UPDATE: December 19th, 2012 5:15PM Central Standard Time.
Just received via the Big Brown Truck the 5.5" Sheriff's model.
It is a very nice revolver, typical of Pietta's modern production. Pretty rich color case hardening, brass TG & BS as advertised. It is stated to have the 1860 Army size grip but has the Navy size.
The answer to the questions arising from the photo on Taylors site has been answered. The photo there showed a cylinder that looked to be five shot and fluted like the 1862 Police model, which is nice, but never seen on the 1860.
What actually comes on the revolver is a standard 6 shot .44 caliber (as advertised) 1860 Army cylinder which is fluted in the manner seen commonly on the 1873 Colt Peacemaker. Pietta has made this cylinder available on some of ther regular 1860 Army models with an 8" barrel & Steel backstrap. It is thought by some to be non authentic to what Colt produced during the time it was making the original flavor of this model, but in fact Colt DID produce a revolver fluted like this. They were apparantly quit rare and had to be special ordered this way.
BTW, as advertised it does come with the spare non fluted cylinder. Surprisingly it is free of any engraved scenes and is marked "Spare cylinder for Navy Cal. 44 our code A341." Oh, this is printed on the box NOT ON THE CYLINDER ITSELF. It IS the correct .44 caliber size.
I wonder if the gun in the Taylor's photo was some production prototype. The wierdest thing about it to me was the five shot configuration which would have been rather odd for this gun....and require somewhat altered internals, especially the pawl.
But in any case I am pleased with what I have, it is a very nice looking gun and even the shiny smooth-surfaced nonfluted spare cylinder should give it an unusual look.
