My 1863 Starr.

[Colonial Boy]

Finally in my hands, have been a month getting the legal bits done for licensing, partly my fault.
However herewith,
Took this outdoors for better lighting.

The nipples are good but there has been at least one dry firing.

The barrel is ‘as new’
7

and the mechanical condition is as new also, in fact the loading lever is stiff to move and rhe opening of the body is also stiff.
All numbers match and markings, including the ‘m’ of the Inspector are very clear.
Virtually a new 160 year old pistol.

 

[2 shots]

 

[Ed C.]

Looking forward to getting a range report back on shooting that gun. Nice acquisition.

 

[Gtrubicon]

Definitely looks like it was worth the wait.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Here are a couple of views of the cylinder from the ‘business’ end.
Note the transition from the taper to the straight bore.

 

[Relic shooter]

Neat Single action Star !!!
Keep us posted on how it performs if you shoot it!

 

[Colonial Boy]

Saturday the 21st is the big day

 

[FlinterNick]

Finally in my hands, have been a month getting the legal bits done for licensing, partly my fault.
However herewith,
Took this outdoors for better lighting.
View attachment 348603
View attachment 348604

The nipples are good but there has been at least one dry firing.
View attachment 348605
The barrel is ‘as new’
7View attachment 348606
and the mechanical condition is as new also, in fact the loading lever is stiff to move and rhe opening of the body is also stiff.
All numbers match and markings, including the ‘m’ of the Inspector are very clear.
Virtually a new 160 year old pistol.

Awesome, can you send a close up picture of the loading lever latch ?

thanks !

 

[Colonial Boy]

Flinter Nick,


Will do a bit later today.
One of the less impressive things about the Starr, works well but I really need gloves.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Flinter Nick,

Will do a bit later today.
One of the less impressive things about the Starr, works well but I really need gloves.

 

[Relic shooter]

Here are a couple of views of the cylinder from the ‘business’ end.
Note the transition from the taper to the straight bore.
View attachment 348631
View attachment 348632

Congrats on scoring a neat historical pistol

I shoot mostly orig. firearms but have never fired a Star 'yet'. The excellent bore with fast rifling should provide you with superb accuracy.

Photo of your Starr's cylinder indicate the front third of the chambers are relieved to allow tighter fitting balls or slugs for tighter fit & accuracy.
Don't know the specs for Starr nipples but If you have access to Treso nipples i'm betting they will have the right length & thread size for you, they've last forever on my revolvers.
A dab of Birchwood Casey 'brass black' will make the Treso alloy match the originals.
Happy Trails,
Relic shooter

 

[Colonial Boy]

Thanks for that, Relic Shooter, I’m a relic shooter too but I’m more the relic.

Got to fire the Starr today, unfortunately only 6 shots due to range and time constraints.
Scored two tens, two nines and two eights on the 25 metre rapid fire target.
Was firing off a rest and when I got home and started cleaning I discovered some fouling in the rear sight notch; the sights are designed for combat not target work so one cannot be critical.
One feature of the weapon that I did not like is the freely rotating cylinder however having had a ball jump forward and stop rotation, what a boon it is on a combat pistol, or any revolver for that matter, to be able to turn the cylinder backwards and ram the ball again.

I fired weighted charges of 30 gr. of 3f and .457 ball. The verdict of the onlookers was that the smoke and noise were impressive.
Plenty of room for experiment.