Just bought an Open Top...What Do I Have????

[rbertalotto]

Went to a Gun Show here in Massachusetts and bought a piece of "unobtainium"......

Open Top revolvers of modern production are not allowed to be sold in MA as they do not pass the "Firearm Safety Act of 1998".

But if they were in the state before 1998 they are grandfathered and are OK to sell. So I picked this little 38 Special beauty up for $400. Which seems high to those of you in the other 49 states, but here in The People Republic of Massachusetts, its a steal!

So, what do I have? Anyone familiar with this revolver?









Lots more pictures here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/things-that-go-bang/open-top-conversion/

[Graveyard Jack]

It's an earlier Cimarron 1851 cartridge conversion made by ASM. Interestingly, its conversion ring is like the 1860 Richards Type I with the rear sight and presumably a floating firing pin. Which was never made originally. The only 1851 cartridge conversions were of the Richards-Mason type. Quality can be hit and miss, many require rebuilding with Uberti or Pietta parts. Yours looks good and has some nice case colors on it.

PS, when we refer to guns as Open Top (capitalized) we typically are referring to the 1871-1872 Open Top model, Colt's first big bore dedicated cartridge sixgun. 

[rbertalotto]

Thanks!

I thought it was an 1851, but the grip frame is slightly different from another pair of Pietta 1851 Navy models I have. And it is different than my 1860 Army models

This grip frame is much more like an 1873 Colt SAA

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[Bonnie_blue1861]

Good find in my opinion. Anything with a Type I conversion is hard to find and this is pretty unique.... Pretty looking gun.

[Abilene]

Nice looking gun, doesn't look like it was used much.  Take very good care of it, since parts are scarce at best.  That's the first one I've seen with checkered grips.

[rbertalotto]

Thanks,

Yea, I'm not a big fan of these checkered grips. Might have to do something about that this winter.

[Slowhand Bob]

Everyone to his/her own but I do not like the look of checkered grips on the cap and ball  but often the proof is in the pudding.  If good is as good does, checkering definitely enhances the actual shooting of handguns, particularly one handed, and for this reason it has become somewhat more attractive to me.  If the grips were darkened considerably the checkering would not stand out so starkly.

[rbertalotto]

If the grips were darkened considerably

Now there is an excellent idea! The other option is these grips are slightly proud of the receiver. I think I could sand them down and remove the checkering entirely and they would only be about a 1/16" narrower.

But the best solution will be to make a new set of grips out of a nice piece of walnut I have in the shop.

Good winter project.............

[Bonnie_blue1861]

If you decide to part with those grips, I'm guessing as much as they might not work for you, someone would want them.

I kinda like them, but agree if they were a little darker and a dull finish, they would look just a little better matched to the gun, in my opinion.

Or, you could just swap on a regular smooth grip and sell that grip, if you find there just not your style.

[rbertalotto]

anyone know who would make grips for this revolver?

[PJ Hardtack]

The grip frames of the '51 Navy, '60 Army and '73 SAA are interchangeable, so finding grips should be no problem.

[Coffinmaker]

Armi San Marco grip frames and trigger guards are slightly different dimensionally than any one else's.  I wouldn't go sanding on them to quickly 'cause there's someone out there that wants them.  Eagle Grips can ate grips for you, or just make your own,

Coffinmaker

[RickB]

Looks like you have the same make and model I have. I bought mine at a gun show in March for $300. Mine is in .38 Colt but from asking the gents here their opinions and knowledge I found that I can use .38 Specials in it as long as they are not +P. I bought a bunch of .38 Special Ultramax for it and they are loaded light for Cowboy Action Shooting so they should work great.

Here is some pictures of mine. I was lucky on the grips. They were what attracted me to the gun when I first saw it.

[rbertalotto]

NICE!

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've seen a lot of Open Tops fired over a long time period. The ones that hold up best are those fired with Black Powder. If you are an avid reloader you could cut cases short and use less powder. For CAS a round ball ought to give you enough accuracy.

[RickB]

I do reload but I don't shoot black powder. I'm a smokeless shooter.

[wildman1]

I do reload but I don't shoot black powder. I'm a smokeless shooter.

Better than bein a shootless smoker.  Hey Rick good ta see ya back. WM

[Slowhand Bob]

Tis tis tis, it might not be the greatest market in the world BUT I think there would be a market for someone like Pietta to step into with this reproduction.  Simply utilizing the cap and ball frame from their Navy Sheriffs Model they could easily cobble up a five shot .45 Richards style revolver.  As I understand this from a long past conversation with Raven, the two missing elements from what is already out there, would be the Richards style plate and a new hammer.  If pressure is a problem, either heat treat them to modern specs or limit them to the shorter black powder rounds- 44Rus or the newer 45special.  If 44 were selected, it might allow six but would make a differnent barl necessary also.

[RickB]

Thanks WM. I stop by now and then.