4 1/2 or 5 1/2

[oldfart]

wanting to pick up a 62 police,
can't decide
what one to get
the Dixie with a 5 1/2 barrel
or
The Taylors/cimmeron 4 1/2 barrel (as dixie doesnt sell the 4 1/2 barrel)

pro's and cons of a 4 1/2 or 5 1/2

thank you
John

[jaxenro]

I've owned both depends on what you want it for the 4.5 is handier to carry the 5.5 in theory more accurate but I think it depends more on the individual gun

Buffalo Arms usually has a decent price on the Cimarron but the 4.5 is out of stock



https://www.buffaloarms.com/cowboy-firearms-muzzle-loaders-vintage-military/black-powder-muzzleloading-percussion-revolvers/1862-pocket-model-percussion-revolvers

[Hawg]

Originals came in 4 1/2, 5 1/2 and 6 1/2. I don't care for short barrels so I'd want the 6 1/2 but since they don't make it I'd go with the 5 1/2.....I know I could have just said 5 1/2 but wheres the fun in that? 

[ssb73q]

Hi, the Uberti 1862 Navy that I bought from Dixie in 2014 is a 6-1/2" barreled revolver, see:



The 1862 on top.

I like the longer barreled 1862 for the increased sight radius and velocity compared to shorter barreled revolvers.

Hi Old, you may want to review this thread:

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/colt/index.php?topic=901.0

Regards,
Richard

[ssb73q]

Hi Old, IMO you would be a lot happier with the Pietta 1862 than the Uberti. It uses the 1851 frame where 1851 extra cylinders and conversion cylinders are available. See:

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/1862NewYorkPoliceModel.aspx

If you don't like it, I will trade you my 6.5" barreled Uberti 1862 Navy that has been very lightly used. I will even supply a full length .22 full length barrel that can be used with the Kirst .22 conversion cylinder for the Uberti 1862.

To be frank, the Uberti 1862 Navy was my worst BP revolver purchase. The revolver is perfect, but the least used shooter of all my BP revolvers and now is just a display piece.

I suspect that after shooting it a few times you will also wonder why you were so interested in the Uberti 1862.

Regards,
Richard

[jaxenro]

I like them better than the 1851. I think it was Bloody Bill Anderson that carried five or six of them

[G Dog]

Hi ssb – I noticed in the link to MidSouth the following quote:

“A fluted cylinder based off of production pieces of both the 1861 Navy and 1862 Police…”

I’ve never seen an 1861 Navy with fluted cylinders, have you?  I like that Pietta mod.  I’d like it even better if they just called it what it is:  a short barreled M1861.

[ssb73q]

Hi G Dog, based on most of the information I have seen, I must agree that the Pietta 1862 is a copy of the 1861. However, I admit that I may not be 100% correct and that Colt may have offered the 1861 with a short barrel and called it an 1862 for a special police department order. I saw that reference somewhere, but can't again find it. IMO the jury is still out.

BTW, I have one of those Pietta 1862s and it is sure one sweet BP revolver. It offers fantastic handling and really fits my hand better than any other BP revolver I own. I can shoot .38 Special with that revolver. I'm seriously considering getting another. Old South has ~20 of them in stock so there is no immediate need to act soon.

Regards,
Richard

[Hawg]

Hi, the Uberti 1862 Navy that I bought from Dixie in 2014 is a 6-1/2" barreled revolver, see:

Yeah but it's a navy not a police.

[oldfart]

Ive got a Pietta 1860 and a Pietta 1851navy  I love shooting the Navy,
Im just wanting one of the dinky-grip ones (saw a 2cd gen at my local cabbalas and fondled it  liked it but too pricey for me)
 and didn't want to so down to the 31 cal-or id get the 49 and i drool over that one also
once i get a dinky one/ or two-- then I'm getting a Walker Kit
then maybe ill be happy with a collection

[jaxenro]

Buffalo Arms lists the 1862 with 6.5 barrel just out of stock right now so they do make them. I have a pair with the octagonal barrels.

The octagonal barreled models came about as Colt couldn't keep up with demand for the new model pocket in navy caliber (what we call the 1862 police) and reused the 1849 pocket tooling modified to 36 caliber

I have never seen a short barreled 1861 belt model from the Colt factory. If I understand correctly they made the new model pocket in 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. The made the old style octagonal barrel 36 pocket in 4, 5, and 6 inch lengths like the old 31 caliber pocket because the used that tooling

Colt did make a 3.5 barreled new model pocket without a loading lever in 36 caliber called the trapper, there is also a 2nd gen version, and a 2" and 2.5" version that was sold mostly to the Mormon police although Wells Fargo had at least one of them. That might be the reference for your short barreled "1861 navy"

[G Dog]

I have never seen a short barreled 1861 belt model from the Colt factory.
... That might be the reference for your short barreled "1861 navy"

Hi ya Jax -  My use of the term was only in reference to what Pietta puts out as the 'Police' and is in effect a "short barreled '61 Navy".  I too have never heard of a Colt 1861 production model in anything other than the 7.5" barrel. 

I have the Pietta 1861 with the 8" barrel which is of course 1/2" too long for historically correct.  It sure is a shooter though.  Pietta's so called .36 'Police' is a beautiful thing and historically correct only in the sense that an old timer could have had his '61 chopped. 

[ssb73q]

Hi Old, you may need to contact them to see if they have the 6.5" 1862 Police in stock, see:

https://www.jedediah-starr.com/closeup.asp?cid=13&pid=2831&offset=6

These guys usually have what is listed in stock, scroll down:

http://possibleshop.com/pistol-uberti.html

Regards,
Richard

[Hawg]

I have never read anything about Colt making a short barreled Navy sized revolver with the round profile and ratchet lever and calling it an 1862 police.

That's what collectors call them. Here's a pretty good write up on the two models. http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Colt-small-frame-36-caliber-percussion-pistols-B085_Breslin.pdf

[Hawg]

I did not clarify enough Hawg. I was referring to a Navy sized 1861 being made by Colt with a shorter barrel and sold as a Police modle.

No, that didn't happen. It's kinda funny but the full size guns were only sold with one barrel length while the smaller guns came in several different lengths.