AMERICAN FRONTIER 1851 RICHARDS CONVERSION

[Dusty Morningwood]

I recently saw for sale an AMERICAN FRONTIER 1851 RICHARDS CONVERSION in 44 russian???   Asd said they were produced from 1997-2000.  Never heard of such a critter.  I would buy it if I had the cash to spare.

[Pettifogger]

What was the barrel length and how much were they asking?

[Jake MacReedy]

Dusty,

American Frontier Firearms was Dave Anderson's company, the "original" guy who put together parts made by Armi San Marco and made a rather interesting variety of conversions and Open Tops.  If you get Dennis Adler's book "Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas: A Collector's & Shooter's Guide" there is a section at the end of the book showing a number of Dave's conversions.  They were quite well made and fitted.  I would certainly like to find one myself!  Sadly, if I remember, the company was a victim of his divorce.

Regards,
Jake

[Dusty Morningwood]

Jake:
You think $550 is a good price?  Thing is like new, probably never fired and in its box.  Not being familiar with Dave Anderson's work,I am a bit leery of anything with ASM parts.  But I guess it was not the parts, as much as the labor that sunk the company in later years.  I have a real nice ASM 51 Navy.

[Jake MacReedy]

Dusty,

That price is about right, in my opinion.  The last one of these I saw for sale in Texas, the guy wanted that much for it, and that was about 7 years ago. I have seen only a couple up for sale since AFF went out of business.  Folks seem to want to hang onto them!  If I found one at that price, I would buy it. Dave Anderson did a superb job in building these up, so I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Regards,
Jake

[Fox Creek Kid]

...Sadly, if I remember, the company was a victim of his divorce...

Actually, it was Italian business "ethics" from what I heard from a business associate of his. In essence, the Italians screwed him. They promised him exclusivity and then "whored" out the product to other importers. CAS shooters, being the skin flints that they are, flocked to the lower priced imports which were garbage and the idea was trashed. No one could give them away after a year or two. Dave was an artisan. It was a tragedy indeed. I always wondered what happened to his cyllinder roll engraving machine as he had one.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Here are two AFF conversions for sale.  One is the 51 I mentioned and the other an 1860.  Nice guns, but both are "wrong".  Too bad.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=21282&osCsid=b779e14f552dd1181bd7eea3bf09a10c

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=21215&osCsid=b779e14f552dd1181bd7eea3bf09a10c

Too bad the maker could not have reversed the chamberings.

[Mako]

...  One is the 51 I mentioned and the other an 1860.  Nice guns, but both are "wrong".  Too bad.


...Too bad the maker could not have reversed the chamberings.

Dusty,

Not just the calibers, but the recoil shields on both are wrong.  If they were trying to make a Richards 1st model then the front edge of the recoil shield should fully enclose the rear of the cylinder. The 1860 is sort of a Richards type 1 and type 2 kludge. The 1851 is just an interesting platypus pistol.

~Mako

[Hoof Hearted]

Here are two AFF conversions for sale.  One is the 51 I mentioned and the other an 1860.  Nice guns, but both are "wrong".  Too bad.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=21282&osCsid=b779e14f552dd1181bd7eea3bf09a10c

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=21215&osCsid=b779e14f552dd1181bd7eea3bf09a10c

Too bad the maker could not have reversed the chamberings.

I have 3 or 4 of these pistols and my "1860" is a prototype that has a faux rebate on the cylinder.....
One of them is an opentop and it is pretty dern nice!

If the buyer of that 1860 is a user here, I'd like to know what that leather looking thing is that came in the box.
Thanks, HH

[Abilene]

If the buyer of that 1860 is a user here, I'd like to know what that leather looking thing is that came in the box.
Thanks, HH

I don't see anything in the box for the 1860.  But the "1851 conversion" appears to have a little tool of some sort on a leather thong for poking out empty brass since there is no ejector.

[Captain John Jarrett]

All,

My friend H.B. Brown, Homer (or Honey Bear) to those of you who may know him, purchased the 1851 after I informed him it was for sale. Got to look it over last week and man is it well put together, and the "tool" is a brass key used for extracting the empty brass.

Regards, John.