Which S.A. Replica Revolver Next?

Which Replica S.A. revolver should I buy next?

  • 1851 Navy Conversion

    Votes: 8 19.0%

  • 1872 Open Top Army

    Votes: 22 52.4%

  • 1877 Birdshead Colt

    Votes: 12 28.6%
  • Total voters
    42
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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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Please, just pick from the poll and not suggest other revolvers. I'm only considering three right now. It's just my preference, please honor it without thread drift.

If you choose to add a comment on why you picked the revolver you voted for it will be appreciated. All three will be considered in .45 Colt only. This is meant to be a fun thread.

I think I'm going to buy the short barrel Birdshead next because I like the look but I can't get the 1872 Open Top out of me head either. What to do since I can't buy both at once right now?

TO CLARIFY:
The third choice, the Birdshead is a 1873 SAA with a Birdshead grip frame. Not an 1877 double action. (Thank you Driftwood Johnson)
 
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The 1872 has also been one of those old west guns I’ve gotta get someday.
 
Need some clarification. By 1851 in .45Colt, are you talking about getting one of the .44cal percussion guns and doing the conversion? By 1877 birdshead, do you mean one of the 1873 replicas with the birdshead grip?

While I have a bunch of Model P's, my preference would run to the topless Colt replicas if you don't already have one but it's really a tough decision to screw up. ;)

I will say that the brass grip frames don't do anything for me and this one will eventually get replaced with steel.

IMG_9506b.jpg
 
CraigC said:
Need some clarification. By 1851 in .45Colt, are you talking about getting one of the .44cal percussion guns and doing the conversion? By 1877 birdshead, do you mean one of the 1873 replicas with the birdshead grip?
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Sorry...

I'm not going to convert the gun. I am talking about a replica of the open top Richards- Mason Conversions done before Colt started manufacturing the 1871/1872 open top revolvers.

Yes, I'm talking about the 1873 SAA revolver with a short barrel and Birdshead grip. I wrote 1877 because that's when Colt started making them (I think)
 
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Just a note, I already have an original Bisley Vaquero in 45 Colt and a pair of New Vaqueros in 38/357 I was using for Cowboy Action shoots.

index.php


index.php
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Yes, I'm talking about the 1873 SAA revolver with a short barrel and Birdshead grip. I wrote 1877 because that's when Colt started making them (I think)
Click to expand...

Howdy

The gun Colt introduced in 1877 was a double action revolver. There are no replicas of it being manufactured.

wm_9544767_zpsb214qclx.jpg




The modern replicas with birdshead grips are fantasy guns. Colt never put a birdshead grip on the Single Action Army.
 
From those choices you have listed I would go with 1872 Open Top Army.

My next choice would be a Cimarron Firearms Thunderer (a single action with a birdshead style grip), with either the 3 1/2" barrel or the 4 3/4" barrel.
 
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Then a .45 would have to be an 1860 Richards-Mason or Richards Type II. The 1851 Richards-Mason is .38Spl only. As DWJ said, Colt introduced the Lightning DA in 1877. Either way, doesn't change my answer. IMHO, the 1871-1872 Open Top is the most refined of the topless Colt cartridge guns and the most user-friendly but all are worth having. Next on my list is the 1860 Richards-Mason.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy

The gun Colt introduced in 1877 was a double action revolver. There are no replicas of it being manufactured.

View attachment 795630

The modern replicas with birdshead grips are fantasy guns. Colt never put a birdshead grip on the Single Action Army.
Click to expand...
Ahh, thank you Driftwood, that clears up a lot. Now I see how confusing my pool can be. Sorry guys, as you see I'm not great in this field.

Is that a Lightning Driftwood?
 
I believe that Colt did made some third generation SAAs with birdshead grips. While true that those were a contemporary Single Action Armies, they are still original Colts.
 
My comment was solely about that the birdshead SAA revolvers are fantasy guns - technically true, but not quite, I believe.
 
I voted for the 1872 Army Open Top, but my preference would be Navy from Cimarron. This is a .38 Special Open Top Navy from Cimarron:

100_9987_zpso1kovax1.jpg

My understanding is that the only difference between the Navy Model and the Army Model in in the grips straps. The Navy Model uses the 1851 Navy grip profile and is brass. The Army Model utilizes the 1860 Army grip and is of steel.

My Cimarron gun has a very slick action, feels very petite in the hand, and is more fun than any .22 revolver that I have. I load very mild .38 Special for the gun and it is just a plain pleasure to shoot. The brass, or nickel silver front sight shows up very well against a black bull's eye target, and the lack of a top strap seems to make the gun point more naturally. And its looks are no slouch, either.

Cimarron offers both the Army and the Navy Models in .38 Special/Colt, .44 Colt, .44 Special/Russian, and .45 Colt.


Bob Wright

P.S. For historical accuracy, the Open Top was only made in .44 Henry rimfire, and in 7 1/2" barrel length.
 
I voted for the Open Top Army. Those are veery cool guns.

About 40+ years ago I saw a pristine nickeled 1877 Colt Lightning in a San Marcos, Texas antique shop - it was priced at $125 (negotiable, of course). Had to pass it up because of a lack of funds (was a poor schoolteacher at the time).

I'd love to have the nearest thing made today, the Cimarron "Lightning", which of course is a single action and not what Colt made in the 19th Century. This nickeled version with fire blue screws really strikes my fancy:

3238552_01_uberti_cimarron_lightning_640.jpg
 
Armybrat

I know what you mean by that Cimarron Lightning striking your fancy as I recall seeing a Beretta Stampede that was also finished with nickel plating with the fire blue screws. It looked fantastic but was priced way out of my reach at the time and of course it didn't last very long in the display case.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Yes.

The Model 1877 Colt came in two calibers, 38 Colt and 41 Colt. The 38 was called the Lightning, the 41 was called the Thunderer. Same gun, two different names for the two different calibers.
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Thank you for the info. The Thunderer from Cimarron in 45 Colt is now high in the running. Nice looking revolver for sure!
 
I voted for the open top ! i bought one from taylors that was worked , it's accurate has the navy grips i prefer , and it's my favorite piece , and one hell of a lot of fun to shoot !
 
ArchAngelCD said:
The Thunderer from Cimarron in 45 Colt is now high in the running. Nice looking revolver for sure!
Click to expand...

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Personally, i do not find that model to be attractive, I much prefer the traditional lines of a Single Action Army with the old plowhandle grip.

2nd%20Gen%207.5%20inch%2001_zpsgoym89ik.jpg




I don't know how much experience you have with the 45 Colt cartridge, but when not shooting mouse farts, recoil can be significant. I usually shoot full house Black Powder loads in my Colts with 250 grain bullets. I do not grasp the gun tightly, but instead I hold it slightly loosely, so the grip rotates slightly in my hand during recoil. This allows the muzzle to rise a bit, while absorbing some of the recoil. This allows me to cock the hammer for the next shot as I lower the gun. I can shoot this way all day long without feeling punishing recoil.

I have never fired one of those single action 'Lightnings' with the birds head grip, but it appears to me that the shape will prevent the grip from rotating in the hand, instead transferring all of the recoil straight back into the hand. No, I have never fired a real Lightning either, so perhaps I am wrong.

I have some experience firing the S&W Russian model, with it's big hump (knuckle) on the grip. The knuckle was specified by the Russians specifically to prevent the gun from rotating in the hand under recoil. It does this very well, the recoil is directed straight back into the hand, without any recoil absorbing effects from a rotating grip. Recoil with the 44 Russian cartridge, which has considerably less recoil than the 45 Colt is not unpleasant. I don't know if I would feel the same if the Russian could chamber my full house 45 Colt loads.

Russian02.jpg




Personally, if I was in your shoes I think I would be looking with favor at an Open Top or a Richards Mason conversion over the 'Lightning'. It appears Uberti does not chamber the Richards Mason conversion in 45 Colt, so my choice would be the Open Top Navy. The Army model has the slightly longer grip shape of the1860 Army, which does not rotate as much in the hand as the grip shape of the Navy model. The same grip shape that was later adopted for the Single Action Army.

https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/products/revolvers/open-top-revolvers/1872-open-top-navy.html



Funny, I see Bob Wright is recommending the same gun. Funny, we often seem to agree on stuff.
 
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