London Navy

[Harley Starr]

Anybody with a Uberti London Navy wish to point out the Pros and Cons of their experience with this piece?

[Pettifogger]

I have four.  Beautiful fit and finish and all steel.  Don't see any downsides compared to a Uberti with brass trigger guard and back strap.  Same poor barrel to arbor fit found on most Ubertis, but once fixed they are great shooters.

[Harley Starr]

Same poor barrel to arbor fit found on most Ubertis, but once fixed they are great shooters.

How did you remedy that flaw Pettifogger?

[Pettifogger]

http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?topic=7988.0

[Major 2]

I just took one in trade ... its a 61 Navy London model ...very nice piece, it was unfired and has a nice action.

My idea is/was to convert & bob it for a side match pocket pistol...not so sure now


The only flaw IMHO in an otherwise nice Fit & finish  is the Pietta billboard & "BP Only" law card rolled on the barrel    Pietta is want to do 

[Harley Starr]

Is there a strong chance that this problem would show up on the Man With No Name Conversion?

[Coffinmaker]

Unfortunately ............. Yes.  Most if not ALL Uberti Conversions, Open Top and BP guns have very poor Arbor/Barrel fit.  The MWNN conversion is built on the Open Top frame with an 1851 type barrel assembly.  I would be some surprised if one had good arbor/barrel fit.

Coffinmaker

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

What makes an 1861 Navy a "London" model?  Colt no longer manufactured revolvers in London after 1856, 'though they maintained an "agency" there afterwards.  It couldn't be merely possessing an iron grip frame and TG, as brass was also used in London Colts made from parts shipped from Hartford prior to the London factory beginning complete production in 1854.

http://www.theshootists.co.uk/Stories/coltlondon.htm

BTW, the Colt '51 London model was the Canadian cavalry arm from 1855, throughout the Red River campaign in 1870 and only replaced by the 1878 New Army model in 1885.  Stocks remained until the turn of the Century and it seems that holsters for the Navy were used for the 1878 as late as the Boer War.

[Major 2]

Flayderman mentions the 61 London model,  with iron Grips frames marked ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON
page 81 in my copy.

This replica has iron grips frames. 

[Kent Shootwell]

I do enjoy these desecration's on the history of a given model of firearm. Entertaining and ed-ju-ma-ka-tional.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Flayderman mentions the 61 London model,  with iron Grips frames marked ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON
page 81 in my copy.

This replica has iron grips frames. 

I'd say that Flayderman reference could only have applied to an item sold through Colt's "agency".  It could not have been manufactured in London.

[Harley Starr]

How this particular Navy got the "London" moniker escapes me. I am of the opinion that if enough people call it by the same name it winds up with that moniker.

[Fingers McGee]

Is there a strong chance that this problem would show up on the Man With No Name Conversion?

I have a pair of MWNN revolvers that have correct arbor/barrel fit.  The bushing on the front of the cylinder also keeps everything lined up correctly.  If you put the wedge in too far, it locks the cylinder up. Now, I did have to correct a very narrow barrel/cylinder gap on one of them.

I'd say that Flayderman reference could only have applied to an item sold through Colt's "agency".  It could not have been manufactured in London.

How this particular Navy got the "London" moniker escapes me. I am of the opinion that if enough people call it by the same name it winds up with that moniker.

From the CCA web page:  

Some 1861 Navies were shipped to the London Pall Mall Agency from the Hartford factory with iron grip-straps. A very few of these feature the ultra rare barrel address of '-ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON'

I'd say that the same situation holds true for London marked pocket models too.

FM