Pietta barrel swap

[Harley Starr]

Could the barrel of a Pietta 1851 Navy be mated to the frame of a Pietta 1861 Navy?

[Pettifogger]

You can, it simply turns the 61 into a 51 Navy.  All the parts are the same except for the barrel and loading lever.

[Harley Starr]

Not only would that make it an 1851 Navy, but it would have the appearance of a London Navy. 
Too bad Pietta doesn't offer their version of the 1851 London Navy.

[Pettifogger]

Sure would.  Unless you already have the all parts, by the time you buy a 61 Navy and a 51 barrel it would be cheaper to buy a Uberti 51 London.  I have four and they are all beautifully finished.

[Rube Burrows]

Sure would.  Unless you already have the all parts, by the time you buy a 61 Navy and a 51 barrel it would be cheaper to buy a Uberti 51 London.  I have four and they are all beautifully finished.

What is the difference in the 51 London and the regular 51? Grip?

[Flint]

The "American" 1851 Navy had silver plated Brass triggerguard and Backstrap.  The London Navy had an iron backstrap and triggerguard, as did the 1861 Navy, and the Colt SAA.  The Colt SAA gripframe was the same as the 1861 Navy.

The Italian made repros use steel for the London and 61 rather than iron.

[Rube Burrows]

The "American" 1851 Navy had silver plated Brass triggerguard and Backstrap.  The London Navy had an iron backstrap and triggerguard, as did the 1861 Navy, and the Colt SAA.  The Colt SAA gripframe was the same as the 1861 Navy.

The Italian made repros use steel for the London and 61 rather than iron.

Thanks for the insight. I had not known that.

[Fingers McGee]

The "American" 1851 Navy had silver plated Brass triggerguard and Backstrap.  The London Navy had an iron backstrap and triggerguard, as did the 1861 Navy, and the Colt SAA.  The Colt SAA gripframe was the same as the 1861 Navy.

The Italian made repros use steel for the London and 61 rather than iron.

Not exactly.  That is the 'conventional wisdom' about Colt's Old Model Belt Pistol of Navy caliber - AKA 1851 Navy.  The real story is somewhat different.

The American 1851 Navies made through the late 3rd models had brass BS/TG.  The late 3rd models all of the 4th models could be had with polished brass, plated brass, blued iron, or plated iron BS/TG.  

All of the Early London models - through about SN 1396 - were made from parts shipped to London by Colt for assembly and all had Brass BS/TG.  The London-Londons models, those that were completely manufactured in England, had Iron BS/TG.  Finally, the Hartford Londons, those that were manfactured in Hartford for the London market, had a mix of Iron and Brass BS/TG.

info from '51 Colt Navies by Nathan L. Swayze