Just ordered a forged frame Uberti 1858 from Taylors.....

[Otony]

...well, I actually ordered it Saturday night late, after staying up and skimming through all the pages on this forum!

Last 1858 I owned was a stainless version back in the late '70s, probably '77 or '78. Bought it in Sunnyvale from Bob Gerbo at the old Huntsman on Murphy Avenue, before he moved to the El Camino Real. That will date me with any SF South Bay Area old timers.

Don't remember who built that one, but it was my first big-bore handgun. Prior to that I owned nothing but .22 handguns (a Ruger Single Six and a Browning Nomad). I somehow decided that movin' up meant goin' old school, and bought the first stainless Remmie to show up in our neck of the woods. Did my first action job on it, and spent hours polishing things just so.

Folks, that was a seriously accurate handgun, and like many fine things in this life, too good for me to have the brains to hang onto. There have been plenty of revolvers since then, but every other cap n' ball in the safe has been a Colt replica for some reason. And hush now, don't spread it around, none of those were as accurate as that 1858.

Don't really know why it took me so long to get around to it, but all your posts had a lot to do with getting another right quick. So I looked over at the Taylors website and picked out a 5.5" forged frame Uberti to go. With a side order of fries! 

Now I need to rustle up a holster, flask, loading stand, and all the other accessories. I just may pick up a set of Gripmaker's faux stags to gild the lily a bit. Man, I am gettin' excited.

Bad influences y'all! 

Otony

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's a great move, pard. I'm tempted to go for one, myself but mine are sooo accurate, I can't imagine anything being better. You will definitely like the Gripmaker Stag grips. I sure like mine. They're next to indestructible. Follow Larry's instructions on fitting and you can't go wrong. I top-sanded mine to reduce the detail a bit and give a slightly different appearance. Be sure to post a pic after you get it.

[Otony]

Well, my Uberti arrived today, and I am simply flabbergasted. What a very nicely finished revolver. The quality is much higher than what I recall of my Ubertis in the 70s and 80s.

While the timing is pretty much spot on, cocking seems a bit heavier than necessary, and the trigger pull is a just a wee bit scratchy. Both condidtions will be addressed soon. I am wondering if the internal parts should be hardened after polishing? This was the norm back in the old days. Are Uberti parts any hader today?

Also, I ordered a set of replacement "Ivory" grips in the finest plastique from N.C Ordnance. Reading between the lines here on the forum, am I correct in assuming that the forged frame Remingtons have a slightly larger grip frame that the older cast frames? I am wondering if my new grips will fit or perhaps be undersized.

I have a holster coming from Gunleather and More, but I believe I will be ordering another from Wayne Zurl. Great looking stuff at reasonable prices.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'm not a metallurgical expert, but I've heard that the Italians use much better steel than 30 years ago or so.  But it's still soft.  I've had no real troubles in the last 10 years or so, if that's any indication.

Congratulations on your new toy!  A little hand stoning and such can produce great results!

[Major 2]

"...Reading between the lines here on the forum, am I correct in assuming that the forged frame Remingtons have a slightly larger grip frame that the older cast frames? I am wondering if my new grips will fit or perhaps be undersized
some what larger and a tad shorter, but not a large as Pietta's oversized grips.

Can't say about NC Ordnance ( only negitive thing about them "I know" is thier poor responce to inquiries )

However Larry Little @ Gripmaker, does have the Forge Frame Grips and they fit with very minor work....

[Cimarron Lawman]

I'm not a metallurgical expert, but I've heard that the Italians use much better steel than 30 years ago or so.  But it's still soft. 

The blued cap & ball steel does seem a little better than in the early days, but not by very much. The stainless guns seem harder -- not as hard as the blued smokeless (cartridge) guns, but harder than the blued cap & ballers. I handled a stainless Pietta/Traditions at the local Gander Mountain and was impressed with the fit and finish. It was built like a tank. It had been handled and cocked a lot, yet the cylinder notches showed little wear, and the drag line was shallow. If it had been a blued Pietta, there would have likely been a gouge for the drag line and the leading edge of the notches would have been peened.

I'm told that Uberti's blued steel is a bit harder than Pietta's blued steel. But probably not by much.

A Remington at the EMF showroom:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21156.0.html

I want one.