 shot revolver and usually has a semi-fluted cylinder:
663.jpg

Your picture looks to me like a medium frame 6 shot revolver, which makes it the 1860 Army in .44 cal:
1639and741.jpg
 
I see what you mean. I'm sure he was just going by what they said at the store and he is not even sure of that because he told me 1861 .32 cal which I knew had to be .36. I never even caught the rebated cylinder or even knew that term until now. Good eye! I'm wondering if because of the navy battle seen they thought it was a navy and just assumed .36. Is the caliber not marked on these anywhere?
 
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It has the extra shoulder stock screw, so I think that rules out a pocket gun. Yeah, I'd guess it's a an 1860 foe dee foe, just from the picture. Sounds like a great deal either way, assuming it's all in good shape. Have some fun with it, Howie.
 
It looks to me like it is probably not a Pietta based on the size of the grips. (Pietta's are larger than say Uberti's or Euroarms aka ASP) But at another angle the grips might look bigger you never know, but I don't think so.

For what its worth I agree that it doesn't look like a 36. My guess is 44 Cal Euroarrms, but you will know for sure soon enough.
 
I do remember handling it when he bought it and thinking it was in nice shape so I should be good to go. I will let you all know what it is for sure by Saturday, I'm going to his house for dinner tomorrow and will get it then. I sure am glad I did not buy a bunch of supplies thinking it was a .36. I would have been pretty upset at myself.
 
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I picked the pistol up tonight and along the side of the barrel it says ASM black powder only caliber 44. So what do you guys know about ASM?
 
ASM went out of business about 10 years ago.
Their parts are hard to find, so many folks resort to hand fitting replacement parts from other makers.
 
Armi San Marco

At one time ASM was high quality, but at their end quality was hit and miss an they seemed to be skimping. I remember a lot of complaints, but if the one you have is nice no problem right?
 
I only have $50 cash in it so I will shoot it as long as I can and then get another. :) It seems in good shape. The year mark is wore off so but it looks like BD or BB which would be 92 or 94.
 
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Go to the Black Powder Essentials at the top of this section. You'll find a wealth of info in there.
See my two posts, "So you want a cap and ball revolver" and "Proper use of cap and ball revolver."
Also see a post about 10 topics down, can't recall the poster, on making your own wads. Very well done, with photos. You'll find that lubricated felt wads between the ball and powder are easier to use than putting grease over the ball. More effective too.
Print out the info found in Black Powder Essentials, put it into a binder, and you'll have a good reference for decades.
When I started shooting cap and ball revolvers about 1970, the only readily available source for information was Lyman reloading books. Elmer Keith had a chapter on cap and ball revolvers in his classic book, "Sixguns."
Today, there's so much more information. Some of it has been rediscovered, some learned anew. And much of it is fabrication, questionable, exaggeration, speculation and bragging.
All in all, follow the ancient advice: You can't argue with success. :D
 
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