New Found Opentop

[HorsePen Henry]

Found a new Open Top by accident today. I went in a shop today looking for a perticular item and spied this little jewel. I snapped 'er right up. She locks up tight and the trigger pull is nice and crisp. It's by Uberti and has the Cimarron stamp on the top flat.

Question: When did these Paterson revolvers begin to have the loading lever on the barrel like a Walker?  Here is a picture of the pistol below:



Thanks,

X Horse Pen  #300

[Flint]

Near the end of Colt production, and used by the Ehlers Company that bought the Colt stock after the bankruptsy, the loading lever design with the rear catch was used on the Walker when Colt went back into business.

Since the Walker design is so similar, I would presume Colt designed the Patterson loading lever, and the pricelists showed loading lever equipped pistols available, written by Ehlers when he was a Colt employee (Treasurer) and Ehlers bought the remaining stock, producing the pistols himself after Colt went out of business.

Considering the smaller caliber of the Pattersons, I doubt they had the lever dropping problem the Walker has, with its heavier recoil, so the weakness of the design only showed up in use, forcing the change incorporated in the Dagoons.

Note the shape of the Dragoon lever is the baseball bat of the Walker with the front cut off to install the new catch.  Tooling and parts stock was never wasted.

[Pettifogger]

That is down right cool.  You see very few Pattersons with a loading lever, especially Ubertis.

[piebiter]

Congratulations...thats quite a find.

[Henry4440]

Wow, never saw an Paterson with a loading lever before.
Very interesting.

[St. George]

You'll see the Paterson Pocket Pistols with loading levers - while most ot the Belt Pistols were without.

When found, they'll have the rounded cylinder and a cut on the recoil plate to facilitate capping.

Incidentally - the term 'Open Top' only refers to the Model 1872 Open Top .44's that immediately preceded the Colt Single Action Army of 1873, and of course the little 'Open Top' vest pocket revolver in .22.

Anything else is a 'cartridge conversion' - even those done at the Colt factory and at the Armory.

Look at Sutherland's - 'The Book of Colt Firearms' - for examples.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[HorsePen Henry]

St. George,

Thanks for the lesson on the wordeology. I just figgered "Open Top" was a nickname for the Colts with no backstrap. I appreciate ya settin' me straight.

Many thanks,

X Horse Pen

[St. George]

De nada.

Given the short time frame of use of the Paterson - it was quicky superseded by the Dragoons and the Navy before the Civil War - a beaded Slim Jim would be a great holster for it, since they probably saw more action in the Southwest, and Taos produced some fine beadwork.

Just a thought - but if you're looking, check with Chuck Burrows of Wild Rose Trading Co., - www.wrtcleather.com - I can recommend his work.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[HorsePen Henry]

I have ta agree with ya. Chuck is one fine artist.

X Horse Pen

[Pettifogger]

Wanna see something super cool?  Take a gander at this!

http://www.antiqueguns.com/auction/item.cgi?robles/robles-35011

[Leo Tanner]

Wanna see something super cool?  Take a gander at this!

What's a kidney worth these days, I gotta spare.  Might have ta throw in the extra lung too ta meet that price.

     What a beaut!


Leo

[Charlie Bowdre]

OMG>>>Is there anything that would send a chill up your back more then a beauty like that.
Thanks for the pic.
Dutch

[HorsePen Henry]

I got mine fer a little less than that!

Thanks for the link to those pictures.

Many Thanks,

X Horse Pen