Two finds today

[warhawk77]

I had some free time this morning and I stopped at a local pawn shop. This is the 2nd time I have stopped at one in 6 years. But walking around I saw two revolvers in a cabinet so I asked to take a look.

I think the top one is a 1851 colt 44 cal and the bottom is a 1851 navy 36 cal. The price was $89.99 each



The first one has a CVA stamped on the side but the other doesn't have any markings at all. The bore is bigger on the top one so I'm guessing its the 44 cal.

While checking out the manager said he had another that was missing a screw. So looking at it it's a pietta in a 36 cal, the screw goes into the loading lever. It should be pretty easy to replace but he was asking $150 so I wanted to wait and think about it.

I'm very happy with my first BP pistol can't wait till I get to shoot them

 

[cynthialee]

Strip them, clean them and replace the nipples. They look pretty old.

Good find!
:thumbsup:

 

[trent/OH]

An 1851, even in 44 caliber, would have the octagonal barrel seen on your new 36 caliber. I think you .44 is some sort of a sheriffs model or such.

Have fun, and you should check that pawn shop a little more frequently!

 

[rodwha]

If you are interested in either of them I'd really look them over as brass isn't as strong as steel, and could have easily been battered.

It might make a nice introductory gun to see if you really like it. If not you should be able to recoup your money on the gun.

 

[hawkeye2]

The top one is a brass framed "1860 Army Sheriff's model" with the 1851 Navy size grip. Not correct but a lot of fun just the same. 20 grains of 3f won't hurt it (much) and is more than enough for an accurate load out to 50 yards.

 

[warhawk77]

Thanks for the feed back.

I did buy both it was just too good of a deal. I picked up too more today also :grin: 4 firearms in one day is my record.

I really like the top one not sure but it calls to me. Time to strip and clean them all.

 

[jamesthomas]

4 pistols? and good deals at that? Don't use up all your good luck in a day or 2 ya might need to save it when that long rifle you want shows up!! :grin:

 

[warhawk77]

It was a great day 2 new pietta navy steel frame $150 each and the above 2 for $90 each.

No black powder so need to keep looking.

Question on cleaning. Should I put any grease on the shaft the cylinder spins on?

 

[necchi]

Yes, those "arbor/cylinder pins" need a lot of grease actually.

 

[Gatofeo]

I would have passed them by.
Brass-framed revolvers are almost always of much lesser quality than steel-framed guns. Factories just don't put the fit and finish into them.
Because they're used, you don't know whether the previous owner loaded them with Hodgdon 777 (a no-no, because of 777's higher pressures) or stuffed them full of black powder or Pyrodex P.
Brass-framed revolvers are damaged by maximum pressures that a steel-framed revolver shrugs off.
Also, people are notoriously negligent about maintaining black powder guns, especially revolvers. They like their looks, but the first time they're faced with cleaning them, they are often shocked. After one cleaning, they may be shot again and cleaning gets put off.
I've seen dozens of used cap and ball revolvers in pawn shops and gun shows, with rusted bores and cylinders from no cleaning.
I'd strip both down and give them a scrupulous cleaning in hot, soapy water, dry the parts (all but the grips) in a tray in the oven at 150 degrees with the door cracked open to allow moisture to escape. When dry and warm, cover all parts liberally in olive oil and reassemble.
Add some Crisco or Bore Butter to the arbor, around which the cylinder rotates. A thin coat of Crisco or Bore Butter to the sides of the hammer, and the hammer channel in the frame, will help shrug off fouling later too.
Don't forget to put a little olive or vegetable oil on the threads of the nipples, before screwing them in. It will make taking them out later much easier.

You may have got an okay price on those two, or you may find that they've worn out with excessive charges and neglected. I guess that if you're happy, that's what matters.
But myself, and many others, we'd pass by brass-framed revolvers because of their poorer quality and inherent weakness.

 

[warhawk77]

Thanks for the instructions I will take them apart again and do that.

I took them apart and I didn't see much rust or grim. It looks like they are in good shape. But like you side they could be abused only time will tell.

 

I had some free time this morning and I stopped at a local pawn shop. This is the 2nd time I have stopped at one in 6 years. But walking around I saw two revolvers in a cabinet so I asked to take a look.

I think the top one is a 1851 colt 44 cal and the bottom is a 1851 navy 36 cal. The price was $89.99 each



The first one has a CVA stamped on the side but the other doesn't have any markings at all. The bore is bigger on the top one so I'm guessing its the 44 cal.

While checking out the manager said he had another that was missing a screw. So looking at it it's a pietta in a 36 cal, the screw goes into the loading lever. It should be pretty easy to replace but he was asking $150 so I wanted to wait and think about it.

I'm very happy with my first BP pistol can't wait till I get to shoot them

The top is probably what they call an 1860 sheriff's model, the rebated cylinder makes it definitely a .44.

Notice that on the bottom revolver, the cylinder is straight walled. That makes it an 1851 Navy.

Sounds like you had a good day indeed.

 

[Robert an saa fan]

Congratulations on your purchases! Have fun! :thumbsup:

 

[warhawk77]

After giving them both a good clean there was very little rust or grim in the pistols. I'm guessing the person that owned them cleaned them very well or didn't use them very much.

Only rust was in the barrel of the 1851 navy. Light brass brush and cloth got just about all of it. I'm going to work on it some more today.


At first I thought the blueing had been warn off but I'm not seeing blueing on anything so maybe they didn't have a good blueing to begin with. Might reblue them later but going to shoot them as is for a while.

 

[desi23]

They might have been kit builds too. Those were usually "in the white" and most people used some type of cold blue to finish them. Hard to get a good, durable finish and many people quit too soon. I built a couple years ago and it took quite a while to get a finish I was really happy with. Looks like you got a nice pair of pistols.

 

[MSW]

dang!

I want to go gun shopping with this guy!

nice find...

make good smoke!

 

[44-henry]

A few years back I probably wouldn't have touched them either, but the older brass frame pistols by CVA and Navy Arms are climbing in value. In good condition I could easily make some fast cash on the purchase that the poster made. Either by parting them out on Ebay, or selling on Gunbroker. Also, there is nothing wrong with a brass frame revolver in good condition with light charges.