Howdy from the deserts of Nevada!

[treadhead1952]

Hi All,

I probably know a bunch of ya'll from the other forum (1858 Remington) so this will be fairly short.  I only currently own two Colt Black Powder revolvers, both of them being the 1851 Navy models, one more realistic than the other.  That being the .36 caliber version that I have had the longest, around 20 years or so.  I have had it long enough that I have accumulated molds for the round ball .380" and conical bullet, 135 grain, that Lee peddles.  I have stitched up a couple of holsters for it and the other one that I own.

The other one is one of those never was versions with a rebated .44 caliber cylinder and barrel.  I scored it for a Benjamen off of one of the other forum guys a while back, it was the proverbial basket case.  A couple of people had tried to rebuild it over the years from it's once former glory but never really got there.  I cleaned up the metal, sanded and polished it as best I could and then re-blued the whole thing.  The once case hardened frame had  been sanded down before I got it so I had no choice in the matter.  The loading rods, hammer and trigger will still showing a little case hardening so I just left them as was with a little tuning up to make things function nice and smooth.

The grips on both of them have been cleaned up and refinished with my favorite handgun grip finish product, Birchwood Casey's Tru-Oil.  Once the original finish is stripped off and the wood sanded a bit I start applying Tru-Oil by rubbing it in with my finger tips.  It gets to set up for a day or two and then is taken down with some 000 Steel Wool.  Doing this repeatedly fills the pores of the wood with the Tru-Oil until you get a nice smooth slick finish.  After the last coat has been buffed out lightly with Steel Wool I go over it with Birchwood Casey's Stock Sheen and Conditioner and it is good to go and pretty much proof against my grubby mitts.



The upper 1851 is the .36 Caliber with the lower being the .44 caliber refinish job.

I am looking forward to obtaining an 1860 Army model .44 eventually, steel framed of course.  That should round out my Colt Black Powder Revolver collection pretty well.  I had a 1849 Well Fargo model a long time ago but it was far too tiny for my paws to really get around.  I gave it to my niece who had taken a fancy to it.  I have also had an old 1847 Walker model, it was the first black powder revolver that I ever had chain fire on me.  After a few years I let a buddy talk me out of that one.  I never much cared for it having to tie the loading lever up with some leather to keep it from flopping down when being shot.   One day I may take a whack at getting one of the big Dragoon Models if I find one on the cheap or in a trade deal.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV USA

USMC Rules!

[Tom-ADC]

Welcome aboard the revolvers look great. Las Vegas near Nellis. AFB is one of the areas we are looking for a possible move.

[Kaboom]

Welcome, treadhead. Good to have ya in the forum. Pull up a log, or a stump, what ever ya can find, and sit a spell. Join the convers and gives us yer take on the different subjects that come up.   

[mike116]

Welcome from Colorful (and cold) Colorado.

[mazo kid]

Hi Jay, welcome from Wisconsin!

[treadhead1952]

Thanks guys!

Tom, unless you like living on the outskirts of hell in the summer time I'd at least come down here in August one time before you commit.  If you aren't used to it, the heat here can take the starch right out of you.  I lived in Phoenix for a few years before moving here and it is almost that hot.

Seriously though, I love it here, since it is so nice and hot, the ladies don't wear much in the summer time.

[Mad Dog Stafford]

Well, Welcome treadhead1952! Great to have ya on here! 

[brazosdave]

I am now seriously thinkng about doing a true oil refinish on most of my revolver grips.  I like the way yours look!

[Captainkirk]

Welcome, Tread! Glad you found us and decided to hang your hat here, too!

[treadhead1952]

Thanks Gents,

Always nice to find a new place to converse with like minded folk.  The art of making large clouds of smoke when shooting is a practice that needs to be practiced. 

[StrawHat]

Welcome, grab a chiar and some coffee, chime in when your comfortable.

Worked in Vegas twice, summer both times.  Construction, even remodels, slowed down in the heat.  The outdoor swimming pools were vacted, folks only wanted indoor pools.  Hot is an understatement.

[Tom-ADC]

We were thinking of N Las Vegas and have also looked at AZ in and around Kingman and in and around Surprise AZ.
NV has our eye because of the tax structure. And AZ because firearm friendly. With kids, grandkids and great grandkids here in San Diego can't get to far away.

[treadhead1952]

Hi Guys,

Tom, if you can find something in northern Arizona where it is usually a little cooler than the low country around Phoenix and the Las Vegas area, the temperatures are a whole lot more moderate in summer.  With as firearms friendly as Arizona is now it would be hard to beat, but Nevada is also an open carry state and they do have a pretty good CCW system in place so that sort of evens that bit out.  I fell into a great deal on the place I live in from a Veterans Group that I belong to so I am pretty much here to stay.  I have been here for over thirty some years now, it feels like home and with the 24 hour town that Las Vegas is, I would be at a loss anywhere else.  In the summer months I have been known to sneak off to the left coast just to hop on a day boat and go out for some serious ocean fishing.  I make up for it during the rest of the year paddling out in my Kayak on Lake Mead and Mojave to see about getting a Nantucket Sleigh Ride from a nice big Striper.

[Tom-ADC]

Jay that looks like fun, I still use my old float tube but the kayak looks like fun, was just at Lake Mead over New Years stayed at the Hacienda Hotel/casino it was bought out a couple of weeks before we got there so under remodel. Had breakfast at that floating restaurant.
So your in a vets place? I got to tour the new one Gulfport MS last summer nice place I got live there. Want to try and get my brother into the vets home here when he comes this spring.
Have to admit the hot summer weather is a concern.

[treadhead1952]

Hi Tom,

Actually I live in a Senior Mobile Home Park, the Veterans Association that I got my place through was the owner of the property I am buying.  It is a great deal for me and provides me with a place for all my stuff without crowding.  I have been all over Lake Mead and parts of Lake Mojave just to the south of Lake Mead with that kayak.  It does get exciting in the afternoons when the winds come up and you can get up to a three foot chop out on the lakes.  There are lots of Striped Bass, Catfish and Carp all over the lakes, sometimes you hook up with a big one and in that light kayak it gets to be a real Nantucket Sleigh Ride until you can wear them out.

I learned how to handle canoes when I lived back home in Arkansas.  The White River can get to be quite the handful in the spring in one.  I have one of those, a 16 footer that is also loads of fun out on the lake.  It is surprising just how fast you can propel yourself on arm power alone.  The kayak was a natural progression for me and when the Bass Pro Shop opened here in Las Vegas, I picked one up and never looked back.