Cabelas-Pietta 1851 Navy Rebel Flag models

[Stacey Lee]

Hi yall,
Recently purchased two matching pistols from Cabelas. Piettas 1851's of course. They are the commemoritive Rebel Flag models in .36 cal.
The inlaid flag on the white grips is slightly different than what is pictured on the web-site , and not as nice as the picture. I re-did the paint in each grip to correct colors of the period, looks right now. Also had to do the stars, they we not right either. This being my only complaint of the entire pistol mind you, but a rather important one, for the price. I did catch them on sale for $200 each, but I expect $200 worth of pistol without me having to Smith on these arms. I figure for $200 I am ok with the grips not being just perfect. They are now with just a few hours of detail painting.
Fit and finish on the entire rest of the gun is pretty flawless. Color-case hardening color is beautiful on these two pistols, and alot nicer than the standard case hardening on other Piettas done in the 1851 Navy models I have owned or seen. Although, like the picture on the web-site at Cabelas, they are not that nice . But they are nice, very colorfull case-hardening.
Blueing was exceptional, especially after polishing with Nuvite Aronautical Metal Polish. Light buffing with stuff gets all the crud from the blueing process out and leaves a mirror gloss.
Brass trigger guard and backstrap was good to real good. Finish on them was better than lesser models I have owned and seen too.
All in all, for $200 you can't go wrong, but for $269 normally, I would hesitate unless you really want one.
I am totally happy with them now, and even went as far as ordering Colt medallions from Brownells ( via-Anaconda .44 Mag. model meddalion grips) to give it that genuine look of a true Colt on the grips. I inlaid the medallions off the Anacondas grips, so they now have the Nickle plated Rampant Colt where they belong on the white synthetic grip. Looks cool too with the Confederate Flags and the Colt medallions .
That is a $40 plus dollar upgrade just to get the Medallions, and an hour of inlay time for me, plus epoxy to hold them there, although they are pressure tight inlays anyway. Well worth the money and time to make these two fine looking pistols look as good as I know Pietta 1851's shoot.
Now I want to do a conversion to .38 Colt on one of these with loading gate too. That will look and be nice in my highly silvered double holsters belt set.
My recomendation is pretty high for these guns, but try to get the good price while it is available.

Cheerios and Fruitloops too, Sincerely, Stacey Lee

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks for the review!