OFFICIAL Open Top (1871/72) Thread (post pictures here)

[Graveyard Jack]

Thanks! 

[Slamfire]

 Awwwsum. I'v said it before thas a beauty,where do we get the grips & how much.




Hootmix.

[Graveyard Jack]

Thanks! Those are TruIvory grips from Bar S.

[Harley Starr]

Couple shots of my Cimarron .44Colt with one piece TruIvory. This is one of my favorite sixguns that gets carried and shot quite often. No leather pics for some dumb reason.

Nice finish too.

[Graveyard Jack]

It came out with particularly nice case colors. 

[dusty texian]

Happy Camper ,Just got the call from my gunshop Pard ,said my 72 OpenTop is in . Gonna pick her up in the Morning. Civillian flap holster came in this afternoon. Now waitin for the Ammo hurry up . Wanna here that .44 go bang ......Dusty .

[dusty texian]

Here is my Cimarron .44 Colt Open Top.Ordered it through Buffalo Arms ,and am happy with what they sent.I like it  . ...Dusty

[buckskin billy]

good lookin hawg leg there pard

[Graveyard Jack]

Nice pic too!

[dusty texian]

CraigC I am speachless after lookin at that beauty you have there.Thatun is just Magnifico.Thank's Dusty

[Graveyard Jack]

Here's an update on mine.

"I bought this sixgun several years ago, just before moving to Tennessee. Tom Selleck's westerns had gotten me hot over topless Colt's and Crossfire Trail, made before new replicas were available, was particularly instrumental in my procuring this .44Colt. Did a little slicking of the action, ordered a basket-stamped 1849 Californian from El Paso Saddlery, had it fitted with one-piece TruIvory and proceeded to really get attached to it. Carried it over hill `n dale and packed it near about every hunting season. Things have been going very well for me and I always wanted to have a sixgun engraved. Members here had posted pics of Michael Gouse's work and I was very impressed. I decided to finally have one done and contacted him back in July. Sent it to him in August with instructions to forward it to Turnbull for finish work and got it back today. I don't think I ever waited less than six months for a custom gun so 6wks was quite a pleasant surprise on this one.

It is done in American scroll with 75% coverage. I asked for a sunburst on the recoil shield which I believe is a style popularized by factory Colt engraver Cuno Helfricht. It was finished by Turnbull in full carbona blue with a color case hardened hammer & trigger and nitre blued screws. Words cannot express how happy I am with it. If you've ever dreamed of having one of your guns engraved, I would highly suggest contacting Michael Gouse and making it happen. Life is too short!"

http://www.gousefreelancefirearmsengraving.com/

[Major 2]

OH MY ! 

that right there is just something special.

[StrawHat]

Craig, it is a keeper!  The straw colors on the hammer and trigger are really eyecatching.  May have to ship my Richards out for some engraving.

[Mike]

My mouth is still open.

OMG That is great.

[Paladin UK]

Don't normally like engraving pard  BUT...........



Paladin (Whats changed his mind a tad ) UK

[Graveyard Jack]

Thanks guys!

[Mean Bob Mean]

Wow, just . . .wow

[StrawHat]

While not as fancy as what CraigC shows us, (and I really do like that revovler), I still like this one.

[Abilene]

CraigC, that Opentop is just incredibly fine!  Thanks for sharing.

Strawhat, that is a good looking gun in a nicely arranged picture, but as an 1860 conversion it really should be in the 1860 pictures topic here:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,45955.0.html

[Seth Hawkins]

My digital camera died just recently, so I've had to use my iPhone to take these.  I'm afraid the images aren't that good.  As soon as I replace my camera I'll take some proper pics of them.  'Til then, these will have to do.

When I started this project my goal was to have a pair of guns that would eventually become as close to original Colt 1872 Open Top's as possible in fit and finish.  I think the end result was a success.

There were a number of gunsmiths and artisans involved in this project; an endeavour that took over three years.

About the guns -

Every piece has been hand fitted so that there isn't one line or surface that doesn't mate perfectly.
Every piece has been polished to perfection.  The bluing is wonderful.  When compared to other guns I own there is a marked difference in the bluing due to the polishing and the process used to achieve this finish.
The screws, wedge, trigger and ejector rod head have been nitre blued.
The frame, loading gate and hammer have been bone and charcoal casehardened.
The back strap and trigger guard have been silver plated.
The one piece ivory grips have been hand checkered.  A set of oiled walnut grips were also fitted.
And finally, the guns have been chambered to fire the .44 Henry CF cartridge that I designed.  It's basically a .44 Colt case with a heeled bullet.  I wanted the guns to be historically accurate and be chambered for the same round that the 1860 Henry rifle is (was) chambered for.  I converted my 1860 Henry to chamber a cartridge that uses a .44 Colt case and a heeled bullet that's 0.452" diameter outside measured.  My Henry cartridge uses a 225 gr bullet.  While these guns will shoot it with no problems, the recoil of that round is excessive.  So I use a 165 gr bullet with them to reduce the recoil and prolong the life of the guns.  They are very accurate with either cartridge.

Sorry for the EDIT  but if photobucket won't allow your picture to post, I won't allow them to PIMP their advertisement for ransom



On the left is my .44 Henry CF cartridge using a 225 gr heeled bullet.  On the right is the .44 Colt cartridge using a 165 gr heeled bullet that I use in these guns to reduce the recoil and punishment placed on them.


In the foreground are the Henry and Colt cartridges, and a 12 gauge brass shell.
In the center are a .44 2-1/4" (.44-77) SBN (Sharps Bottle Neck) with a paper patched 407 grn swaged bullet, and a .45 2-1.10" (.45-70) with a 500 grn jacketed soft point.  Both hit like freight trains out of my Sharps rifles.
In the rear are a Randall Toothpick with ivory scales, and a Sambar Stag handled Randall Skinner with damascus blade.
An 1849 Baby Dragoon rounds out the picture.