Pietta .44 1851?

[ssb73q]

Hi, as most are aware, Colt only made the 1851 Navy as a .36 caliber revolver. However, a replica maker also offers the 1851 revolver as a .44 caliber revolver. Most BP revolver shooters shun the .44 1851 like the Black Plague. I have a slightly different opinion. If Colt had had the metallurgy of today, I am sure he would have also offered an 1851 frame at .44 caliber.

The Pietta .44 caliber 1851 makes for a nice platform to shoot either .44 C&B or .45 conversion cylinders. More compact than the 1860 it offers a very optimal large caliber revolver IMO.

Period correct sometimes makes for narrow views. Where are you with the Pietta .44 caliber 1851?

Regards,
Richard

 

[Gray Fox]

I, have two of them, one with the silver backstrap and trigger guard, which makes a very attractive piece.  I think it makes a nicely balanced revolver. I also have one in the engraved, unblued 5.5" Sheriff's Model, and I think it is the best balanced natural pointing gun I own.  I've had Dragoon Mike give it his whole treatment and is certainly a gun which would have sold a lot if it had been able to make it safely during that period.  Gray Fox

[ShotgunDave]

I had two. The Pietta Sheriff Model and a Pietta engraved, blued model. The Sheriff has a Howell conversion cylinder in it for .45 Colt, and gets shot that way 99% of the time. The engraved gun never got shot, so I literally just traded it away for a 1862 Pocket Navy by Uberti. I should have it Monday.

[G Dog]

Period correct sometimes makes for narrow views.
Regards,
Richard

That’s heretical and I’ma report it to the Inquisition and the mods and maybe even call the cops, too.  I don’t have any “narrow views”, not me. 

If one were indifferent and did not care about historical continuity then none of that would matter and if ya do, it does.  Anyway - why spend good money on a jumped up ḝ♪@#$&! when you can have a replica of the real deal?  There are lots of .44’s to choose from and still be shooting something that actually happened.

[Never mind my 8” Pietta ‘61, that don’t count.]

[Hawg]

I'm narrow minded. I despise them. Somebody is always saying if they had this or if they had had that. Well, they didn't. They had the technology to make the 1860 why didn't they just use the 51 design?  If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass.

[sourdough]

Period correct sometimes makes for narrow views.
Regards,
Richard

That’s heretical and I’ma report it to the Inquisition and the mods and maybe even call the cops, too.  I don’t have any “narrow views”, not me. 

If one were indifferent and did not care about historical continuity then none of that would matter and if ya do, it does.  Anyway - why spend good money on a jumped up ḝ♪@#$&! when you can have a replica of the real deal?  There are lots of .44’s to choose from and still be shooting something that actually happened.

[Never mind my 8” Pietta ‘61, that don’t count.]

I'm narrow minded. I despise them. Somebody is always saying if they had this or if they had had that. Well, they didn't. They had the technology to make the 1860 why didn't they just use the 51 design?  If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass.

I agree with both of the above quotes.

Pietta makes a steel frame:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/black-powder-revolvers/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/567338580/pietta-navy-steel-cal-bp-revolver/2359036.uts?slotId=8

And a brass frame:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/black-powder/black-powder-revolvers/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/567338580/pietta-model-confederate-navy-caliber-black-powder-revolver/740536.uts?slotId=0

As was pointed out, neither are historically correct. Some folks think that folks like me who collect Pietta 1851 Navy .36 "type" pistols of many variations are some sort of replica snobs.

To me, if you want to shoot a historically correct .44 belt pistol, get an 1860 Army.

I don't like the curvy round barrel nor the creeping load lever of the 1860 or the 1861.

I guess it is all up to one's idea as to where to spend money.

Jim

[LonesomePigeon]

Have you seen the original Colt prototype for the 1860 Army? It basically looks like a steel frame .44 caliber 1851 Navy with a fluted 1860 cylinder and a Dragoon type barrel. There are some pictures in this thread: https://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-percussion-revolvers/350005-1860-army-prototype.html


I have to say it's a good looking revolver but I still think the final production version 1860 Army looks better. As to the repro .44 Navy I'm not a fan, mainly because there are so many other repros to spend my money on.

[Captainkirk]

I have one; I like it. In fact, Colt did experiment with a .40 cal version of the 51 Navy and produced some prototypes. By that time, the 60 Army was ready for production and killed it off.