Pietta .44 Navy caliber change?

[Highland Drifter]

I have one of the brass framed Pietta .44 Navy revolvers and would like to make something out of it that is closer to period correct.
This frame has a step in the water table, would a .36 cylinder and barrel fit this gun? I think if they would the gun would resemble a Griswold & Gunnison.

[Coffinmaker]

Depends (no, not Those Depends).  It will depend on how old/new the "added" parts are.  Older Pietta parts are not necessarily comparable with Newer Pietta parts.  Some differences in overall dimensions and machining tolerances. 

Provided the original complete gun and the new donor parts were made in the last 6 - 8 years, it should be "close" to plug-n-play.  May be some problems with barrel to cylinder gap.  The actual center axis of the Chambers and Bore are the same.  There may be minor alignment problems with the locator pins in the bottom of the frame.  The step in the water table will be visually quite noticeable. 

[Highland Drifter]

Thanks for the info Coffinmaker.
I think this one was made in 1980. It has AF in a box on the right side of the frame after two proof marks. Maybe I will find some older parts one day.

[Fingers McGee]

Contact Sourdough over on the blackpowdersmoke.com Colt Country forum.  He likes to mix and match Pietta parts.

[Major 2]

I suppose I'm being a devils advocate in asking "why"

I mean I saw where you wrote "....would like to make something out of it that is closer to period correct "

isn't it just folly to spend further money on it and still had the step water table profile and probably a Texas Navy engraved 36 cylinder ?

[Highland Drifter]

There is probably no way around the water table. Cabela's has unengraved cylinders for $50.00. A used barrel shouldn't be too expensive. Maybe $100 for both? Could possibly find a used pistol for that though.

[Coffinmaker]

   Harrumph   

Allow me to improve your outlook.  There is NOTHING even close to being "Period Correct" (Gawd but I hate that term) about a Pietta Brass Framed 44 caliber Navy.  Nope nada.  Even the grip shape is way wrong. 

You can however, fix the water table problem (since we're spending your money) by sleeving the cylinder down to .36 and grafting a date similar barrel on.  You are going to be surprised for how much barrel assemblies are going for these days.  Drop by eBay.  On eBay you can even source a correctly shaped grip assembly (still spending your Money).  Follow my lead and I can get you well beyond the cost of a new production Steel Frame .36 Navy and you'll still be stuck with a swell "Never Never." 

My suggestion.  Just enjoy the 44 Navy for what it is.  A brass frame never never that is really fun to play with and if you still absolutely must have an almost nearly correct '51 Navy, bite the bullet and shop Dixie, or Cabellas, or Midway, or EMF and order up a swell new correct '51 Navy.  I'd even go so far as to recommend EMF and the Capt. Schaeffer Replica.  It's cheaper in the ing run.  True Me.

[Major 2]

   in other words t'waz my point precisely....

Part out the 40 year old wall flower for the best return on your money and order a  new Pietta steel frame 51.

Even if the old brassier was a sentimental gift it would bring maybe $75-$125 tops even with the box should you have it. 
however, Pieced out frame - grips - barrel- cyl. on eBay you might see $150 +


current price 

The Pietta Model 1851 Navy steel frame  .36 Caliber Black Powder Revolver with brass backstrap and trigger guard celebrates the wild West. Barrel length: 7.5?. OAL: 13.25?. Wt: 2.625 lbs.
Item: IK-210079
$259.99

and it ships free

or bite the bullet buy the new 51 Navy and wall hang the old sentimental brassier

[greyhawk]

I go with Major (kind of) not much point trying to traditionalise this gun - go shoot it until one or other of you gets tired of that - then sell the parts - get another one .
I was amazed how cheap and easy they were last time I visited (2013) - saw new steel capguns sitting on a shelf out in the middle of the store in Cabelas for a tad over two hundred bucks -------the same thing here was over six hundred plus permit fees plus a heap of aggravation and then ya only allowed to shoot it in a competition at the pistol club.

[Bunk]

A Capt. Schaeffer 1851.36 Navy is a pretty good copy of a real gun and is a show stopper. Plus being real fun to shoot.
It is a bit of trouble to load on the gun, but a piece of cake to load off the gun.

paste this to you tube and watch Bottom Dealing Mike shoot his.
I enjoy mine and shoot them a lot.
Bunk

[Coffinmaker]

If Mike Belliview gets any wider, he's going to need a camera with a somewhat wader focal length lens.