Pietta 1860 Grip Frame Change

[BAX504]

OK, guys. I just picked up a Pietta 1860 snub nose. This is a older gun with a full size grip frame and grip.
So the question is: Can I change it to a birds head grip? I can get the backstap and grip for the 1873 from Pietta from a couple of places. Is it interchangeable?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Wes/Tex]

Is it interchangeable?

Yes, but why! That's got to be the ugliest grip style going!(personal opinion) :wink:

 

[FishDFly]

Why ruin a pistol?

 

[BillinOregon]

Bax, I realize birdshead mania has spread far and wide amongst those of us who love old-time revolvers, but when I served as a guest curator at a regional historical society some years ago, I had the very great pleasure of handling and cataloging a pair of genuine 1860 Army belly guns, and I assure you these "real McCoys" had the full-sized army grip.
You are of course free to follow your own drummer on this, but just something to think about as you go to sleep at night ...

:wink:

 

[cynthialee]

I just can't get on that birds head bandwagon. Looks weird, feels weird in my hands.
The 1860 has a great grip already!

 

[FishDFly]

Bax, I realize birdshead mania has spread far and wide amongst those of us who love old-time revolvers, but when I served as a guest curator at a regional historical society some years ago, I had the very great pleasure of handling and cataloging a pair of genuine 1860 Army belly guns, and I assure you these "real McCoys" had the full-sized army grip.
You are of course free to follow your own drummer on this, but just something to think about as you go to sleep at night ...

:wink:

"You are of course free to follow your own drummer on this, but just something to think about as you go to sleep at night ..."



At this time, B/P powder rifles and pistols are not collectables which have been made since 1970's or so, with the exception of some noted makers.

What bothers me, is the number of M/L loaders that are being ruined and to quote Zonie, "they have been frinkled with", modifying them because folks can.

I hate to see what today is an original from the 1970's is being ruined by folks with modifications not really needed or warranted.

In 100 years will folks repeat these discussions on what is an original T/C Hawken?

Bill, Baylor did well, not bad for a small religious school. Where and how is your daughter, should be about time for another degree?

 

[BAX504]

I do like the full size grip. But my young son needs a smaller grip frame. But I could also switch it back to a full size. I was just wondering.
:grin:

 

[Pete G]

It is YOUR gun. It is NOT a collectible antique and never will be. Do with it as you please.

 

[BillinOregon]

BAX: Bet the birdshead will fit. But you might also try the basic Navy grip for your son.
Didn't mean to preach!
:hatsoff:

Richard, daughter is working on her Ph.D. at Iowa State. Ask me if I am proud ...
:grin:

 

[BAX504]

Guys, I appreciate all of your input. The 51 Navy grip might be a better fit for him. And a better compromise too. I don't mind adapting any of these guns to get my son shooting more.
You guys would probably kill me for what we did to his CVA Double Express 50 cal. We cut off 8 inches off of the barrels and switch to 209 adapters for him. But it made a big gun nice and handy in the woods for him.
:grin:

 

[FishDFly]

Many options, I just hate to see guns ruined by folks not thinking in advance of the future.

I have more T/Cs than I need, most have been modified for line matches for myself and my sons and were set up to win. I know that the collector value in 100 years is ruined. They won and we had fun.

I have kept some T/C products as original, some are new and some not altered.

I just kind of hate to see things altered too far.

But we all get to spend our money as we wish.

 

[FishDFly]

BAX: Bet the birdshead will fit. But you might also try the basic Navy grip for your son.
Didn't mean to preach!
:hatsoff:

Richard, daughter is working on her Ph.D. at Iowa State. Ask me if I am proud ...
:grin:

Bill,

You have done well and so has your daughter, you are to be proud.

If I had a bumper sticker it would read, "My Son's were Inmates of the Month At The County Jail."

 

[AZbpBurner]

Not too sure about Pietta, but Uberti definitely changed a lot of their parts configurations in the past several years. I got a 45 year old Uberti 1960 Army that needed a better brass triggerguard.

VTI has the parts, and promptly shipped. It didn't come close to fitting: the strap profile, and didn't come close to fitting the grip shape, the holes were too big, and it looks to be SAE threaded, not metric as the old one was. I refurbished the original to respectable shape, and returned the new part to the seller.

You may be trying to get drop-in ease of conversion, but it may possibly entail much more effort and inconvenience.

 

[gunner69skmc]

Where are the fotos?

 

[BAX504]

Fotos.
Don't be hating the cut down double 50.

:blah:

 

[BAX504]

 

[BAX504]

Well, I have a 1851 ordered from Cabelas. $169.99 shipped. It's a brass frame piece. Comes with a extra cylinder. So I'm going to swap the grips and keep the extra cylinder too. Then I'll sale the put together one.
Thanks for the input guys

:wink:

 

[AZbpBurner]

Where are the fotos?

Fotos? If you can read, and can even pretend to have a little imagination, you don't need no stinkin' fotos :hatsoff: