CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I've been wanting an 1861 Richards-Mason cartridge conversion. I was going to have a certain someone build one out of a percussion gun but that ship has sailed. Another deal he lost out on. This is Plan B. It will be more practical and I'll do the work myself.
Instead, I got another Cimarron 1860 Type II in .38Spl.as a base gun. The deal with these guns is that when Uberti builds the 1860 Type II in .38Spl, they just use the same cylinder and frame as the 1851 Richards-Mason with an 1860 barrel and Army grip frame. I swapped grip frames between it and my flat-top target .44-40, which facilitates the first step on two guns. The flat-top will eventually go to a gunsmith. The parts are actually a very good fit. Better than I've experienced with most Ruger grip frame swaps. The flat-top now wears the TruIvory grips that were originally fitted to my engraved Open Top, then my 1860 Type II .44Colt. The grips now on the 1860 are one-piece Uberti factory faux pearl. I know pearl is a divisive issue but I defer to the great many Texas Rangers and other 20th century gunfighters like Tom Threepersons and Frank Hamer, more than that dumb Patton quote. They actually fit very well. Still have to decide if they will stay for the final product. I also have some checkered giraffe bone and some of Uberti's factory imitation ivory. It is also very nice and has visible grain like TruIvory.
With the SAA grip frame, the 1860 is now one step closer to an 1861 Navy Richards-Mason conversion, which has never been replicated by a manufacturer. The only thing left to do is reshape the barrel lug as indicated in the picture with the red arrow. After the grinding, filing and sanding, the whole thing will be aged. If I was feeling really frisky I'd move the screw that holds the ejector in place and weld up the hole, because it's going to hinder things.
The 1860 grip frame totally changes the feel of the flat-top. Colt really should've used it on more guns. It will end up going to Jack Huntington for all sorts of things I'm not yet spilling the beans about.
I bought one of the Cimarron 1860 Type II's when they first came out. However, I've seen original guns, like the one below, that had been cut to around 5.5", engraved and fitted with ivory that I thought were among the most beautiful I had ever seen. I also really like the way that length 1860 handles. I've set out to recreate this. Cimarron catalogs a 5.5" .44Colt but I haven't seen one in months. Instead, we'll take matters into our own hands. The barrel is off to Jack Huntington to cut it back and install a dovetail front sight. The grip frame is off to River Junction for a set of giraffe bone grips. Then it will go to Michael Gouse to be engraved. I'll either let him antique it or I'll do that myself. I'll also heavily age the grips to mimic very old ivory. Of course, it will also get a very special leather rig to go with it.
The base gun pictured here in the center:
The goal:
Instead, I got another Cimarron 1860 Type II in .38Spl.as a base gun. The deal with these guns is that when Uberti builds the 1860 Type II in .38Spl, they just use the same cylinder and frame as the 1851 Richards-Mason with an 1860 barrel and Army grip frame. I swapped grip frames between it and my flat-top target .44-40, which facilitates the first step on two guns. The flat-top will eventually go to a gunsmith. The parts are actually a very good fit. Better than I've experienced with most Ruger grip frame swaps. The flat-top now wears the TruIvory grips that were originally fitted to my engraved Open Top, then my 1860 Type II .44Colt. The grips now on the 1860 are one-piece Uberti factory faux pearl. I know pearl is a divisive issue but I defer to the great many Texas Rangers and other 20th century gunfighters like Tom Threepersons and Frank Hamer, more than that dumb Patton quote. They actually fit very well. Still have to decide if they will stay for the final product. I also have some checkered giraffe bone and some of Uberti's factory imitation ivory. It is also very nice and has visible grain like TruIvory.
With the SAA grip frame, the 1860 is now one step closer to an 1861 Navy Richards-Mason conversion, which has never been replicated by a manufacturer. The only thing left to do is reshape the barrel lug as indicated in the picture with the red arrow. After the grinding, filing and sanding, the whole thing will be aged. If I was feeling really frisky I'd move the screw that holds the ejector in place and weld up the hole, because it's going to hinder things.
The 1860 grip frame totally changes the feel of the flat-top. Colt really should've used it on more guns. It will end up going to Jack Huntington for all sorts of things I'm not yet spilling the beans about.
I bought one of the Cimarron 1860 Type II's when they first came out. However, I've seen original guns, like the one below, that had been cut to around 5.5", engraved and fitted with ivory that I thought were among the most beautiful I had ever seen. I also really like the way that length 1860 handles. I've set out to recreate this. Cimarron catalogs a 5.5" .44Colt but I haven't seen one in months. Instead, we'll take matters into our own hands. The barrel is off to Jack Huntington to cut it back and install a dovetail front sight. The grip frame is off to River Junction for a set of giraffe bone grips. Then it will go to Michael Gouse to be engraved. I'll either let him antique it or I'll do that myself. I'll also heavily age the grips to mimic very old ivory. Of course, it will also get a very special leather rig to go with it.
The base gun pictured here in the center:
The goal:
