New guy looking to buy a Uberti cap & ball open top.

[Inman]

Hi,

I am new around here but not new to the percussion revolver, I have been shooting them since 1979 and most of that time it was with a Ruger Old Army. My passion, however, is the Colt designed open top cap & ball gun. Unfortunately my first experiences were with a couple of second generation Colt 1860 Army models that both fell apart so I held my nose and bought the Ruger and although that first KBP-7 has never failed me in 25 plus years of shooting I still lust for the Colt design.

Over the years I have acquired three Uberti built Colt knock offs of varying quality and now my life will not be complete without a '62 Police. I have been shopping the usual vendors like Navy, Dixie, Taylor's et. al. and am a little confused. Cimarron claims that their Uberti's are better than everyone else's Uberti's but they will not say why. Taylor's and the others have nothing much to say and now I find that this new Uberti, Benelli, Stoeger consortium has an in house service facility here in the USA, which I think is a refreshing change, but they say that they will not service any revolver that was not sold by this Benelli-Stoeger-Uberti outfit. I took a look at their list of dealers and do not see Dixie, Navy, Taylor's or Cimarron on it, so, if you are still with me on this, here are my questions:

1) Is there any real difference between the Uberti revolvers that all these guys claim to sell?
2) If none of the usual Uberti dealers are Benelli-Stoeger-Uberti dealers what are they selling?
3) Where is the best place to by the 1862 Police of my dreams? You know, that is the one that always shoots a five shot group of one ragged hole regardless of my efforts? ;-)

Thanks for your consideration. I have been reading these pages for a few days now and I really enjoy the depth of interest shown here in regard to my favorite six guns.

Inman

[Dusty Morningwood]

The new Ubertis are real nice.  I have a 61 Navy, but am sellin it since I bought a couple of 2nd Gen. 51s.  But the New Ubertis, both Army and Navy models, all seem pretty good.  Not sure it really matters who you get them from, they are all built by the same guys.  Good luck.

[bobwill]

I'm thinking about picking up an Uberti or Cimarron ball and cap.  I'm tossing it around along with buying a cartridge conversion model.
I saw that Texas Jack's has the Cimarron Leech & Rigdon model (effectively a clone of the 1851 that the confederacy produced) on sale for $239.  I guess if you're looking for a good first bp gun that seems to be a good one to start with.  I was actually going to start a thread asking if there was any reason to not consider it; but, I think I'll try threadjacking and ask it here.
I know that the real Leech & Rigdons had brass frames; however, this one seems to be of case hardened steel.  It looks like the only difference from the regular 1851 model is that they put a round barrel on it.
http://www.texasjacks.com/BlkPowder/CA003-LeechRigdon.htm

[Flint]

bobwill,

The Leech & Rigdon did have an iron frame, not brass.  I believe the Rigdon-Ansley was also iron framed.

The only feature I see not authentic is the capping groove in the repro. the original just had the scoop cut.  I have one just because it's a bit different from the standard 1851.  I also picked up Uberti's London and squareback revolvers to fill out my collection of Uberti Navy repros.  I have not, however, bought any brass framed guns.

See this pic of an original:     http://www.civilwarpreservations.com/newmus86.html

Most of the Confederate navies were made by Griswold & Gunnison, and they were brass framed. 

Inman,

The Ubertis sold by various distributors are all basically the same gun, except for the barrel stamping, which is marked Cimarron on their guns,for instance, but they come in an Uberti box.  What the requirement for a shop selling Ubertis to be an authorized Benelli/Beretta/Stoeger dealer has done, effectively, is reduce the sources for the consumer.  It was not a smart move IMHO.  Ubertis can be bought online from Cimarron, Taylors, EMF, Dixie Gun Works and others, and being cap & ball, do not have to be delivered through an FFL except in some #$%^&* states, and theere are states that Cabelas and Midway will not even ship to.

The 1862 Pocket Navy and Pocket Police can be ordered from most of the online sources, I see them listed after the Armys and Navies on Taylor's website.

http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/bpArmyNavy.tpl

I know you're looking for Ubertis, but I will mention that the Pietta 1862 Navy is really a short barreled 6 shot 1861 Navy, rather than the 5 shot pocket pistol it is supposed to be, so don't let the price lure you if you want a real '62.

[bobwill]

Oh, I guess that Griswold and Gunninson is probably the one that I was familiar with.

[Inman]

O.K so it sounds like price and availability are the only considerations when shopping for Uberti percussion revolvers.

I did some looking around on the net and find two sellers offering the 5 1/2" 1862 Police for $265.00 plus shipping. One is the Possible Shop and the other is Buffalo Arms. I have never done business with either of these outfits. Do any of you have any strong feelings about either of them, one way a the other?

Thanks for your help.

Inman

[Dusty Morningwood]

Buffalo Arms is a top shelf outfit.  I buy all of my reloading supplies from them.  I would hve bought some c&b revolvers, but they were backordered.  I have heard good things about The Possible Shop.  Never traded with them, though.

[Tionesta Toby]

I know you're looking for Ubertis, but I will mention that the Pietta 1862 Navy is really a short barreled 6 shot 1861 Navy, rather than the 5 shot pocket pistol it is supposed to be, so don't let the price lure you if you want a real '62.

This is true.  Both 1862s made by Pietta (Navy and Police) are built on the full sized 1851/1862 frame - and will accept the conversion cylinders made for the 1851.  The Uberti 1982s are built on the 1848 frame, as were the originals, and will not accept the conversion cylinders.

[Deadeye Dick]

Williams Sports has them shown on their website for $254.95. I've purchased from Williams before and have found them to very accommodating and honest. You might want to try them. www.williamssports.us      phone: 888-232-9227  Dennis and Evelyn Williams

[Deadeye Don]

1) Is there any real difference between the Uberti revolvers that all these guys claim to sell?


Well,  alot of people have asked this same question.  I really dont think anyone has the answer for you.  The folks at Cimarron will swear their Uberti made weapons are superior to the ones that say Taylors sells.  Taylors will tell you they are all the same.  I have bought both Taylors and Cimarron weapons made by Uberti.  I have had good luck with both companies and only one gun from each that I have had trouble with.  Both companies handled the problems well, but I would have to give the edge to Taylors for customer service.  Until such time that Cimarron can actually prove that their Uberti made guns are in some way superior to those carried by others,  I would stick to buying from whoever you can get the best deal from and who has the best after sale service.  For now,  a Uberti is a Uberti is a uberti..is a .....   Safe shooting.  Deadeye.

[Abilene]

Howdy Inman,
The Cimarron C&B pistols are generally cleaner in appearance.  They should have fewer proof marks showing on the barrel and/or cylinder, and they are supposed to be double-polished before blueing.  You can call the Texas Jacks folks and ask them for particulars.  They sell both Cimarron and Uberti C&B's, with the Ubertis priced lower.

[Marshal Deadwood]

I like the,,,eagerness of Taylors to make right,,,heck,,when I had to send an 1860Army back,,they sent me pre-paid shipping lables so I wouldnt be out one penny.

THATS SERVICE !

the LADIES up there know guns too,,,big time.

Marshal Deadwood