pistol info

[Paul L Muller]

I am seeing a new pistol in my future and I am not buying old second hand any longer. They have weak springs and parts are hard to find, SO... to be correct ,what about remingtons vs colt armys and navys? I like the colt army 44, and hear that the steel frame is best, but I would welcome any input. I want to do better that all my mainstraem friends by being thoughtful of historic correctness. plm

[volcav]

Re: pistol info

Looking at the equipment standards for the various campainer events lately, I've decided that my next pistol will be a Colt Army .44. I already have a Remington but I've come to find out they weren't issued until about mid-war. The steel frame is the better choice in my opinion. The brass frame is not acceptable for a Federal impression while the steel fraame can be used for either one. Unless I was doing a unit specific impression that can document a particular pistol, I'd stick with the .44 Army Colt. The .44 Army Colt is the one pistol that can do either side, any theater, any time during the war. That's the conclusion I've come to. It was the standard issue pistol for the Union. Others were issued but the .44 Army Colt was standard. The others were substitutes. If you only do one impression of one unit and can document what they had then go that route.

The .36 Colt Navy in steel frame would be my new second choice. It had been around for 10 years by the time the war came along. Once again, steel frames can go north or south, brass was Condeferate issue only. The .44 Navy is a recent marketing invention. Navy pistols regardless of manufacture were .36 caliber. Army pistols regardless of manufacture were .44 caliber.

Cabela's had their Colt replicas on sale for $219 the other day. I've found Cabelas to always be competitively priced. They carry Pieta pistols and I've never had a problem with them. Uberti will cost you more. I'm not aware of any American made replicas. You can still get honest to God new manufacture Colt's if you're willing to pay the price.

That's my two cents worth based on what I've seen elsewhere and on this forum in the last couple of months.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: pistol info

Hallo!

Ideally, one's choice of revolver should match the revolver issued to the unit and time being portrayed.

For the reenactor concept of a "generic" revolver that would have been "commonly" in general use, the M1860 Colt Army (Types I through IV) would be a good "choice" with 127,157 ordered by the Ordnance department with another 2,027 bought on the open market.

As far as repro's go, and staying with the Army .44's, the Remington is not as "universal." The so-called "Remington M1858" Army or Navy is a reenactor/collector made up name. There is no "M1858 Remington." The 1858 patented Beals made by Remington was either the Beals-Remington or the Remington-Beals. Followed by the Remington M1861 which no one makes a repro of.
The repro Remington is the New Model 1863. Between 1863 and 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 109,805 NM .44 Army's.

(So, historically speaking, it makes it hard to use a post 1863 revolver for 1862 or 1861 events. But many lads get tripped on the bogus "M1858" name...)

Curt

[GarrettG1993]

Re: pistol info

If you have the extra cash, $600-$1,200 of it, I would recomend a Colt Second Generation revolver. As far as I know they require no real defarbing. The grips might need to be stripped and treated with a period finish, but other than that they are good to go. I prefer a 1851 Colt Navy, it's a bit lighter than the Army and it seems that prior to the war they were very popular with the civilian market, so they make a great early war revolver. I would avoid brass frame revolvers like the plague. Aside from being a strictly Confederate gun, there are no quality reproductions, in my oppinion. The limited numbers produced would have made them an unusual pistol and our mainstream breatherin generally overuse them.


Regards,
Garrett Glover

[rogue]

Re: pistol info

Check Gunbroker, look for "Colt 1851"in the search box. Look for the second generation made by Colt, several are listed at a reasonable price. Brass frames were limited and many were fantasy pieces, and the 44 caliber weapons are heavy to tote. The model 1851 was popular in 36caliber for a reason, easy to carry and got the job done.
Steve Sullivan

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: pistol info

Paul, Eventually, go with both a 51 Navy and 60 Army... Talk your wife into one for Christmas this year and one next! They also make great birthday, anniversary and Halloween presents! My wife still hasn't figured out why I need 6 Civil War era firearms but only ever use one at a time. (Unless it's the carbine and revelver). She has threatened my life with any "new" guns if I bring another home anytime soon... Good thing the rifle maker I talked to last week has a year backlog! Best of luck! Z

[forrestcav]

Re: pistol info

Hey Zack, Raffles... " Hey honey look at the cabine, pistolo, etc, that I won at the last (insert name) event. I sure am lucky huh?"

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: pistol info

Joe, I like that! Maybe put a shade on the muzzle and a short electrical cord off the butt and call it a lamp... she'll send it to the barn.... Lol Z

[Mark Choate]

Re: pistol info

I never knew until now, how many shysters and con-men that we had in the mounted ranks...................

For $50 per man, I will promise each of you that I will NOT send a copy of your post to your wives.

regards,
Mark

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: pistol info

I have to second the nomination of the old Colt "black powder" second generation pistols! All markings are correct. Fit and finish are first-rate. No defarbing needed. Plus, parts are readily available, if you have some mechanical issue that needs to be repaired.

Yes, they cost more. But its worth it! =)

[Mark J.]

Re: pistol info

Cabela's stocks Piettas and they are some really nice pistols; accurate, fit and function is excellent. The best part is you can combine their specials ($20 off of orders over $150) and free shipping and have yourself a great gun for only around $170. Of course, there's some defarbing to do, ...but the gun is quality to begin with. I regularly shoot my Remington at 100 yards--- the gun is a joy to shoot. Keeps the balls in a goup the size of a basketball and regularly out performs the more expensive Ubertis.

[Mark J.]

Re: pistol info

...the basketball comparison is at 100 yds; at 25 the groups ar more like 4".

[Mike Ventura]

Re: pistol info

I almost exclusively carry my .36 Navy. There's a significant weight difference between the 1851 .36 Navy and the 1860 Colt .44.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: pistol info

I have a Euroarms (1970's version) of the Colt navy 36. Nice enough but desperately needs de-farbing. Any ideas on where or who to does a good job? I can re-finish the grip, grind off the farby markings but have no tools nor abilities for replacing them with proper Colt markings. What specifically needs to be done? Any ideas? Anyone?

Ken R KNopp

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: pistol info

Ken, have you tried contacting Todd Watts? He may do revolvers.