My 1851 Navy Pistol and a few questions.

[bobthemotorcycle]

I hope I am in the correct forum, if not sorry, did not mean to post wrong.

First off here is my pistol and some of it equiptment.

Do I have to take the screw out to remove the barrel wedge?

You will notice my powedr mesure and cap tube under the barrel and you will notice my flask. They are very tarnished and turning green, how do I polish the brass?

Is the knife in the top left corner period correct? Did they use brass end caps and finger guards? It was build from a file and made to look like a Randle Made design.

Also that mold die is for .50 cal. Can I remove the die and replace it with one for .454 or do I have to buy a new handle and complete set up?

My pistol is a Pietta Model 1851 Confederate Navy .44 Caliber Revolver. I can not wait to go shoot it. I hope maybe this week.

 

[cynthialee]

you do not need to remove the screw to get the wedge out far enough to remove the barrel. The wedge will just kinda hang there when you pop it out to remove the barrel.

Brasso is what I prefer to polish brass.

I know nothing of HC/PC when it comes to knives.

You can get the mold separate from the handles.

I also have this pistol and it is probably my favorite I have had over the years.

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

What do you do with your pistol? Is it for fun, protection, hunting? Are you into Rendezvus or what?

 

[cynthialee]

It is the gun I wear on my hip when my sweety is out of the house. So it is my home defense weapon of choice.
I do some target shooting, but my aim is not what it used to be, so I don't shoot it as often as I used to as I hate to be reminded that I am not as young and sure handed anymore.

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

Your preaching to the choir sister.

Just ten years ago I was hansom, strong, had good eyes, and young women thru themselves at me.

Now I have type 2 diabetes, I cant see anything that is not blurry, I cant do many pushups anymore and young women tell me their mom may be interested but I look too much like their dad. I am only 44, I fell apart over night, lol.

Is there anything better then brazo to polish. I hear you have to use it everyday if you start with it.

 

[TFoley]

Is there anything better then brazo to polish. I hear you have to use it everyday if you start with it.

'Mother's metal polish', followed up by Renaissance wax. I do my Walker's brass bits once a year.

tac

 

[TFoley]

Sir - the screw is there to stop the wedge from falling out when you've loosened it.

There is a long set-screw in each half of the bullet mould [not a die - a die works under external pressure, a mould does not, except for the pressure of gravity] - take them out, and the handle comes off. Insert the new mould blocks, re-insert long set-screws, tighten up and you're good to go.

S'easy.

tac

 

[Many Klatch]

I use steel wool to polish my greened up brass. You may have to do this ever so often. The knife is accurate to the Post WW-II period. Looks like a nice usable design. There were a bunch of English made "Bowie Knives" that were fancied up like yours from the Civil War period but they were bigger and didn't have the finger grooves in the grip and they had a different guard.

The handles on your mold are interchangeable as long as you stick with the same brand name. Lyman handles with Lyman molds and Lee handles with Lee molds.

Many Klatch

 

[necchi]

Do I have to take the screw out to remove the barrel wedge?

No.

how do I polish the brass?

That far gone I use 400 grit sandpaper then Brasso.

Is the knife in the top left corner period correct?

No.

Can I remove the die and replace it with one for .454

That's a Lee mold, the blocks are pinned to the handle. So No, you can't remove the blocks without damaging the existing blocks, and the handle arms are too thin to use without modification on other makers molds.
If your blocks are trashed, then you can salvage the handles and by adding a stack of washers (with modification) too each side and use'm on Lyman or other,,steel molds. But Lee molds in 454 are cheap, $20+/-,,

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

After spending some time using emery paper to polish my flask I said to myself. Who says it has to be polished brass. Maybe people liked them tarnished so that they did not reflect and give away their position.

I polished it up a bit but I like it tarnished.

My mesure I polished really good.

Icant believe the caps still pop. These caps have set in this holder for over 12 years and I loaded a few and poped them off. This stuff is so cool.

 

[bobthemotorcycle]

Thanks for the information. This is a Lee mold and the diameter is .490 which I can not use in my .44cal. I will get a diffrent one at Cabeles.

The knife on the right was my step dads old Rendezves camp knife and I will probably put it on my gun belt. The knife on the left was made by my neighbor about 30 years ago. I will just keep it in my knife collection. I am probably going to drag out a few of his fighting and throwing hawks and hang from my belt. Give the cowboys something to complain about.

 

[Many Klatch]

Your Dad's old rendezvous knife looks to be an authentic design. Butcher knives were what was used by working folk. You might want to make a new sheath for it depending on your rig.

Many Klatch

 

Is the knife in the top left corner period correct?

The knife looks very modern.