I have a problem with wanting replicas of guns that I later find out were never made or were not made in that caliber. I want to get a 44cal with a short barrel. I like the 1851 Navy Sheriff, the 1860 Army Sheriff and the US Marshall. The 1851 Navy Sheriff is my favorite of the group. I guess it does not matter too much either way since they are reproductions, but which shorter barrel 44 cals were actually produced by Colt.
Which are actual replicas
- Thread starter jcowan
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Jim Watson
Member
None.
I am not a collector with a large library on the subject, but neither Flayderman nor Haven and Belden have any mention of a percussion Colt with a short barrel from the factory. Any originals you see were gunsmithed. Modern makers build what they think will sell.
Colt percussion .44s were the Walker, the three Dragoons, and the 1860. Barrel lengths 7.5-8 inches.
Colt never made an 1851 pattern revolver of any barrel length in .44 caliber; that is purely an invention of the modern clone labs.
I am not a collector with a large library on the subject, but neither Flayderman nor Haven and Belden have any mention of a percussion Colt with a short barrel from the factory. Any originals you see were gunsmithed. Modern makers build what they think will sell.
Colt percussion .44s were the Walker, the three Dragoons, and the 1860. Barrel lengths 7.5-8 inches.
Colt never made an 1851 pattern revolver of any barrel length in .44 caliber; that is purely an invention of the modern clone labs.
We know that Colt made prototypes of 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 inch barreled 1851 Navy revolvers, but for whatever reason they didn't market them. I suspect that they believed that the small framed 1849 Pocket Model and 1862 Police and Pocket Models of Navy Caliber covered that part of the market, as they could be had with barrel lengths as short as 3 1/2 inches. Also black powder was slow burning and was most effective in longer barrels.
As to which models or versions are true replicas. One has only to post a question on this sub-forum concerning what they are considering, and whatever it is they will soon have an answer.
As to which models or versions are true replicas. One has only to post a question on this sub-forum concerning what they are considering, and whatever it is they will soon have an answer.
messerist
Member
I personally would not object to anyone owning a reproduction c&b revolver, authentic or not. There is a collectors group that collects reproductions. The Replica Percussion Revolver Collector's Association http://members.tripod.com/rprca/Home.html They seem to recognize just about any reproduction as collectible. I like the Sheriff model you referred to and think it is a very nice looking gun. Pietta had a couple "snubbie type" revolvers a few years back built on the 1860 Army frame. One in .36 and one in .44. We sold a lot of them at Cabelas to Cowboy Action Shooters as back-up pieces.
Get the gun you want, shoot it, have fun with it and if someone asks you what original gun it was based on, tell them a "Colt prototype", and you might not be that far off.
I went to the Colt Collection in Hartford, CT last year and I was amazed at what was made by Colt but never produced. A few examples would be a Dragoon with a topstrap, an 1860 .44 with an octagonal barrel, a .70 caliber revolving rifle that was too big to carry.
This is my favorite (not sure if Colt actually made it but someone did):
I went to the Colt Collection in Hartford, CT last year and I was amazed at what was made by Colt but never produced. A few examples would be a Dragoon with a topstrap, an 1860 .44 with an octagonal barrel, a .70 caliber revolving rifle that was too big to carry.
This is my favorite (not sure if Colt actually made it but someone did):
messerist
Member
Sorry I hate to ask but what is that thing on the revolver. I can't make it out.
Rare Prototype Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver With Mershon Hollingsworth Cocking Device
Serial no. 3803, .44 caliber. Standard cylinder and 7 1/2 inch barrel with New York markings. Custom brass frame with case hardened hammer and oil finished walnut grips. Right side of frame with circular German silver fitting inscribed Mershon Holli
Serial no. 3803, .44 caliber. Standard cylinder and 7 1/2 inch barrel with New York markings. Custom brass frame with case hardened hammer and oil finished walnut grips. Right side of frame with circular German silver fitting inscribed Mershon Holli
bigbadgun
Member
There ya go LOL
messerist
Member
Pull the other one!
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