State of the Colt cartridge conversion collection

CraigC

CraigC

Sixgun Nut
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
23,841
Location
West Tennessee
As some have probably surmised, I love the Colt cartridge conversion guns. This is what I've managed to accumulate so far. I'm also going to include the 1871-1872 Open Top cartridge models as well, since they're in the same vein.

Most recent is a fantasy gun in the form of a Richards Type I conversion in .38Spl. An early Cimarron ASM gun that is an 1860/1861 hybrid. It's essentially an 1860 Type I but in .38Spl with a Navy grip. The Richards Type I was only done on the 1860. So it should be either a .44 or an 1861 Richards-Mason pattern conversion. Cool sixgun, either way.

IMG_2710.jpg

Another fantasy gun, a pseudo-1861 Richards-Mason. Actually an 1860 Richards Type II in .38Spl, fitted with a Navy grip frame and Uberti pearls.

001b.jpg

Cimarron's "Tuco Special", built on the Open Top cartridge frame in .45Colt with a Leech & Rigdon style barrel.

IMG_2703.jpg

My pair of 1860 Richards-Mason conversions in .44Colt.

008b.jpg

Whatever the hell this is. An ASM 1861 with a Legal Guardian gateless conversion and a non-functioning ejector. It's a paperweight.

IMG_2533b.jpg

My early Cimarron 1860 Richards Type II .44Colt has been cut to 5.5" and fitted with giraffe bone grips. Still needs to go to the engraver.

IMG_2525b.jpg

This is a Uberti 1851 Navy .38Spl conversion by Kenny Howell with a relined barrel.

036b.jpg

Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason conversion .38Spl from Dixie Gun Works.

IMG_9914b.jpg

I've converted this aged Pietta with Kirst bits but it ain't ready for show business just yet.

005b_3.jpg

The Open Top 5.5" Navy .44Colt with Uberti ivory polymer.

030b.jpg

The flagship, the Cimarron Open Top .44Colt engraved by Michael Gouse, finished by Turnbull and stocked in ivory by Jack Huntington.

IMG_9888b.jpg

There's two more we're not gonna go into, one is a botched conversion by a half-assed gunsmith. The other is the Cimarron Pocket .380.
 
CraigC said:
As some have probably surmised, I love the Colt cartridge conversion guns.
Click to expand...

I am sure we had not noticed. :p

What kind of accuracy have you been getting? I am fairly new to this part of the game but have not been completely pleased with mine. Only one of them has satisfactory sights - so is the only one I can confidently say is not terribly accurate - but none of them hit quite as well as I would like.
 
Wish I'd taken pictures of it. It's a nice looking little revolver. It has, I guess, Uberti's answer for the short arbor by using a stout little spring mounted on the end of the arbor . . . Haaa !! It went home in a little baggie!!
So, I guess that's the first on with coils in it and an action shield. Of course they have the retracting firing pin. Definitely a lot going on in such a little package!!!

Mike
 
Craig,


I am sure you know how I feel about the Richards Conversion of the Colt’s Model 1860. But, truth be told, those Open Tops are beginning to grow on my. Slightly blocky but they still show their c&b heritage.


Kevin
 
1KPerDay said:
Can you go over the differences between the type 1 and type 2?
Click to expand...
It ain't much. The most notable is that the Type I has the rear sight, along with a floating firing pin in the conversion ring. The Type II has both the rear sight and the firing pin in the hammer. You'd think the evolution would've gone the other way. Both use the sleek percussion barrel, which is probably their most appealing feature over the later Richards-Mason. That's what Strawhat is referring to, the loss of elegance in the S-lug barrel of the R-M and Open Top.
 
CraigC said:
It ain't much. The most notable is that the Type I has the rear sight, along with a floating firing pin in the conversion ring. The Type II has both the rear sight and the firing pin in the hammer. You'd think the evolution would've gone the other way. Both use the sleek percussion barrel, which is probably their most appealing feature over the later Richards-Mason. That's what Strawhat is referring to, the loss of elegance in the S-lug barrel of the R-M and Open Top.
Click to expand...
So this guy is wrong, correct? Start at about 4:50

 
CraigC said:
As some have probably surmised, I love the Colt cartridge conversion guns. This is what I've managed to accumulate so far. I'm also going to include the 1871-1872 Open Top cartridge models as well, since they're in the same vein.

Most recent is a fantasy gun in the form of a Richards Type I conversion in .38Spl. An early Cimarron ASM gun that is an 1860/1861 hybrid. It's essentially an 1860 Type I but in .38Spl with a Navy grip. The Richards Type I was only done on the 1860. So it should be either a .44 or an 1861 Richards-Mason pattern conversion. Cool sixgun, either way.

View attachment 1132567

Another fantasy gun, a pseudo-1861 Richards-Mason. Actually an 1860 Richards Type II in .38Spl, fitted with a Navy grip frame and Uberti pearls.

View attachment 1132568

Cimarron's "Tuco Special", built on the Open Top cartridge frame in .45Colt with a Leech & Rigdon style barrel.

View attachment 1132569

My pair of 1860 Richards-Mason conversions in .44Colt.

View attachment 1132570

Whatever the hell this is. An ASM 1861 with a Legal Guardian gateless conversion and a non-functioning ejector. It's a paperweight.

View attachment 1132571

My early Cimarron 1860 Richards Type II .44Colt has been cut to 5.5" and fitted with giraffe bone grips. Still needs to go to the engraver.

View attachment 1132572

This is a Uberti 1851 Navy .38Spl conversion by Kenny Howell with a relined barrel.

View attachment 1132573

Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason conversion .38Spl from Dixie Gun Works.

View attachment 1132574

I've converted this aged Pietta with Kirst bits but it ain't ready for show business just yet.

View attachment 1132575

The Open Top 5.5" Navy .44Colt with Uberti ivory polymer.

View attachment 1132576

The flagship, the Cimarron Open Top .44Colt engraved by Michael Gouse, finished by Turnbull and stocked in ivory by Jack Huntington.

View attachment 1132577

There's two more we're not gonna go into, one is a botched conversion by a half-assed gunsmith. The other is the Cimarron Pocket .380.
Click to expand...

Have you used anything heavier then cowboy loads in the tuco special?
 
Last edited:
Always have had a weak spot for Open Tops, after seeing some genuine cap and ball Colts that a family friend had when I was a kid.
I've had a couple conversions, along with some actual C&B. The Open Tops let you have the look, without the muss and fuss.
But yeah, the sights leave a lot to be desired, whether on the hammer or on the barrel.
Moon
 
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