51 Navy loading lever question...36 cal vs .44 cal?

smoke · November 26, 2018, 12:26:27 PM

I'm thinking about getting one of my 51 Navies shorted to the "sheriff" length. My local 'smith can shorten the barrel but I was thinking the best way to do the loading lever is to just order one. VTI carries it.

Will it fit w/o any issues?

Thanks!!

smoke · November 26, 2018, 12:40:52 PM

BTW, this is a Pietta.

greyhawk · November 26, 2018, 10:43:31 PM

Quote from: smoke on November 26, 2018, 12:40:52 PM
BTW, this is a Pietta.

Do ya not need the latch under the barrel to hold the lever up and stop it fouling the cylinder ? If yes then need to get the hacksaw wielder to refit the latch ?
Downunder - We not allowed to cut em so short that the lever wont work - but ole mate Coffinmaker does it regular - I would carry a little short piece of tube for leverage loading those shorties --well - I wouldnt hack em down that short in the first place - blackpowder takes some time to get its act into gear and two inches of barrel aint enough - the smoke and flames would be super cool tho!

smoke · November 27, 2018, 06:56:07 AM

Pietta's sheriff length is 5-1/2" or so. I had read that the 51 "sheriff" model is .44 was really a 60 army with an octagon barrel. I just want to make sure that the shorter loading lever fits.

greyhawk · November 27, 2018, 03:52:52 PM

Quote from: smoke on November 27, 2018, 06:56:07 AM
Pietta's sheriff length is 5-1/2" or so. I had read that the 51 "sheriff" model is .44 was really a 60 army with an octagon barrel. I just want to make sure that the shorter loading lever fits.

Ahhhh that 'll work ok - I thought they (sherriff") were little snubbies

Coffinmaker · November 27, 2018, 09:31:17 PM

SMOKE.

eBay is your friend. With a little browsing, you will be able to find the shorter barrel length as an OEM part along with the loading lever. Very minor fitting required.

smoke · November 28, 2018, 06:26:18 PM

Coffinmaker...I wanna do a .36 cal sheriff. Everything I see on ebay looks to be .44 cal. Did the factory ever do a 5-1/2" barrel in .36 cal?

Major 2 · November 29, 2018, 01:29:13 AM

If it were me...I'd get another barrel ....in fact that's what I did....

Colt never built a 44 Navy ( they did do an experimental 41 cal. as seen in the NRA collection @ Springfield Mo. )

Granted this is 2018 and history & the CAS game VS what the replica's are today may clash...still I wanted a . belly gun on the Navy frame that equaled 36 cal. in my case.

So I started with Pietta 61 Navy and bobbed the barrel to 3" ...then purchased a 51 Navy barrel had it lined to .357

now two guns in one....

get a 44 barrel and have it lined to .357 add a Kirst Cylinder - cut the OEM to 5 " leave the lever off and Bob's your uncle.

Coffinmaker · November 29, 2018, 10:12:44 AM

SMOKE

ahmmm, you ask did "the factory" ever do a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .36

Which factory??? Uberti?? Colt?? Pietta?? Uberti has not offered a 5 1/2 in 36 and they don't do a .44 Colt did not. Pietta has and does offer the 51 Navy as a 5 1/2 in 36. If you don't see the barrel you want on eBay, give VTI Gin Parts a call. VTI normally stock Pietta barrels in different lengths. VTI also stocks the parts for the loading rammer assembly.