Which Uberti Colt 1851 Navy?

[wiscoaster]

I'm thinking of aquiring a Colt 1851 Navy repro, and I notice that Dixie Gun Works has multiple Uberti Colt 1851 Navy models. I think what I'd like is something that reasonably represents what they call the "fourth model" and I'm looking for some guidance as to which Uberti offering you think most closely represents that. Thanks ...

 

[kh54]

@wiscoaster, I’m no expert but I think that only the square-back trigger guard (2nd model) and the round trigger guard (3rd/4th models which are very similar - I think) are offered by Uberti. I love my 1851 Uberti with a five-inch barrel. (Let’s just call it a 4th model. Five inch barrels are rare but documented so it isn’t an Italian fantasy gun.) I just like the way that the shorter barrel handles. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

 

[wiscoaster]

There are ten1851 Navy Colts that Dixie Gun Works lists online; some are Piettas and some are Ubertis:

I'm confused.

I suppose I could scratch the brass frame and square-back trigger guards. That still leaves six to choose from. None resemble Wild Bill's 1851 Navy, which would be my main criterion for choice.

Taylor's has even more, though they do have one Wild Bill model, but it's over $800. And "out of stock/no backorder" anyway. Argh.

 

[kh54]

Is this the one you want? Only $616,875 in 2022.

 

[Gtrubicon]

I don’t know who makes a good copy, but I’ve grown quite fond of the london model. I’m not a fan of brass. I like steel.

 

[kh54]

If you have your heart set on the model that Hickok carried at the end of his life I think DGW’s RH019 is as close as you’ll get from Uberti. Don’t get the London model - you want the brass trigger guard and grip frame. Notice that the loading cutout in the right side of the frame is wrong. My Uberti had the same small opening that I corrected to match original models using a Dremel and very careful sanding with wet/dry. You can find faux ivory grips online but you’ll probably have some fitting to do. If you want to match the engraving - we’ll sorry but I can’t help you there.

 

[wiscoaster]

I found this used Pietta on GB. It's got a steel frame, faux engraving and cheapo plastic grips I can ditch. On the downside, of course, is the usual Pietta advertising on the barrel, which I suppose I can live with. But I can't tell - maybe you guys can help me out: is this trigger guard the small oval or the large oval? It looks pretty small, but I'm not sure how to tell. It's the large oval I'm wanting, and mainly why I specified fourth model. Thanks.

 

[45D]

Wow, I just sent one of those back to a customer!! Nice revolver. His has a sheriff's barrel to go with it.
That's a steel frame btw. The back strap and trigger guard are brass.

Mike

 

[wiscoaster]

...
That's a steel frame btw. The back strap and trigger guard are brass.

Mike

Ya, sorry, mind goof. Post edited to correct. So, small oval or large, Mike? You're the guy would know.

 

[Crow Choker]

Saw one of those at a gun show not long ago, IMO it is the small. Speaking of trigger guards, I love the looks of the squareback trigger guards as on my Walker, Whitville, and 2nd Mod Dragoons, so when I bought a Uberti '51 36 caliber some years back from Taylor I got the squareback version. Just looks natural for that model. I have no prob with the squareback on the big 44's, but my fat fingers are a bit cramped on that '51 Colt. It's not so bad it's unshootable, but always there. My '61 Navy with round guard feels alot better. Have been going to switch to a round trigger guard on the '51 but always hope I can find someone that wants to trade a round for a square. So ifin anyone out there is considering a '51 Navy and like the looks of the squareback ifin ya have large hands/fingers, a squareback '51 is tight.

 

[wiscoaster]

...I have no prob with the squareback on the big 44's, but my fat fingers are a bit cramped on that '51 Colt. It's not so bad it's unshootable, but always there. My '61 Navy with round guard feels alot better. ...ifin ya have large hands/fingers, a squareback '51 is tight.

Thanks, that gives me some guidance on which way to go.

 

[kh54]

From the for-what-it's-worth department:

I just overlaid images from the web of a 3rd model original 1851, a 4th model original 1851, and an Uberti reproduction 1851, their model no. 340000. I don't know where the small or large trigger guards fall in the pantheon of 1851 models and variants, but there are only negligible differences between the three I compared. No one is noticeably larger or smaller than the others.

 

[kh54]

More from the for-what-it's-worth department...

I've attached a photo of my two Uberti's side by side. The loading cutout/port on the top one used to look like that on the bottom one. I couldn't load conicals with it, so I enlarged it as I explained above. I understand that the beveled cutout was a feature of the 4th model but I've seen many purported 3rd models with the beveled cutout, maybe half/half. So did Colt make any 3rd models that way, or were they later modified, or are they misrepresnted on the web?

Caveat: When I say I've "seen" anything it's almost always on the web. Just so you know.

 

[Secesh]

Two Cents

I love the brass frame models. Cylinder and barrel contrast very well when the brass takes on a butterscotch patina. They’re cheaper and shoot just as good as a steel frame.

 

[wiscoaster]

From the for-what-it's-worth department:

I just overlaid images from the web of a 3rd model original 1851, a 4th model original 1851, and an Uberti reproduction 1851, their model no. 340000. I don't know where the small or large trigger guards fall in the pantheon of 1851 models and variants, but there are only negligible differences between the three I compared. No one is noticeably larger or smaller than the others.

Hmmmm. Interesting. I was thinking of doing that, too, when I got around to it, so thanks for your report. Wrt the supposed size difference, I'm relying on a Mike Belliveau video, and he's been consistently knowledgeable and reliable on other cap 'n ball topics, so I didn't do any further research until this thread. There's a gun collectors show coming up near here in a couple weeks; hopefully I can get there and somebody will have some real guns I can handle and compare.

 

[wiscoaster]

....

I've attached a photo of my two Uberti's side by side. ....

I took a calipers and as close as I could measure without scratching my screen I got 24 x 32 mm on the top and 22 x 30 mm on the bottom. So there does seem to be a difference between the sizes of the two ovals, though the actual measurements I got are completely dependent on window sizing. And if the camera angle wasn't exactly vertical.

 

[wiscoaster]

I think maybe I should first just concentrate on getting a repro that represents a "stock" Colt 1851. Later I can get something that represents Wild Bill's gun.

 

[Dickydalton]

I have a 2nd Gen Colt 1851 that 45D has fixed and I also have a 2015 or 16 Pietta 1851 that works very good.

 

[wiscoaster]

I'm going with the "stock" Uberti Colt 1851 Navy from MidwayUSA.

 

[Sound Tribe]

I'm going with the "stock" Uberti Colt 1851 Navy from MidwayUSA.

What made you choose uberti over pietta?
And howcome 36 over 44cal?

I'm in the same boat and can't decide which...