Posting the photos of DoubleDeuce1's 1851 got me thinking about my own 1851. I was in the Log cabin Shop one day when a fellow came in with a few of his dad's guns to sell. One was an 1851 and Dan merely pointed to the case that was full of them, probably a dozen or so. Dan bought a couple of pieces from him but not everything. As the fellow was walking away, I asked Dan if he would mind if I made an offer. He says "Go ahead". I follow the fellow and ask if he still want s to sell anything. He had a bunch of single shot pistols left but only one revolver, an 1851. Now, as some of you know, I am not a fan of the 51, preferring the improved belt revolver of Navy caliber, the 1861. However, this one was somehow different. It appeared to be unfired and in great shape. I did not recognize the maker G&U, nor were there the usual stampings on the frame. And there was no engraving on the cylinder. We dicker a bit and the 1851 comes home with me.
As I am looking at it and cleaning it, other unusual things become apparent. There are no safety pins on the cylinder. There is no slot cut in the hammer for the pins. The sight notch is not a hastily cut "V" but a proper square notch. The frame is not cut for a shoulder stock, nor is the backstrap and the necessary screws have not been added either.
A bit of research and I find that before Uberti was well known, he teamed up with another fellow to make the replicas. So, this revolver was built by the firm Gregorelli & Uberti. The forerunner of the Uberti firm and one of, if not the, first makers of replica percussion revolvers. Mine is an early one, #1226.
Of all my percussion revolvers, this one is still not fired.
The obligatory photo.
Kevin
