Dang Open Tops are addictive!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Colt Open Tops are addictive.  They are like Lay's potato chips.  You can't have just one.  My 1860 Avenging Angel  caused me to order a Pietta 1860 with an 8" barrel so I can get one of Walt Kirst engraved "Last Stand at Saber River" converter sets.  It is the prettiest 1860 I have seen in a long time!  He just ordered up another batch.



https://kirstkonverter.com/limited-edition-konverters.html

[Abilene]

Dang, that is purty.  I knew but forgot, 5-shot .45 Colt?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Yep, 5 shot.  While i wish it was a 6 shot, I really prefer the size of the 1860 percussions.  Uberti .45 and .44 Richards are significantly larger than the Pietta and Uberti percussions to accommodate the oversized cylinder.  They just don't handle the same.  The ASM Richards Type I was the only conversion that handled the same as the percussion in my opinion.  Unfortunately their quality control was cr@p.

To me, the 1860 and 1861 are the sleekest single action pistols on the planet. They are so graceful and sleek.  They are also the most naturally pointing revolvers I have ever fired.

[Coffinmaker]

Yepper fer sure Brair Rabbit!!

I wanted to put together a pair of Walt's "Gated" conversions for years.  After I retired I finally got time to do it.  Had a pair of Pietta laser engraved 1860s hanging around so I saved my box tops for a pair of Walt's Saber River conversion sets and the rest is history.

Scroll down STORM to Major 2's post of the result(s)

PS:  Since Walt's cylinder is a 5 shot, his method for locking the cylinder to make it SASS compliant is super TRIX.  Works a treat too!!

[Coffinmaker]

   Krapola ..... I also forgot   

Yep.  Zactly like Lay's Potato Chips     Simply cannot have just .... "one"   In fact, Open Top Colt pattern guns be all I own anymore.  Of course, most have lost the far end of their barrels (snicker snicker).  The Open Top pattern guns were the most elegant of 19th century guns.  No longer even interested in Colt Strap Guns.

[Smokey Dave]

Oh man, that's a real head turner!

The 1860 is my all time favorite gun. Hands down. I have two Piettas that I'm saving my lunch money, to convert like that.

I'm of the same mind as Coffinmaker. I have 11 pistols, all Open Top Colt's. I wouldn't own anything else.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

The 1858 (NMA) Remmies are great guns, and have class when converted, but they ARE NOT as sleek and pointable as the open tops!

My favorite brace of pistols ever was my ASM Type I Richards in .44 Colt.  One was awesome, but the other was a problem.  a couple cylinder notches were off and it was impossible to get to be anything other than a 3-4 shooter.  If they both worked well, I would still have them.

[Coffinmaker]

Ha!!  You betcha Red Ryder      I happen to have a thing for Conversions.  Always have.  Some lustrum ago, I had a "thing" for Armi San Marco conversions.  I had 11 of them.  Took parts from all of them to make 4 guns that worked.  ASM called them 1860s ...... but ..... they weren't.  The ASM conversions were actually built on 1861 Navy pattern guns.  Sexiest things on the planet.  Except the quality SUCKED.  Oh well.  The difference between ASMs 1860 and 1861 was the Grip Set.  1860 size grip made it an 1860.  NOT.  Those ASM conversions were THE MOST accurate .38s I have ever owned.  I just got tired of constantly having to tinker with the darn things.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Just got word my Saber River set is on the way.  The Pietta 1860 from Midway should be here tomorrow.  Time to get out the dremel again, boys and girls. 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

My Saber River set arrived this afternoon!  It took about 1.5 to 2 hours to cut the loading channel, and set the timing on the Konverter.  Pictures tomorrow!  Boy, it is sweet and sleek!