'72 Open Top

[Michael 'Deadwood' Clemons]

Howdy boys. Im new here. Ordered a '72 Cimmeron Army grip Open Top and outta have it tommorrow. Chuck Burrows is doing me up some riggin's,,,,
How is the quality on the Cimmerion '72 Army open tops? I ordered mine in .44 Special.
Iv shot all my life,,but just now gettin' into the reenactment kinda thing. Have been an 18th century flintlock shooter/reenactor for years,,but,,,got more of a 'west' interest now.
Open tops to me,,just have an ambience that no other gun in the world has.
Hope im welcome here,,ya'll seem to have a really good forum guys.
The Preacher  (Michael)

[Pettifogger]

The fit and finish on the Open Tops is  generally pretty good.  The only real problem area is the crummy factory firing pins.  Very slender and pointed.  Tend to puncture primers and bend easy.  If you are going to shoot it in competition you need to replace the firing pins with these:  http://thesmithshop.com/openfire.html

[Michael 'Deadwood' Clemons]

Ill keep the firing pin prob in mind. Thank you for pointing out this weakness.
The OT 'should' arrive today. If so, ill have another post tonight with my thoughts about it.
I just love the OTs ,,but may in the future have a SAA for 'harder' work. 
USAF, Colt, Colt clones,Remmingtons,S & W.s, Winchesters!!,,,so many guns, so few hands !!!!! and,,,,so little money !!!!
My friend just got his OT of the same thing two days ago, and is very happy.
Hope this is a good'un. We ordered the last two Bruder Dave had in stock.

[Dusty Morningwood]

A fine choice of both revolvers and chambering.  You can also shoot the .44 Colt and Russian in that piece.  Match them up with a 1866 in .44 spl and you have about as close to an authentic matchup as you can get off the shelf.  Shoot the .44 Colt in both and even closer!

[Michael 'Deadwood' Clemons]

Dusty,,,guys,,thanks. Got it today,,,and I gotta say,,im afarid im gonna be a open top addict. I LOVE the non-fluted cylinders anyways,,always have.
Gonna shoot it very soon,,but the quality is supurbe i think. Im totally pleased.
Dusty, thanks for the cartarige suggestions. Ill sure consider just that.
The Preacher

[Nine Toe Jim]

The fit and finish on the Open Tops is  generally pretty good.  The only real problem area is the crummy factory firing pins.  Very slender and pointed.  Tend to puncture primers and bend easy.  If you are going to shoot it in competition you need to replace the firing pins with these:  http://thesmithshop.com/openfire.html

I'll back Pettifogger on the firing pins. I was unhappy with the one that came with my 1872 and ones I ordered from VTI were much the same. I got one from the Smith Shop and it's great. Other than that I'm sold on the 1872 and the RM conversion I have.

[Michael 'Deadwood' Clemons]

Jim,,if there is one weak area it might indeed be the firing pin. Looks very shapre and,,not substaincail. I am thinking of changing it out even before it causes me any problems. Othere than that, im sold on OT's and Conversions to. Just love the aura of them,,,,
Thanks for all the encourgaing words boys, im in this for the long haul and probably an open top diciple!!
The Preacher

[Shotgun Steve]

 Howdy Folks
I'm new here and I'd like to say STORM appears like a fine place to sip some coffee and set a spell.
My question is about the .44 Colt. Dusty you said we could fire the .44 Colt round out of these .44 spl Open Tops?? I have been told by one fella that I could and by another fella that said I could not. Can any of you folks clear this up for me? Thanks in advance.
Shotgun Steve

[Tuolumne Lawman]

You can fire current production Black Hills or other modern loaded 44 Colts in a 44 Special.  They are loaded with .430 dia bullets.  The moder .44 Colr conversions have a .430 bore.

The original 44 Colts for original cartridge conversions were healed bullets (like a 22 LR) with a .442-450 diameter, as the original colts were .451 bore in the grooves, and about .44 on the lands.

[Shotgun Steve]

Thanks Lawman!! I appreciate the information. That clears that up.
Take care,

Shotgun Steve