Backstrap swap?

[Damol]

I found that I like my Pietta 1851, but I must say my hand just can't seem to get along with the grip.
My hand is just to large for this grip and that nasty flare at the back on the bottom has me in a tizzy.
But my hand feels like the 1860's grip was made for each other.
So my question is, can I buy a backstrap, triggerguard and grip for an 1860 and just swap them out?

[jaxenro]

Usually yes as long as you stick to the same manufacturer

[robert garner]

Of course a little judicial work with a belt sander(or files) and you'll like the grips you have just fine.
robert

[Saranac Sam]

I found that I like my Pietta 1851, but I must say my hand just can't seem to get along with the grip.
My hand is just to large for this grip and that nasty flare at the back on the bottom has me in a tizzy.
But my hand feels like the 1860's grip was made for each other.
So my question is, can I buy a backstrap, triggerguard and grip for an 1860 and just swap them out?

  I've thought about this, the 51 Navy was my first love among Colts, the grips just proved too small.  I think 60 grips on a .36 could be a cool shooter.

[ssb73q]

I found that I like my Pietta 1851, but I must say my hand just can't seem to get along with the grip.
My hand is just to large for this grip and that nasty flare at the back on the bottom has me in a tizzy.
But my hand feels like the 1860's grip was made for each other.
So my question is, can I buy a backstrap, triggerguard and grip for an 1860 and just swap them out?

Hi Damol, yes a Pietta 1860 grip and frame parts should fit on the 1851 Pietta. Maybe buying an on sale 1860 would be a better approach where you could use the 1851 barrel on the 1860 and have the best of both worlds?

I bought both the 8" and 5.5" barrel so I could easily turn my 1860s into 1860/1851 transvestites. see:



and:



Regards,
Richard

[mazo kid]

Check out ebay and other auction sites; usually there are just the parts you are looking for being listed.

[Damol]

Thanks for the replys guys. This is on my winter to do list, I like the grip on my 1860 so much that I just have to do this. My 1851 is about as much fun as I can have shooting black powder, that little .36 is just a blast to plink with. The grip is just to short, I dont like any finger under the grip or I could just reshape it to remove the tail. Thanks again I will let you know how it goes as I get parts and do the install.

[mazo kid]

You could just make new grips, made so they wrap under the bottom of the frame to look nice.

[Mad Dog Stafford]

Bumping this one!

[sourdough]

I ordered this backstrap from Taylor's & Co. a few weeks ago; it was supposed to be a Pietta 1860 brass piece (yes, I know most 1860's are blued steel), but it is not even close. It mates to the two frame screw holes just fine but the bottom screw hole does not come close to aligning with the bottom trigger guard hole with either of my 1851 trigger guards (round/oval or squareback).

I'd like someone to chime in as to what it is (model/manufacturer) and offer it to someone who can use it. I'm guessing it may be a Uberti 1873 piece. Fingers McGee previously sent me an 1851 squareback TG for free and only requested that I pay it forward. If someone can use it, let me know.

[mazo kid]

If this is still available, I would like to claim it. PM coming at you!

[sourdough]

mazo kid:

Haven't seen a PM from you yet.

[cidcw4]

Another point of view:  The Navy grip fits my hand better (medium size hands) than the Army.  I'm not necessarily grip sensitive to Colt 2d generation versus Italian guns but I do have a 3rd Gen Colt Navy (London model) that the grips seem a little thicker that I really like. Colt SAA grips fit me best.  There is something about that palm swell design. 

cidcw4

[sourdough]

You mentioned different grip swells. Page 8 on the .pdf file.

Hope this link works. I found it very interesting insofar as all of the 1851 variations.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericansocietyofarmscollectors.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F05%2FB023_Swayze.pdf&ei=S9NsVd2JK8rIogT0vYCoBg&usg=AFQjCNF9lpPy_izqgxEqv17pT_GuDOettw&bvm=bv.94455598,d.cGU

[shooter13]

Many Thanks for that very interesting article, sourdough.