Guess what I got Sat ?? Sounds like (51)

Mason Stillwell · May 13, 2007, 08:58:20 PM

Yep Brand new in the box still with the Olive Oil on it a Brass Frame 51 that is a HONEY !!!!!!!!!!

Slick as all get out.

Now I have 4 of the Brass frames I am a Happy Camper.

We had a swap meet at our night shoot and a pard had this one even lower than the Midway USA Close out price

YE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Mason(Happy Camper ) Stillwell

I know this photo is dark. I'll try to take another that is lighter

Dick Dastardly · May 13, 2007, 09:08:26 PM

Ho Mason,

Congrats Pard.

Now, lay 'em on a white pine plank and take a photo of 'em so we kin all all enjoy 'em.

DD-DLoS

Mason Stillwell · May 13, 2007, 11:11:40 PM

Dick I'll get that done asap. Maybe even tommorow.

This one has the signature on the grip. it is fit and finish perfect.
Mason

Mason Stillwell · May 17, 2007, 05:29:44 PM

Took the 51 apart and it is just as nice on the inside as out. Will shoot it Saturday with Payson. Will have to order a set of TRM nipps for it.

Mason (Happy Camper ) Stillwell

Mason Stillwell · May 21, 2007, 07:16:05 AM

Shot my new 51 Sat at the match. I took it out Friday evening and shot it BUT it liked #10 caps SOOOO all my other guns have #11 nips . Cactus Cris had a set of #11 nipps so on the gun they went.

I shot it Sat in the match. Priceless !!!!!!!!! It just shot and shot with no hiccups.

WOW those 51's sure point nice.

I just got to get me a set of holsters made just for them.

Mason ( Happy Camper) Stillwell

rifle · May 21, 2007, 08:20:53 AM

Mason, why the affinity for the brass framers? You a rebel?

Anywhooo.....how do they hold up fer you? The ring on the recoil shield get any deformation from the cylinder wackin it? I'm a brass framer affacionado too. I've only got one though. It's an old CVA 36cal. and I've been planning on up grading to one of the Piettas. I like the way Pietta bottoms the arbors in the barrel. No pinched cylinders from getting a wedge in too far since the wedges can't go in too far.

I just worked on one fer a pard. Needed a front sight dovetailed but also needed a problem fixed where as the wedge wouldn't go in far enough(just almost to the off side but the spring couldn't hook the barrel) to not pop loose after a coupla cylinders. Someone must have felt like if the barrel went on further the wedge would go in further so they drilled the barrels arbor hole. I made some shims to go in the barrels arbor hole to bottom the barrel on the arbor. That wasn't the problem though. The reason the wedge wouldn't go in too far but seemed rock solid was because it was rock solid stuck in the arbor slot that was too short on the back side. The wedge would get stuck in the arbor before it could cinch the barrel tight enough and ...... the rear of the barrels slot was back too far so the wedge didn't actually contact the rear of the barrels slot much at all. I just used a diamond file to file the rear of the arbor slot out of the way so the wedge pushed on the rear of the barrel slot to cinch the barrel up tight. I left the wedge just short of it's spring catching on the off side of the barrel since it'll seat in and go in a tad further with a little shooting. Why mention this to you? Well....someone may run across the problem and remember that with Piettas the arbor slots are sometimes too short at the rear. I've seen the problem more than once.(not a lot though) Might want to check yours.

See ya Bud.

Mason Stillwell · May 21, 2007, 09:24:45 AM

Am I a Rebel ? YOU BET !!!!!!!!!!

I love the brass frames. I have shot them lots. More than most ever fire from a brass frame and no problems. I do however load lighter than most. I do not shoot hunting loads from my brass frames. I load 15 measured grains of FFFG and a round ball and I can take down the knockdowns with ease. Why load up hotter

Thanks for the info Pard
Mason

Almost forgot . My new 51 is the Hartford model from Pietta. WOW great gun !!!!!!!

Steel Horse Bailey · May 21, 2007, 01:04:42 PM

Good on ya, pard!

Them brass frames sure look purdy, don't they!

rifle · May 22, 2007, 12:07:06 AM

Steel Horse, yer right. The brass framers are purty. I like em when they get tarnished though too. I wish they were made in bronz like the Henry rifles. I have the 36cal. and load it like any other "51" with the standard 22gr. FFFg. I've tested mine with loads of 27gr. FFg 777 and as high as 25gr. FFFFg. I have a modification to mine whereas I soldered a thin rimmed bushing around the ring on the recoil shield to act as a thin steel backplate. Had to hone the nips shorter and file the safety pegs off. It just keeps a'shootin. I've checked with more than several people about the longevity of the brass framers and people say they "hold up". Anywhooo...that movie,"Ride with the Devil", has more brass framers in it than any other movie I've ever seen.

Noz · May 22, 2007, 08:34:54 AM

I did a muzzle loading rifle kit a few years back and the manufacturer recommended taking a fired patch, moistening it and rubbing all of the brass. This speeds the tarnish process and gets to authentic color faster. No working cowboy wanted something that was going to flash in every stray sunbeam.
The brass on the old guns was there because it was cheaper than steel, not to be pretty.

rifle · May 25, 2007, 09:46:57 AM

Nozzzle, That burnt with blackpowder would tarnish even an angles wings.

I think when a brass framer tarnishes naturally it's the oxidation process taking place. I'd reason that the process could be hastened with heat. Like heat the frame red in the "atmosphere" outside,or in the workshop and just let it air cool. That would tarnish it too much maybe. Putting the frame in a pile of red glowing coals and fetching it out the next day when the coals cool would tarnish one. I bet that putting the frasme on a pile of blackpowder and burying it over the top with powder and setting it off would tarnish it.

Bob Millington of ArmSport LLC would be able to give some hints as to tarnishing brass since he does antiquing jobs on cap&ballers and the conversions he builds. He may not give up his trade secretes though. Tarnishing brass to be like a natural 100year+ finish is difficult and he's stated that in some article I've read with him commenting on things. I know I've taken a few of those old soft San Marcos brass framers and had my farmer neighbor braze closed the arbor threads on frames so I could redrill and retap threads for an arbor when the threads pulled out. The heat from getting them hot enough to melt brass back in the frames arbor hole really does a quick antiquing job on those brass babies. Real bummer when the frame has to be re-polished. Brass really needs to be polished back down with some real fine grits to put it back nice and shiny.

I guess the best way to tarnish a brass framer,after all the negatives are counted, would be to go out and shoot the bezezers out of the dang things and let that tarnish them . Yep that would be my favorite way to antique a brass framer. Just shoot the bezezers out of the dang thing and never repolish it.

I've seen antiques that had the brass and the nicest tarnish on them is that kinda brown mellow oxidation that lots of years put to them. I would imagine that if a shooter took "Brass Black" solution and blacked the frames or any brass and then just let it kinda wear off(since it doesn't stay real black with use) it would look pretty naturally tarnished after awhile. That's if the black wore off and left a brown mellow color. Anywhooo....I'm glad Pietta makes their brass framers with something harder than the old San Marcos that must have been made of the soft brass. There's yellow brass and white brass and one is harder than the other. Fergit which one is the hard one though. I'd guess the darker one. The one called yellow brass. Just a guess. I fergit too much anymore. I suspect that Pietta makes their brass framers with some sort of hardened brass that had zinc or antimony or something added at the foundry to make it harder. Brass can't be hardened with heat like steel but has to "work" hardened like when it's extruded into brass tubes and such. The only way to work harden brass frames would be to forge them into shape and I don't know if anyone does that with them. Uberti forges some of their steel framers now.

Dick Dastardly · May 25, 2007, 11:32:14 AM

One advantage of dissimilar metals in one assembly is that they tend to self lubricate and don't gall as easily if run without lubrication. The different metals will tend to polish each other when they wear and the assembly (your 51) will run smoother.

That's not to say that you ought not to lubricate yer guns, it's just one good reason for not using the same metal throughout.

DD-DLoS

Pony Racer · May 28, 2007, 05:08:26 PM

I had been led to believe that brass framed handguns would not hold up to CAS shooting.

I had always thought it would be cool to get a rebel naval uniform and some brass handguns.....hmmmmmm

How have the guns stodd up so far??

PR

Four-Eyed Buck · May 28, 2007, 06:38:08 PM

The brass framed ones will stretch eventually under heavy loads. Just ask Driftwood. Under reduced loads, they should hold up fairly good. Brass grip frames shouldn't be a problem.....Buck

Mason Stillwell · May 28, 2007, 08:52:24 PM

Well I am still shooting my Brass Frames. Gonna shoot them up at Payson weekend after next.

We ( I repeat) are not shooting Elephants !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 gr of FFFG will work

Mason

Pony Racer · May 29, 2007, 08:14:23 PM

Heck 15-18 is what I usually shoot out of my steel framed 51's - so I am with you there MS!!

I have gone up to 1.3cc's for my 38spl cartridge guns - I think that is closer to like 22 grains if I remember my conversions right.

Did you smooth them at all or shot them out of the box?

PR

Mason Stillwell · May 29, 2007, 10:31:06 PM

I did nothing to mine except change the Nipps to Tresco's and install a blade front sight. So they dont shoot high.

Mason

Pony Racer · June 13, 2007, 08:26:10 PM

Mason how are them shiny brass pistols!!??

I just had three cylinders done a piece done up for my steel framed 51's - but when it is pistol buying time again I might just have to get some brass framed ones too.

Course then I need to buy a Rebel Navy Uniform.

Hmmmmmmm decisions decisions!!

PR

Dr. Bob · June 14, 2007, 12:25:20 AM

Pony Racer,

Ya can't have too many uniforms!!

Or too many guns, for that matter! I've only got 14 [?] going from 1804 to 1945. 1 Brit. and 13 various US. War of 1812, Mexican War, Indian War, WWI & WWII. Was in the US Army and won't do CS. Just me.

Rube Burrows · June 20, 2007, 07:27:45 PM

Quote from: Dr. Bob on June 14, 2007, 12:25:20 AM
Pony Racer,

Ya can't have too many uniforms!! Or too many guns, for that matter! I've only got 14 [?] going from 1804 to 1945. 1 Brit. and 13 various US. War of 1812, Mexican War, Indian War, WWI & WWII. Was in the US Army and won't do CS. Just me.

That is whats so good about the American Civil War.....so many years later and it still has people choosing sides.