Putting round barrel on pietta 1851?

[Flatlander55]

Hello all, I just had a wild idea and was wondering if it was possible to put a 5.5" round barrel on a Pietta or Uberti 1851 Navy? In my mind, the best looking replica is a 1862 police, but I am probably one of two who dislikes the fluted cylinder.

It would seem to me that it would cost less for a basic 51' Navy and round barrel than a more expensive model by default and still need a smooth cylinder. Would the swap cause timing issues?

If I were around in the 1860's THAT would be the gun I would want! Outside of the Civil War of course, there I wouldnt mind it's big brother. I'm a sucker for round barrel colts and 5.5" is just perfect to me.

My wife told me no more toys for a while, so when I get the green light I will hit the ground running.

Thanks to all who help.

[Flatlander55]

Oh goodness I totally overlooked the 1861 "sheriff" model!

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=15706&osCsid=o70nj0lpnikiekm928009719b2

All it needs is a brass back strap! Sorry for that, but I am still interested in the possibility of barrel swaps.

[Major 2]

If I follow you...sure it's doable

Pietta to Pietta or Uberti to Uberti would be the way.... not saying you can't cross Utilize  , but why add the fitting issues

This gun started as a Pietta "Hartford" 1861 with a steel back-strap  l, I bobbed the barrel to 3" and fitted the Kirst
gated cylinder, and then fitted a new 51 barrel , for 51 converted London Model.

Perhaps not exactly what you want, but the barrel swap is a snap ... within the same manufacture.

all that was needed ( well )  I defarbed both barrels and lined the the navy barrel to .357 for 38 Special
the Bobbed barrel remains .375 and gets heel bullets.

the incarnation I re-named "Dexter & Sinister"    

[Flatlander55]

Wow those are sharp! That conversion looks amazng. I'm glad to know that barrels are like Lego's. It seems that colts are the 10/22 of the black powder world.

IF any company would currently make a Remington .36 with the right sized frame and a 5.5" barrel  that would be yet another off the shelf pistol on my list. Keep dreaming, I know.

[Abilene]

Flatlander,
I don't think Uberti makes a short barreled '61.  So if you do it with an Uberti and a '61 barrel you will have to cut it down.

As for Pietta, well they obviously make it with the shorter barrel.  But can you find one of those shorter barrels along with the rammer parts to swap onto a standard '61?  VTIgunparts.com only lists the longer barrel and rammer.  So if you are wanting both barrel lengths of an "1851 with round barrel' which means an 1861, then buy the Pietta short barreled '61 like the link above and then buy separate long barrel and rammer, which are available in either round or octagon to make a '51 or '61.  I'm just saying that if you want both barrel lengths, it is going to be easier to find the longer barrel as a separate part than the shorter one.   If you really just want the shorter barrel, buy the short barreled Pietta and be done with it.

My next project is going to be a Cimarron 1860 Type II conversion in .38 with a 5 1/2" barrel.  The way they make it is just wrong as it has a '51 Richards-Mason frame and cylinder on their .38 Spcl Type II's.  So all I have to do is swap on a Navy grip and Voila! it will be a '61 conversion 

[Flatlander55]

Sorry if my posting was confusing. This will probably make it worse, but.... I just figured out the 5.5" 1861 actually existed after my idea to make a 1862 "sherrif" model with a non fluted cylinder that would be my ideal pistol.

The other idea was to buy a 1851 Navy Pietta and a seperate Pietta .36 caliber 5.5" round barrel that fits the 1851 frame. You are right, when the wife agrees I am totally getting a brass backstrapped pistol but I was still wondering if swapping barrels on the same manufacture same caliber pistols would be a safe practice no matter if round or octagonal.

[Coffinmaker]

Ok.  Here ya go.  Pietta makes "all" of their Cap Guns an a basic 1851 Frame.  Rebated for a stepped cylinder to make an 1860.
With an un-rebated 1851 Frame, you can add a Fluted cylinder and short 5 1/2 inch barrel, and Pietta will call it an 1862.
With an un-rebated 1851 Frame you can remove the 1851 barrel assembly and switch to a 5 1/2 inch round barrel and have an instant
1861.  98% of the time there will be minimal fitting required.  Plug and play.  Pietta 36 cylinders are interchangeable.  Pietta .36 barrels are interchangeable.  Pietta Gripframes are interchangeable.  Usually with minimal or no fitting.  Plug and Play.

Uberti.  Not so much.  EVERYTHING will require fitting..

Coffinmaker
(who builds all sorts of Frankenpistols).

[Flatlander55]

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

[Scattered Thumbs]

Hello all, I just had a wild idea and was wondering if it was possible to put a 5.5" round barrel on a Pietta or Uberti 1851 Navy? In my mind, the best looking replica is a 1862 police, but I am probably one of two who dislikes the fluted cylinder.

It would seem to me that it would cost less for a basic 51' Navy and round barrel than a more expensive model by default and still need a smooth cylinder. Would the swap cause timing issues?

If I were around in the 1860's THAT would be the gun I would want! Outside of the Civil War of course, there I wouldnt mind it's big brother. I'm a sucker for round barrel colts and 5.5" is just perfect to me.

My wife told me no more toys for a while, so when I get the green light I will hit the ground running.

Thanks to all who help.

Your sort of talking apples and oranges here. The 1862 police is a pocket sized frame with a 5 shot cylinder. Uberti has a good replica of it. Pieta's version is... well Pietta's version.