Open Top Replica Revolvers

[bluetopper]

I'm not into Cowboy action shooting but the open top revolvers have an immense "cool" factor to me and I was wondering if the open tops are prone to any problems?

I thought about getting one in 38 Spl. and just shooting my cast lead reloads in it as a target fun gun.

People who have one.....a pic would be nice.

 

[Nicodemus38]

the opentops use the traditional barrel wedge to hold the frame/arbor to the barrel assembly. this means it is prone to the same issues as any open top colt revolver, namely that the wedge can deform over time and cause the cylinder gap to go out of wack as well as allowing the barrel assembly to wobble around on the arbor slot.

 

[madcratebuilder]

the opentops use the traditional barrel wedge to hold the frame/arbor to the barrel assembly. this means it is prone to the same issues as any open top colt revolver, namely that the wedge can deform over time and cause the cylinder gap to go out of wack as well as allowing the barrel assembly to wobble around on the arbor slot.

Most open tops suffer from poorly fit arbors. The arbor, when properly fit, well bottom out in the barrel lug. This can be corrected by several methods. Weld up the end of the arbor and turn to fit. Make a spacer for the barrel lug hole(my fix). Some well put some Devcon or JB weld on the end of the arbor, OK for black powder I guess. When the arbor end is tight against the barrel lug the stresses of firing is transferred to the entire revolver frame, not just the wedge. Uberti is making several open top model cartridge revolvers now, maybe they are doing a better job of fitting them. I have never seen a open top Colt with the correct fit out of the box.

About half of my open tops.

 

[StrawHat]

What MCB says about the fit of the arbor is correct and for extensive amounts of shooting it should be addressed. For casual shooting it is fine.

I have a Richards conversion of the 1860 by ASM. An older revolver, it had a few issues but they have been dealt with and I now have a good shooter. Mine is in 44 Long Colt and the barrel has been sleeved (from the factory) to accept the 43 caliber bullets needed for the cartridge.

The 38 Special may or may not come with the grips from and 1851. They are also made with the larger 1860 style grip so handle the revolver if possible to see what you like. For many the smaller 1851/1861 grip is very good. Colts used it when they built the Model P and it is what most think of when the single action grip frame is mentioned.

Here is my 44 Colt.

 

[cprher]

I think the best of all of them is the "Man with No Name" revolver sold by Cimarron. But you'd need to buy the version with the coiled rattlesnake on the right grip for max cool factor. Price is very reasonable as well.
Keith

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I just got my Cimarron Man with No Name with the snake grips. Very cool gun. It balances perfectly, and is very smooth. It shoot a little high, but no big deal, I didn't buy it for competition.

The only issue is it took 8 months to get cause there is a waiting list for the snake grips.

 

[mm6mm6]

I too love the look and feel of an 1872 Open Top. I bought a Cimarron in .44 Special. I really like the balance of the 5 1/2" barrel in .44 caliber. The .38 is much heavier and doesn't feel quite as lithe in my mitts.

I was well aware the gun was quality made but I also knew the trigger pull and hammer mainspring would both be very heavy. I was correct. But I sent the revolver to Bob Munden and had his Sixgun Magic action job done by The Fastest Gun Who Ever Lived. I really enjoy watching Munden on Impossible Shots Wednesday nights on tv. It's really neat to have a gun that he worked over too.

I even had him engrave "Custom by Bob Munden" barrel and cut the forcing cone to a perfect 11 degrees.

The gun is shockingly accurate and the trigger pull is just over 1 pound.

 

[Jim K]

For any extensive use, or use with high pressure ammunition, there is another problem with the open top revolvers. When a percussion gun is fired, back pressure is exerted on the whole cylinder, which recoils into the middle of the frame boss, which is not only strong but is lower on the frame.

When a cartridge revolver is fired, the pressure is exerted on the cartridge case, forcing it back against the top of the frame and exerting greater leverage on the frame as a whole. In other words, the frame tends to bend or break at the lower rear corner.

That is the main reason Colt went to a topstrap revolver for their 1873, since experience with the open top revolvers and metallic cartridges had shown that the top strap was necessary. Of course, the top strap allowed a solid frame and dispensed with the other area of weakness, the center arbor and wedge system, so they dealt with both problems at the same time.

Little did they dream that anyone would want to go back to the old system because it was "cool."

Jim

 

[madcratebuilder]

For any extensive use, or use with high pressure ammunition, there is another problem with the open top revolvers. When a percussion gun is fired, back pressure is exerted on the whole cylinder, which recoils into the middle of the frame boss, which is not only strong but is lower on the frame.

When a cartridge revolver is fired, the pressure is exerted on the cartridge case, forcing it back against the top of the frame and exerting greater leverage on the frame as a whole. In other words, the frame tends to bend or break at the lower rear corner.

That is the main reason Colt went to a topstrap revolver for their 1873, since experience with the open top revolvers and metallic cartridges had shown that the top strap was necessary. Of course, the top strap allowed a solid frame and dispensed with the other area of weakness, the center arbor and wedge system, so they dealt with both problems at the same time.

Little did they dream that anyone would want to go back to the old system because it was "cool."

Jim

Excellent explanation Jim. I love my black powder open tops and some day I'll build a Richards-Mason conversion but it well still be black powder only. The open top design was never intended for smokeless.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I took some photos of my Man w/ No Name. I got this for the cool factor but I love shooting this gun. I use light 38s and it's a lot of fun.

 

[StrawHat]

Jim Keenan

That is the main reason Colt went to a topstrap revolver for their 1873, since experience with the open top revolvers and metallic cartridges had shown that the top strap was necessary. Of course, the top strap allowed a solid frame and dispensed with the other area of weakness, the center arbor and wedge system, so they dealt with both problems at the same time.

Jim Keenan,

I thought the top strap was produced at the request of the Army? I know the Army was looking at the Open Top and made a couple of recommendations to be included on future revolvers. Same reason that Colt went to the 45 caliber in the Model P, the one they submitted for evaluation was chambered for the 44 Colt.