whats the differance?

[BOOMSTICK BRUCE]

so as you know i have 2 colt .44's, an 1851 and an 1860...

they are both brassers  i fire full power loads as my guns are for self defense mostly and range on the rare weekend. so brassers are not going to last long with me. i've been looking for steel frames for both of these and keep seeing "1851 frame" and "1860 frame"

is there a difference between the frames of 60' and 51's?

[caferacer]

one difference is the grip size, 1951 uses the same grip frame as the later 1873, peacemaker
an 1860 army uses a larger grip frame and grip, because the earlier 44's had a larger grip
the frame on a 51 and 60 are very close, as the 1860 was based on the 1851, the 44cal 1860 has a step machined into the frame to allow the stepped 44 cal cylinder to fit,

[mike116]

I believe they are the same as long as you have the right frame for the caliber you have.  I have mated a .44 cal. barrel from a '51 to a frame from a .44 cal.  1860.    My .36 cal. '51 has the straight and level water table but the .44 cal '51 I have has a step in the water table.  I believe that is designed to accommodate the .44 cal. rebated cylinder.

[ssb73q]

Hi Bruce, the .44 Pietta 1851 and 1860 both have the same frame except that the 1860 also has two screws in the frame to allow attaching a shoulder stock. Those 1860 screws sometimes stick into my hand when shooting. I prefer the 1851 in both .36 and .44 for shooting over the 1860. The water table of the .36 caliber 1851 is flat while there is a slight cutout in the .44 1851 water table to accommodate the larger .44 cylinder. The .36 1851 was designed by Colt, the .44 1851 by modern Italians.

Regards,
Richard