Swampy, howdy!
The "bad" sights on these C&B revolvers that "everyone" talks about has an historical reason for being. Don't forget that the 1851 and especially the 1860 & 1861 series were made with military use in mind. As most Line-Infantry reenactor types can tell you, "back in the day" (think pre- and during the beginning of the [un]Civil War) the Grunt, issued with a rifle, not a pistol - only officers, Cavalry, and other specialty troops had revolvers, could - starting with a loaded rifle, fire then re-load and fire 3 more times in a one minute time period. This was their performance standard of back then, just as we have "times allowed" for various military tasks today; an example is having 15 seconds to properly put on, clear, and wear the M17 series or M25 series protective soldier's mask. (Gas mask; gag bag, etc.) This is practiced until it becomes 2nd nature (they hope!) Anyway - back to 1860. Concurrently, the general standards for starting the "charge" toward the enemy was approximately 200 yards. In 200 yards a soldier could walk - at "charge" speed which was a fast walk, not running, but close and certainly not moseying. That 200 yard "charge" took around 60 seconds to get from 200 yds to about 75-50 yds from the enemy. Are you seeing the relationship yet? At that one minute mark, one side had advanced from 200 yds to about 65 yds at the same time the opposite men had been able to fire, load, repeat 3 times. Then the OIC (Officer In Charge, NCOIC, MFIC
whomever) would command the standing line to "fix bayonets." It is at this juncture of about 60 seconds, 200 yds. etc. that the officers then had 6 more shots each to keep putting out fire while their men were frantically fixing the bayonet to meet the onrushing survivors.
And now you know why those Martial pistols originally had itty-bitty front sights that were actually MORE accurate beyond 50 yds than the 25 feet or so us 20th Century shooters use them. So an Uberti or Pietta or whoever's replica is simply being historically correct with guns that seem to shoot "so high" for us who shoot at 15 to 50 feet rather than the 25-75 yards that Colt designed them to do.
I hope I haven't ruffled an feathers or bored anyone to death but I enjoy relating this bit of weapon trivia I've learned about. It kinda makes you look at those old coal-burners differently, and I think you can also understand why Colt & Remington and all started putting tall blade sights on their pistols. Then, in a non-military setting, the owner can file down any excess sight he or she doesn't need for the ranges they intend to shoot most commonly.
I can quote no one source for this tale; instead, I've woven it from various sources I heard it from over the last few decades since I got MY OWN 1860 (Uberti) Army and wondered "Why the Hell do I have to aim a foot
under my tincan targets sitting about 20-25 feet away from me?" back in the mid-'70s.
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