Traditions JH Dance revolver

[sackettboys]

Happened to see a pic on the Traditions website. Has anyone handled/shot one? I've always like the Confederate reproduction cap & ball pistols. I like that's it steel frame. I was wondering how well it's put together and functions.

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=FR18622

[Trinity]

I bought a Dance from Pietta three or so years ago (had been only available through Dixie Gun Works).  I love mine, but it is pretty tight. 

As far as I know, Pietta makes the guns for Traditions, but someone else might have to respond to that.  From what I've seen in the past, they were somewhat inferior to the standard Pietta offerings.  That said, Bass Pro Shops started carrying them and I went to handle it and was impressed on the fit & finish and it felt much smoother than mine.  I see that Traditions lists the Dance as "New", which makes me wonder if they are using a different manufacturer.  Of course, the salesman couldn't tell me anything.  Well, maybe what time his next break was...


Here's a link to Bass Pro where it is a little more expensive than direct from Traditions:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_101694_400003001_400000000_400003000_400-3-1

Here's a link to DGW. I'm not sure if these are now the Traditions or still the Pietta, but the price has come down.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=883

If you like confederate replicas, check out some of the other guns from DGW or Traditions.  DGW has also for a long time now offered a Spiller and Burr (manuf. by Pietta and now also listed as "New" on the Traditions site).  Others have tried to pass off a brass framed remington as a confederate revolver by offering the "1858 New Army Texas" revolver, but the Spiller & Burr is more correct.  Bass Pro also has one (under the Traditions label) which felt good, but it was not as nicely finished as the Dance.  There were mill marks in the sight groove.  Again, I don't know how the Piettas offered by DGW differ, if at all.

I hope someone else can chime in with experience.  I'd love to hear how these are shooting and would like to see more confederate revolvers at matches.  No matter what, I can't imagine that you would regret the purchase.


Here's a link to the Replica Percussion Revolver Collector's Association.  They have some nice pictures to drool over.

http://members.tripod.com/rprca/Home.html

[River City John]

http://www.civilwar.si.edu/weapons_dance.html

Above is a link to an original Dance in the Smithsonian collection.

Trinity, I agree on enjoying my Leech & Rigdon. It is a fine shooter. If I was in the market for another revolver, it would be a toss-up between the Dance or the Whitney Navy, although I did not see that it is still being offered by DGW. Spiller & Burr design based on the Whitney.
RCJ

[Forty Rod]

None of the pictures I've seen of the original Dance show it with a square back trigger guard, but the replicas all seem to have them.  Comments?

[Trinity]

RCJ, I knew about the revolvers I mentioned and one or two more, but I had no idea that other replicas existed until I found the Replica Percussion Revolver Collector's Association website a few months back.  That piqued my interest and now I would like to focus on obtaining more confederate revolvers.  Forty Rod even told me about a Uberti Dance.  A quick web search brings up many discussions, but no opportunities for purchase and Uberti's sales literature makes no mention of it.  I wonder how long ago they quit making it.


Forty, I don't think anybody except Alchemista has an idea why they use the square back.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Forty Rod even told me about a Uberti Dance.  A quick web search brings up many discussions, but no opportunities for purchase and Uberti's sales literature makes no mention of it.  I wonder how long ago they quit making it...

Uberti only made about 100 or so & they were all .36 cal. if I remember correctly. Adler covers it in his Colt BP book. This was in the late 1960's - early 1970's. I have seen only seen one for sale a few years back & they wanted over $900.00 for it. 

[WV Scrounger]

Hey Forty Rod....very observant ! ! !  I was wondering the same thing and I found a website that tends to make you think the .36 Dance pistol had the round trigger guard and the .44 Dance pistol have the squareback trigger guard....
 here is the website.....Look at the 6th photo under the Dance catagory
http://civilwarhandgun.com/obscure.htm

    they show a pice of a dance with a squareback trigger guard....

  I have been looking all over  a Dance pistol and noticed that one of the sellers were listing them as " Second Generation"
.......anybody else see that

[Forty Rod]

LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, as soon a I say something isn't or can't be, or never was, someone comes along and proves me wrong.      

I've only seen one original and it was missing the grips frame and trigger guard (also the loading lever and hammer and most internal parts) so I can't say for certain.  This is the first picture I've seen with a square back guard on either caliber, and I notice the repros have color case frames.  The originals seem to have been blued with brass grip straps and front sight blades, and no mention of CCH on any parts.  Grips were one piece wlnut

The .44 version is bigger than a Colt Navy but smaller than a Dragoon.  No other pistol that I know of is just this size.

Norm Flayderman's Guide doesn't specify the CCH or guard shape.

[WV Scrounger]

Hmmmm....you would figger that flaydermans would mention things like that...huh?  I would ! ! !

[Forty Rod]

Yeah, he's usually pretty good about that.  Could be that they're so scarce he doesn't know...but I can't see that being the case.