Would this be called a Navy?

[mazo kid]

This has a very good chance of joining my battery of C&B revolvers; an 1861 Colt by Pietta.  I don't know how correct the steel furniture is as opposed to brass....perhaps someone can tell me? This is unfired and has a twin brother.....who knows? Maybe they will be reunited if my wife co-operates. I have pretty much depleted the gun budget for a while though, and she has been very lenient with me.....so far!.

[Captainkirk]

The steel furniture would probably indicate a "civilian" model. Very nice looking gun!

[Hawg]

I'm thinking the steel back strap and trigger guard were on models cut for a shoulder stock. Civilian models had silver plated brass.

[Fingers McGee]

Blued steel back straps & trigger guards on the 1861 Navy are perfectly ok.  In the 1851 Navies, blued steel grip frames are generally thought to be an indicator of a pistol made in England - or IOW a London Model.  Back in the day, 1851 and 1861 Colt's Navies could be had with polished brass, silver plated brass, or blued iron grip frames.  The Navy; for some reason, preferred blued iron grip frames while the Army preferred silver plated brass. 

In the modern replica production era, brass is the most common grip frame material.  There is really no rhyme or reason for what Pietta and Uberti use for grip frames.  Currently, Uberti 4 screw, cut for shoulder stock frames are blued steel and 3 screw models not cut, are brass.  20+ years ago, they were the opposite.  Piettas are blued steel now days; but have been brass (even some with square back trigger guard) in the past.  ASMs were all over the place when they were made also.  2nd Gen and Sig Series Colts are 3 screw frames with silver plated brass.

[mazo kid]

Thanks all; yep, this one is cut for the shoulder stock.

[Captainkirk]

Thanks for clarifying, Fingers. I really like the steel look on the Colts. It's unique.

[StrawHat]

You really need the pair, they display much better than a solo revolver.

[Fingers McGee]

You really need the pair, they display much better than a solo revolver.

I drool all over the keyboard and turn green with envy every time you post pictures of those Strawhat.  Interesting how two of the same model revolver made in the same year can be so different.

[mazo kid]

As I mentioned above, this one does have a twin brother, however, I mentioned the twin to friend and he REALLY would like to buy it so I will defer to him.  (This makes 8 guns I have purchased from a friend's estate; other friends have bought 4 more, if this last offer goes through! Guess I need to lay low for a while.....

[jaxenro]

squareback 1861?

[StrawHat]

...I drool all over the keyboard and turn green with envy every time you post pictures of those Strawhat.  Interesting how two of the same model revolver made in the same year can be so different...

Plastic wrap over the keyboard helps prevent the drool from shorting out the electronics.  And amkes it easier to clean the keyboard.

The revolvers are about 600 numbers apart.  I got them in the mid 70's when The Log Cabin bought a lot of stock from Replica Arms (Marietta, Ohio) as they closing the store after being bought by Navy Arms.   These are the pair that started me on that long lonely trail down of my black powder revolver obsession.

[bigted]

dont have a clue where i got this but i remember from some place that the 36's were navy's and the 44's were army's. somebody smarter then me will have to chime in to either confirm that or set me/us straight.

the downer of getting old i guess ... think i heard this some darn place also ...     

[Kaboom]

I allas heard the same. Seems the army wanted a bigger ball cause they mighta hadda shoot a horse, whilst the navy was only corncerned with shootin peoples. Makes sense ta me, ennyways.

[Captainkirk]

dont have a clue where i got this but i remember from some place that the 36's were navy's and the 44's were army's. somebody smarter then me will have to chime in to either confirm that or set me/us straight.

the downer of getting old i guess ... think i heard this some darn place also ...     

True. The 'Navy' caliber was .36 and carried as a sidearm by naval officers, while the .44 was the 'Army' caliiber carried by Army officers where the added firepower would be needed.

[mazo kid]

I finally got around to trying to disassemble the gun today for cleaning purposes. I had heard before about tight wedges on some Pietta's... Man! Guess those folks were right about that "technician" being a gorilla. Either that or he used a 3 pound hammer to set the wedge gently in place! The entire gun it's nice and tight!