1861 navy questions

[Steel Guitar]

Correction the uberti 1851 is the only one like the originals.

 

[m-g willy]

Just a word about Unerti 1851 navy,,Out of all my cap and ball guns ( 14 ) my Uberti ranks as the best,,I did some work on the sights ,,filed down the sides of the front sight so from the rear it looks like a post,,Amd filed the rear sight on the hammer to a square notch and filed to bring point of impact to point of aim,,It is so accurate it has replaced my S&W model 17 for all my small game hunting inside of 30 yards,,

 

[kh54]

I have a dozen or so Ubertis ranging in age from 1963 to 2020 and representing several colt models. I also have a few Piettas, including three Remingtons. From what I have observed, until the early 2000s the Ubertis were all superior to the Piettas in fit, finish, accuracy of reproduction and “feel.” But during the past 20 years or so Pietta seems to have really upped their game. My newer Piettas are as good as the Ubertis, with one exception: Pietta still doesn’t “get it” regarding modern markings such as date codes and proof marks. Uberti really goes out of their way to conceal them and make them very light and easy to remove or simply ignore. Pietta seems to delight in bunging up a beautiful gun by screaming BLACK POWDER ONLY warnings and other marks. So unless I see a deal I just can’t refuse I ignore Pietta and buy Uberti.

 

[1971fx]

1862 uberti NYPD with markings under the loading lever the other is 1934 NYPD

 

[gustrolland]

I am thinking of buying a new colt 1861 navy revolver. It would be nice to actually see one, but there are no gun shops near that would have anything like that. Do both the new Uberti's and Pietta's have the "read user manual" and other lawyer stuff stamped into the barrel? It seems like they are both well made and have pretty much the same specs. The Uberti might be easier to find right now. Any other things I should consider?
Thanks Jim S.

Buy Uberti, I ordered a Pietta to do a test project and had to fit the bolt and the hand to make the gun work. Uberti guns are way higher in quality. I'm a gunsmith doing this stuff since 1976.

 

[Steel Guitar]

I like the uberti because it has the period correct grip frame shape. Other brands don't!! As for modifying the gun, shoot it first and if it works good enough then leave it alone. Try different loads and caps if it has problems. Different caps can make a big difference in function and reliabily.

 

[B P Arn]

The Pietta tail on the grip makes it a no-go for me.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

I like the uberti because it has the period correct grip frame shape. Other brands don't!! As for modifying the gun, shoot it first and if it works good enough then leave it alone. Try different loads and caps if it has problems. Different caps can make a big difference in function and reliabily.

You make a good point - it's something some people don't mind and others can't stand it. I was not a fan of the Pietta tail on the grip, though I have a buddy who shoots his and it apparently doesn't bother him in the least. For Pietta vs Uberti, I would go Uberti as well.

 

[B P Arn]

I recently bought this Pietta Griswold & Gunnison replica, 5" barrel, which was probably manufactured in the 1970's. There are no proof marks or serial numbers on the gun, except for a number on the cylinder. Whoever assembled the kit did a terrible job, and destroyed the grips in the process. They hacked away at the brass with a file, but left enough metal that I could still get mostly flat surfaces. Fortunately, they left the steel alone. I plan set up my tanks shortly and hot blue it.

As long as I was going to have to make new grips for it anyway, I took the opportunity to re-contour the grip frame rearwards, and put a slight angle on the bottom of the grip frame, as well as remove the Pietta tail/bugle butt, to make it look more like a Griswold & Gunnison revolver. I beveled the bottom of the grips, like Colt and G&G, although it doesn't show in the pictures very well. I have ordered a new wedge screw for it; the original was broken, but fortunately was easy to remove.

Here are some "after" pictures...

 

[nkbj]

As regards 1861's, Pietta put undersized chambers in their .36's just like in their .44 caliber revolvers.
Each manufacturer has warts, just in different places.

 

[nkbj]

Oh, by the way, an old Uberti short barreled version of the 1861 makes for a pretty nice revolver.

 

[Whitworth]

I have a dozen or so Ubertis ranging in age from 1963 to 2020 and representing several colt models. I also have a few Piettas, including three Remingtons. From what I have observed, until the early 2000s the Ubertis were all superior to the Piettas in fit, finish, accuracy of reproduction and “feel.” But during the past 20 years or so Pietta seems to have really upped their game. My newer Piettas are as good as the Ubertis, with one exception: Pietta still doesn’t “get it” regarding modern markings such as date codes and proof marks. Uberti really goes out of their way to conceal them and make them very light and easy to remove or simply ignore. Pietta seems to delight in bunging up a beautiful gun by screaming BLACK POWDER ONLY warnings and other marks. So unless I see a deal I just can’t refuse I ignore Pietta and buy Uberti.

I passed on a Pietta .31 Remington pocket model because it was mutilated with all the unsightly stampings crammed on the sides that little barrel

 

[LME]

Buy Uberti, I ordered a Pietta to do a test project and had to fit the bolt and the hand to make the gun work. Uberti guns are way higher in quality. I'm a gunsmith doing this stuff since 1976.

Good work is not cheap bad work is not good!

 

[Whitworth]

Are the 1851 Colt Navy reproductions made more like the originals?

Yes they are, the guns are close but the grip is a bit different. The Uberti grip is only a couple of hairs longer but over 1/4 inch fatter than a Colt, that difference is quite apparent. Square back trigger guards look cool YMMV

 

[Steel Guitar]

There's nothing like holding a c n b and shootin' it. And if it's close to the original even better. I can't put into words what it's like but it's kinda like steppin' back and doing it back then and I don't mean killing, I mean feeling HISTORY. So cool.

 

[B P Arn]

There's nothing like holding a c n b and shootin' it. And if it's close to the original even better. I can't put into words what it's like but it's kinda like steppin' back and doing it back then and I don't mean killing, I mean feeling HISTORY. So cool.

I hear you there! I am blessed to have a good supply of black powder and caps on hand, but more and more lately I am enjoying looking and handling them more than shooting them.

 

[CyrusP]

That looks great!!!

 

[Stantheman86]

Don't forget the Pocket Police and Pocket Navy.

I feel like once you own and shoot these wonderful little gems you won't really want to mess with anything else.

 

[B P Arn]

I'll make a note of that!

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Kia Ora from NZ.
Just out of the hospital & needed some black powder smoke in my nostrils. Enjoyd having a shoot with my colts.
Have a great day out there fellas.