models of Paterson

[William Tell]

it just seems so wrong not having a Paterson. The ones I've seen at Dixie are short and comments are always bad. I realize this is not really good model but it was first. Isn't their a model that has 7 inch barrel and loading lever ? Just imagine the surprise when the Rangers used this revolver the first time .   

[Coffinmaker]

At this point in time there is a single manufacturer offering a Patterson.  Pietta.  ALL the importers sell the same gun, just different rolll marks specified by the importer.  The current offering is .36, 9 inch barrel, no loading lever.  That's it.  The only one.  As good as Pietta guns have become, their Patterson most always comes away with a bad rap.  Pays yer money, takes yer chances.

Coffinmaker

[Professor Marvel]

My Good William -

I hate to deflate your parade.... rain on your balloon? ...
but a brief ( well, a rainy day spent) search of the webs shows us that both the Pietta and Uberti copies of the Paterson are hopelessly....
challenged....
when it comes to actually functioning.

The price paid, and the time 2 of my interweb acquaintences spent on trying to get them to work,
is, well, herculean.

Mike from Down Under has his own apocryphal tale to tell here in CAS City....

One day, just because, I am going to take a "beater" 1851 and remodel it to externally resemble a Patterson. It will look ok from 5 feet away, and in a shadow box. But best of all, it will function reliably.

yhs
prof marvel

[Crow Choker]

Been a while since I've read up on the Patterson's, but weren't the originals suspect themselves as far as reliability. Believe I read once that due to all the internal parts vs the later Colts, they had a lot breakage's and malfunctions. Like the overall looks of the Pattersons, but have never been able to get used to the trigger not showing unless cocked and no trigger guard. Always thought the folding trigger and no guard were a potential weak spot and believe they can be. Like having a loading lever also as the later Colts have. Have only handled a Patterson once and that was one that was a door prize at the now cancelled  Old Trader Rendezvous at McGregor, Iowa around 8 years ago. Interesting gun, like the later Colts much much more. 

[Galen]

What's a early Navy Arms Paterson (3 digit #) worth?

[Coffinmaker]

If you can find someone who absolutely, positively, without a doubt, must on pain of death, just has to have a Patterson, you can probably get the original MSRP back out of it.  If, however, that same individual actually understands just ho much of a pain a Patterson is to make work, not so much.

I remember the few Pattersons I worked on, not too fondly either.  Taking a Patterson apart is like pulling the top off a can of Tinker Toys.  Once working, it may or may not keep running.  I think they do make an excellent three dimensional wall decoration, or if needs be, a fine anchor for a Goose Decoy.

Coffinmaker

[Mike]

Do not bother unless they guarantee it will work, mine is a wall hanger. They are not worth the hours of work to get them shooting.
Buy a picture of one you will get about as much pleasure out of it.

[Major 2]

I had the opportunity to buy a Pietta Patterson once , as new in box, it was Texas model (loading lever tool)
I was briefly intrigued , but chose instead the stab in the eye with blunt stick...

[Pettifogger]

I had the opportunity to buy a Pietta Patterson once , as new in box, it was Texas model (loading lever tool)
I was briefly intrigued , but chose instead the stab in the eye with blunt stick...

You chose wisely ObeWan.

[Professor Marvel]

I had the opportunity to buy a Pietta Patterson once , as new in box, it was Texas model (loading lever tool)
I was briefly intrigued , but chose instead the stab in the eye with blunt stick...

You chose wisely ObeWan.

or you could have chosen the Blow on The Head

[Jack Wagon]

I bought a Uberti Paterson from Cabelas years ago. Except from slightly enlarging the loading opening and a set of Terso nipples it has been a reliable good shooting little gun. It has the charcoal blue finish, 7.5 " barrel and a loading lever. Admittedly, I don't shoot it a lot but I wouldn't part with it.  Jw

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   In January of '96, I bought a F. Pietta "Texas Paterson" from Dixie Gun Works; I had to send it
back, because the cylinder would over-travel occasionally. It was replaced, and I have yet to actually
shoot it. The mechanism seems to be well behaved...
   I believe somewhere in one of the reprints of Beard's, "Black Powder Cartridge Rifles", mention
was made of a gunsmith that adapted a Paterson copy to take a reasonably authentic loading lever;
as I recall, they were rather stubby, shorter than that on the A. Uberti copy. That would be a nice
alternative to disassembly for each loading.
   A "well-to-do" Fur Trader would've carry a Paterson, at least in the fuzzy fringes of my wild imagination;
but that's only because the percussion version of the Tranter .577 Manstopper revolver hadn't been
dreamed up yet...

                   M.T.Marfield