Pietta Rescue

[Striker]

A friend found this Pietta brass frame 1851 languishing in his toolbox, and knowing my like of BP revolvers, gave it to me. At first glance it looked to be rode hard and put away wet. But it's cleaning up nicely and other then missing the wedge and bolt screws, and a broken trigger/bolt spring, it's in decent shape. I have a spare spring on hand and complete set of replacement screws will be here on Monday.

More to follow.....

 

[maint1517]

Wish I had a friend like that!!!
Look forward to seeing more photos.

 

[Buddy]

You don't have an 1851 Navy replica. You have a replica of a Confederate Griswold & Gunnison revolver. The originals were 36 caliber with a brass frame and were made between 1862 and 1864 in Griswoldville, Georgia in a cotton gin factory that was converted to produce arms. The factory was destroyed during Sherman's march to the sea.

 

[Striker]

Buddy,

You are correct Sir. This is a round barrel gun with a plain cylinder.

I had 1851 on the brain since I used parts from my 1851 Pietta brass frame to check compatibility of the missing parts. Turns out the frames are identical and barrel assemblies are swappable.

 

[expat_alaska]

Striker, your gun seems to have a cut water table, and the end view of the cylinder doesn't show if it is rebated or not. If rebated, it is a .44 and not a replica G&G.

My Pietta G&G .36:

Jim

 

[kBob]

I really like the G&G looks. I so love "messing" with folks that I have long wanted one so I could drive up to the historical marker, walk out in the woods, dig a hole, drop the revolver in, bury it and then dig it up just so I could look folks dead in the eye and truthfully say "Oh yeah? Well I dug this one up at Griswaldville!"

I have often wondered if there are any rusting rotten remains of any of the guns in the area. I understand one of the issues with the G&Gs were that much of the work force was actually black slaves, many of whom were not Griswalds trained metal workers from before the war and that there was a high percentage of out of spec parts that ended up being tossed. Griswald did not jut run a gin, he was in the business of making gins and other metal bits.

-kBob

 

[expat_alaska]

The info that I have states that Sam Griswold "employed" 24 people at his pistol factory, 22 of whom were slaves. There is also mention of a farmer in the area who would occaisionally plow up parts (mostly discarded items) on part of the 7,000 acres that Griswold once owned. A local guy would collect these and has enough for about half of a pistol. It also states that many years ago locals found the brass melting pot and discarded it down an old well.

(Confederate Handguns, Albaugh, Benet, and Simmons, 1963)

 

[Striker]

expat,

You are also correct, the cylinder is rebated and it's .44 caliber. So it seems that it's another Pietta brass fantasy gun like my Pietta brass "1851" in .44.

Regardless, they are all fun to tinker with and shoot.....and best of all this one was free!

 

[bannockburn]

Striker

Looks to be a "fun" rebuild! Let us know how it turns out when you're finished.

 

[maint1517]

So, are there still replica Griswolds being manufactured. And if so, who does them, Pietta, Uberti, etc...?

 

[maint1517]

So, are there still replica Griswolds being manufactured. And if so, who does them, Pietta, Uberti, etc...?

Ok, nevermind. I just found them at EMF Company's website.

 

[expat_alaska]

Ok, nevermind. I just found them at EMF Company's website.

EMF is an importer, not a manufacturer. Those are Piettas, and are probably the last ones around since I believe Pietta has discontinued production as of last year.

Mine is a date code [CN] 2015 from Cabela's for $220. Not a great price but Cabela's never put them on sale to my recollection.

So it seems that it's another Pietta brass fantasy gun like my Pietta brass "1851" in .44.

Yes, but your new find has the part-round barrel which looks a lot better than the full octagon barrel of the 1851 Navy.

Regardless, they are all fun to tinker with and shoot.....and best of all this one was free!

Yes, absolutely! Have fun and good luck to you on your project!

Jim

 

[maint1517]

Yes,I know EMF isn't the manufacturer. I was just saying I had found the Griswold replicas on their website.

 

[maint1517]

EMF is an importer, not a manufacturer. Those are Piettas, and are probably the last ones around since I believe Pietta has discontinued production as of last year.

Mine is a date code [CN] 2015 from Cabela's for $220. Not a great price but Cabela's never put them on sale to my recollection.

Expat
I went to Cabelas website tonight, they still list them. But they are no longer a stock item. You have to call for pricing. I'm going to givem a call in the morning and see what one will run me.

 

[Striker]

So, all the parts came in today ......



Cleaned it up a bit, mostly just removing surface rust & powder residue and made a couple of passes on the brass works with 5 ought steel wool. I needed to tweak the hand spring a bit, but no other issues and it went together nicely. I didn't shoot it today, though I did snap caps on all six cylinders. All and all I'm pleased with the look and how it functions.

 

[maint1517]

Looks good Striker!

 

[expat_alaska]

The date code [AA] is 1975. Looks great!

Your 1851 Navy brasser in the Club thread appears to have a date code [BS]? for 2002.

Jim

 

[Striker]

expat,

Thanks for posting the date stamp chart, I was surprised to see the round barrel was 30+ years old!

BTW the 1851 brasser is BS coded (2002).

 

[expat_alaska]

Striker,

There are a lot of collectors who are interested in only old repros of various manufacturers. The list is almost endless.

http://rprca.tripod.com/

http://www.earmi.it/A-Enciclopedia/default.html

Don't get rid of your AA pistol! It is worth more than you think in certain circles. It is a niche item.

I am glad you resurrected it very well. At first I thought it was a kit gun found in a toolbox, but it has Italian proof marks and a date code, so it is not.

Good on you!

Jim

 

[expat_alaska]

Expat
I went to Cabelas website tonight, they still list them. But they are no longer a stock item. You have to call for pricing. I'm going to givem a call in the morning and see what one will run me.

Good luck but I think you may be disappointed. EMF might be your best bet if available.

 

[maint1517]

Good luck but I think you may be disappointed. EMF might be your best bet if available.

You're right. It'll be EMF if I get one.

 

[expat_alaska]

If you can't get one from EMF (their website says they are "temporarily out of stock"; I am thinking "permanently" out of stock), you can procure one if you are willing to do a bit of legwork.

The G&G replica is nothing more than an 1851 Navy .36 brasser with a smooth cylinder and part round/part octagon barrel. Just procure a Pietta .36 brasser and go from there.

I like the Pietta as it is less expensive than any Uberti or Pedersoli, and it works well, in my experience.

VTI has the barrel for $125 (A345/CF36) and the plain cylinder (A344) for $95. Ouch!

I guess it depends upon how badly you want one.

https://vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=66&cat=Pietta+1851+Navy

Since Bass Pro Shop has taken control of Cabela's as of last year, don't expect much in the way of BP sales or diversity of guns from Cabela's as in the past.

I was in the HVAC/Refer industry for years before retiring and the parts suppliers make their beaucoup money upon that. No different here.

I wish you very good luck with your endeavor, sir!

Jim

 

[Striker]

Epilogue.....

So the friend who gave me the pistol was over today and saw the "rescue" sitting on my bench and picked it up. He looked it over, cocked and un-cocked it few times, then mumbled about how good it turned out. After seeing his hang dog expression, I stuck in a soft case and tucked it under his arm......he left a very happy camper.

 

[maint1517]

If you can't get one from EMF (their website says they are "temporarily out of stock"; I am thinking "permanently" out of stock), you can procure one if you are willing to do a bit of legwork.

The G&G replica is nothing more than an 1851 Navy .36 brasser with a smooth cylinder and part round/part octagon barrel. Just procure a Pietta .36 brasser and go from there.

I like the Pietta as it is less expensive than any Uberti or Pedersoli, and it works well, in my experience.

VTI has the barrel for $125 (A345/CF36) and the plain cylinder (A344) for $95. Ouch!

I guess it depends upon how badly you want one.

https://vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=66&cat=Pietta+1851+Navy

Since Bass Pro Shop has taken control of Cabela's as of last year, don't expect much in the way of BP sales or diversity of guns from Cabela's as in the past.

I was in the HVAC/Refer industry for years before retiring and the parts suppliers make their beaucoup money upon that. No different here.

I wish you very good luck with your endeavor, sir!

Jim

Thanks Jim

 

[expat_alaska]

Epilogue.....

So the friend who gave me the pistol was over today and saw the "rescue" sitting on my bench and picked it up. He looked it over, cocked and un-cocked it few times, then mumbled about how good it turned out. After seeing his hang dog expression, I stuck in a soft case and tucked it under his arm......he left a very happy camper.

Striker, you have a heart of gold! You must like working on guns more than turning a buck because you won't stay in business long at that rate.

You have just embodied the epitome of paying it forward.

Nothing better than to get him into our realm.

BTW, if you are ever in the neighborhood, I have a Replica Arms El Paso Texas 1848 Pocket .31 squareback 5 shot 6" with load lever (ASM 1963 date code XIX, first year of ASM manufacture per Dr. Jim L. Davis) that has a bad trigger/bolt spring that needs retempering. I have tried replacement springs from various ASM suppliers but none fit.

Right now it is just a nice wallhanger. Paid too much for it years ago on GB only because I was fixated upon SB TG pistols at the time. It is much too small for my hands, and as an 1851 Navy type guy, I have not much use for it.



I will give it to you if you will pay USPS shipping costs (if you live in a free state) after receiving it IF YOU PROMISE to give it to your friend after you do the repairs. It has all the parts. It has the short frame/short forcing cone/small V-notch load aperture/load lever rammer pivot screw enters from the right/ recoil shield is lower than center, which are all correct for a Colt 1848 Pocket with load lever. Very accurate replica.

What say you, sir?

Jim