Start of expensive career

[603doug]

Bought a pietta 1858 from Cabela (on sale free shipping and used "bonus bucks")and fired her up today and what a ball. Have a Uberti walker and it is night and day difference between the two. I like the hand cannon because when you fire that you know something happened, but the light weight 1858 has its own feel of delight. The quality of the Pietta seems good and very happy with it. Next piece of the puzzle will be a 1860. Own several revolvers but black powder is the sh*ts
(wife is ready to use one if I buy any more this year)

 

[Crawdad1]

I love the Colts but I'll have to grudgingly admit that the Remington is in a league by itself.

 

[4v50 Gary]

You're right. It's not a hobby. It's a career. It's gonnes, shooting and research that becomes career like.

Just got James Gordon's and James Taylor's book Weapons in Early American History. It's breathtaking photos from objects in Gordon's collection.

 

[sltm1]

Now you need you a Rogers & Spencer to see what a perfect bp pistol shoot's like. Biased, you bet LOL !!

 

[jeepnik]

The addiction has only just begun (hey didn't the Carpenters sing that). Don't fight it, give in. If you need help giving in, just come here. We're here to help.

 

[EljaySL]

Make sure you get a .36 and a .31 on your list as well. Those pocket guns have their own appeal as well.

Seriously - it's good to have a list of maybe a half dozen cap and ball revolvers you like the looks of, and be aware of what a good price is, and then when Cabelas runs a big Christmas sale sometimes those things are just a day or two for each model and you can jump on it.

 

[BullRunBear]

Don't forget the Ruger Old Army! (I shouldn't make these tempting suggestions so early in the week.)

Seriously, they are superb C&Bs and it's worth keeping an eye open for a good deal.

Jeff

 

[whughett]

Now you need you a Rogers & Spencer to see what a perfect bp pistol shoot's like. Biased, you bet LOL !!

Total agreement, have two and lost a bid for a third yesterday.

 

[MIOkie]

And yet another falls victim to the siren song of the Holy Black...

Welcome aboard...!

 

[603doug]

A friend has 2 stainless ROA and he is a very selfish person and will not sell one. Looking at a .31 just need to convince the "little woman" how much I love her

 

[Skinny 1950]

The 1860's with their creeping loading lever is a must have gun, then you need an 1862 Police in .36 cal then all three models of the Dragoon.

 

[603doug]

thank goodness the "little woman" does not read this , You folks would have me in a heap of trouble. Oh working on all of the above just slowly

 

[PainlessWolf]

Don't forget your LeMat! The Grapeshot Revolver is a 'Must Have'! ;o)

 

[603doug]

Local shop has 2 but the 1265 price tag

 

[PainlessWolf]

Try services like GunBroker. I have seen them on there in the 6 to 800.00 range. Used in like new condition. The gun requires a little more work to use properly but the fun of setting 9 rounds of 44 off followed by a shotgun blast is immeasurable! ;o)

 

[expat_alaska]

Make sure you get a .36 and a .31 on your list as well. Those pocket guns have their own appeal as well.

Hey, bro: I'm a noob also. Bought my Pietta 1851 Navy steel .36 last Christmas for ~$200 and promptly proceeded to purchase better wood from an ebay seller for $35, and purchased a brass Pietta squareback TG from Taylors & Co. for $25.



While this is not a pocket gun as is the 1862 Pocket Navy .36 (with octagonal barrel and rebated .36 cylinder), the Pocket Navies were produced with barrel lengths 1/2" longer than the Pocket models in .31 cal. I am a great lover of squareback trigger guards, and if I can ever find a spare 1848/1849 squareback to apply to an 1862 Pocket Navy .36, I will surely do it, even if it not a correct rendition. I just think it would be a wonderful looking pistol. You all might a different idea.

I also recently won in an online auction an 1848 Pocket .31 6" barrel with load lever and squareback TG (ASM from 1963 XIX). At 52 years old and unknown care, it needs work, but that is not a problem. My neighbor is a master machinist and succeeded in removing a badly cross threaded backstrap-to-TG screw and is proceeding to re-tap the TG hole for a larger 1851 screw I had on hand and turn down the head diameter to fit the original 1848 backstrap recess. Also note that the load lever rammer and load lever screws enter from the right as opposed to the norm: from the left, BUT... that is an anomaly represented below.



I would advise you to obtain a copy of P.L. Shumaker's treatise on the 1848/1849 Pocket Pistols (fairly inexpensive) and Nathan L. Swayze's copy of 1851 Navies (~$90... ouch!) and study before you make any decisions, even with replicas.

Very good info contained in both books.

Seriously - it's good to have a list of maybe a half dozen cap and ball revolvers you like the looks of, and be aware of what a good price is, and then when Cabelas runs a big Christmas sale sometimes those things are just a day or two for each model and you can jump on it.