OFFICIAL 1851 thread (post pictures here)

[Arizona Trooper]

Got lucky and walked into two deals recently. First was the 49 Pocket, which I was really happy about, then this 51 turned up. It needed some work, which made the price too good to turn down. SN is from 1852. It's not the tightest 51 I ever handled, but it's not bad, and it will shoot. The picture doesn't show it, but there is about 80% silver on the grip straps. It's a keeper for sure!

[The Trinity Kid]

Awwww....C'mon 'Zona.  Your making those of us with repros jealous.

--TK

[Arizona Trooper]

Just keep your ear to the ground and be patient. Once in a while a great opportunity will fall in your lap. I've been lucky more than a few times.

Went to the range yesterday and tried her out. 12gr Swiss FFF and .5cc of filler with a pasteboard card under a 375 ball, which will be a 380 next time. Put a couple in the black at 25 yards, which surprised no one more than me!

[Graveyard Jack]

A Pietta 1851 London:


And a Pietta 1851 .44 pimp special:

[smokin6]

Second Gen Colt 1851 with 1861 trigger guard and Tru-Ivory grips.

Super looking 1851

[StrawHat]

Second Gen Colt 1851 with 1861 trigger guard and Tru-Ivory grips.

Please educate me, how does the 1861 grip frame differ from the one on the 1851?  I thought they were the same?

[Hoof Hearted]

I believe that is what is referred to as a "third style" or "late" trigger guard and would be appropriate for an 1851 as well as the squareback (dragoon) style.

HH

[Fredcdobbs]

New Uberti London Navy. Smoothed, grips refinished in oil. Tresco nips etc. Smooth and well balanced. Those grips turned out light in spite of staining. Interesting. Uberti wood is all over the place from dark to this color.

[Major 2]

It looks very nice though Fred.... 
Uberti uses a tough finish on their grips, it will come off but it is also deep in the grain.
I use stripper and lacquer thinner for a final prep, Fibing's Leather stain (alcohol based ) VS Oil based stain seems to work some better.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

In areas that the police don't allow firing weapons, I am looking for a (cheap) non-firing '51 to fill the holster... any suggestions?

TTFN,

[Oregon Bill]

Fred, your new Navy is a handsome article, light wood or not. I just received a Pietta London Navy (on sale at Cabela's -- I'm just a sucker) and will post up when I get a chance.

[Major 2]

HERE YOU GO WADD

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=denix+replica+guns&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=187204038&ref=pd_sl_3jbvaudu64_b

Scroll through..

[brazosdave]

Here is mine.  One of the lazer engraved Pietta models.  Need to get better grips on it though.

I have that one as well, and it is beautiful. I concur about the grips.  While I find them attractive, they are not the best things to hold on to.

[Fredcdobbs]

Fred, your new Navy is a handsome article, light wood or not. I just received a Pietta London Navy (on sale at Cabela's -- I'm just a sucker) and will post up when I get a chance.

Thanks. I like the gun. Probably the best made least in need of minor adjustments of all I have had.
A friend just picked up a Pietta 1861 and likes it a lot. I've had bad experiences with Piettas in the past but just got a Dance Brothers Pietta and was pleasantly surprised. Nice gun needing minor clean up.

[Fredcdobbs]

It looks very nice though Fred....  
Uberti uses a tough finish on their grips, it will come off but it is also deep in the grain.
I use stripper and lacquer thinner for a final prep, Fibing's Leather stain (alcohol based ) VS Oil based stain seems to work some better.

Thanks for the tip. I do use a spirit based stain. Plinkingtons. I do all my grips the same stain and oil and they just turn out all over the road. I strip with Jasco. Seems to do a good job (in particular burning on your skin - use gloves) but you are right, the original finish is deep. I don't stain until I get wood that will absorb the stain. Also this picture was taken with a Sony camera set on "Toy" a program designed to mimic a childs toy camera. Colors are exaggerated and not quite true. Grips look lighter and more orange than they really are. I did the same on my Uberti 61 and they are dark, dark, dark. Roll of the dice. The blued trigger guard also calls attention to the grips.
I just love doing this. I can play gunsmith without messing up anything serious. Often with Ubertis I need to install a button on the end of the cylinder pin to fix the cylinder gap. This one was good to go as delivered. Less work for me.
The Plinkingtons stain I use is their Pre 64 Winchester model 70 stock color. The oil, their red/brown oil.
I gave up on water stains long ago. Fun with guns.
Just to demonstrate, Here are three guns with the grips finished exactly the same way heh. All over the road.

[The Trinity Kid]

"Results may vary...." 

I think they turned out nice.....

--TK

[Fingers McGee]

Please educate me, how does the 1861 grip frame differ from the one on the 1851?  I thought they were the same?

1st and second model 1851 Navies had the square back trigger guard.  At serial number 4201, Colt changed to a small round trigger guard on the early 3rd model Navies and continued to use it until SN 85000 when they changed to the large rounded trigger guard in 1858 on the 4th model navies.  When the 1861 Navy came out, it also had the large rounded trigger guard from the 4th model 1851.  The replica makers have a mixture of trigger guard configurations on their navies, some square back, some small rounded and some large rounded.  The Colt 2nd Gen 1851s were based on a 2nd model 1851 Navy that had the square backed trigger guard.  The 1861 Navies by Colt and Uberti have the large round trigger guard from the later models. 

[Pettifogger]

1st and second model 1851 Navies had the square back trigger guard.  At serial number 4201, Colt changed to a small round trigger guard on the early 3rd model Navies and continued to use it until SN 85000 when they changed to the large rounded trigger guard in 1858 on the 4th model navies.  When the 1861 Navy came out, it also had the large rounded trigger guard from the 4th model 1851.  The replica makers have a mixture of trigger guard configurations on their navies, some square back, some small rounded and some large rounded.  The Colt 2nd Gen 1851s were based on a 2nd model 1851 Navy that had the square backed trigger guard.  The 1861 Navies by Colt and Uberti have the large round trigger guard from the later models. 

That is, of course, because they are made from the same parts. 

[StrawHat]

1st and second model 1851 Navies had the square back trigger guard.  At serial number 4201, Colt changed to a small round trigger guard on the early 3rd model Navies and continued to use it until SN 85000 when they changed to the large rounded trigger guard in 1858 on the 4th model navies.  When the 1861 Navy came out, it also had the large rounded trigger guard from the 4th model 1851.  The replica makers have a mixture of trigger guard configurations on their navies, some square back, some small rounded and some large rounded.  The Colt 2nd Gen 1851s were based on a 2nd model 1851 Navy that had the square backed trigger guard.  The 1861 Navies by Colt and Uberti have the large round trigger guard from the later models.  

Thanks Fingers,  I appreciate your reply.  I have a pair of Uberti 61s, one has a round guard the other is squarebacked.  Both have the fluted cylinders.  Photo of them is on the first page of the 1861 thread.

[Fingers McGee]

Thanks Fingers,  I appreciate your reply.  I have a pair of Uberti 61s, one has a round guard the other is squarebacked.  Both have the fluted cylinders.  Photo of them is on the first page of the 1861 thread.

Yes, I remember those.  Some early ones IIRC.  Wouldn't it be nice if they still made them in that configuration?  Would give me more examples to buy.