Remington 1858 "Sheriff" - Historical?

[Gun Creek Phil]

  The  1858 Remington "Sheriff"  with à short barrel is a very nice gun, it's a new one from Pietta.
I' ve read in a book about Old West (French author) that Luke Short, the famous sharpdressed gambler had one under his frock coat.
Is it true?
I've just heard once about this gun, and never saw photos of originals Remingtons 58 with short barrels.
Do you think this model is historicaly accurate?

Thanks

[St. George]

The term 'Sheriff's Model' - is largely a modern marketing tool that describes short-barrelled revolvers that never were.

The Remingtons had longer barrels - 5 1/2" - 7" - and in the various references available and in the referenced private collections and museum collections, those factory barrel lengths must've been more than satisfactory for the original users of these revolvers, since those are what are displayed.

Aesthetically, some of the different 'Sheriff's Model' replicas are attractive - but then, they're supposed to have an appeal so they can garner sales.

'Were' revolvers shortened during the era?

The short answer is 'yes' - but not as many as are seen today in profusion.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[piebiter]

"Guns of the Gunfighters" shows several "sheriff" guns that had been cut down for easy concealment. If memory serves, I believe that there was even a 1860 Army Colt picture. I have never seen a Remington that was cut down however.

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[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The only one in Bruce McDowell's book, page 58, Fig.3-57 has a 6 3/4 inch barrel.  It is a 5 shot .46rf conversion.

I cut my Pietta to the same length.  The beauty is that you don't have to fool around with the rammer lever or catch.  I t drops into a holster I made for my first Single action, a .357 blackhawk.  I bit loosely, but it is OK until I get some round tooits in my leather supplies.

McDowell shows many Colts that were cut down, but only this one Remmie.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

BTW;  My remmie is still a C&B.

I finally opened my copy of REMINGTON LARGE BORE CONVERSION REVOLVERS, by  R. Phillips.  It is #218 of 250  on page 73 & 74 he describes a "Gamblers Special.  It is a nickel plated "fourth type" conversion in .44 centerfire, six shots.  The barrel was shortened to 4 inches.  The frontsight is a "bead post".  The loading lever has been removed, as well as the cartridge ejector rod, with only the ejector rod tube remaining.  The cylinder pin is retained by a neat spring-loaded catch that retains the cylinder pin.

Phillips refers to the 6 3/4" conversion pictured by McDowell, as problably having had the barrel shortened due to barrel wear.

In his opinion, just like gun owners today, once a firearm leaves the factory, pretty well anything goes, whether caused by whim, breakage, or by parts loss.

[Books OToole]

There is a photo of a cut-down Remington in the Time-Life Old West series.  The Gamblers.

As St. George said;  there were cut down revolvers of all kinds, but not near to the profusion of today.

Books

[Itchy Triggerfinger]

I bought one used from a pard in another state.  I was expecting the mid length version, but this reaaally is a short dawg.  Has way cool checkered grips like the model Cabelas has that is color case hardened.  Extremely pointy.  I likey.

Itchy

[Forty Rod]

I don't think Remington ever color case-hardend their hand guns, either.  Small parts, yes.  Frames, no.

[Danny Bear Claw]

My '58 has an 8 inch barrel.  It now has an R&D conversion cylinder in caliber 45 Colt, of course.  It is mated with a '75 Outlaw which has a 7.5 inch barrel.  I was thinking I'd have a problem as far as a holster for the 8 inch tube on the '58, but I got a double "Huckleberry rig" with no toe plugs in the holsters.  It works great and the '58's barrel just barely protrudes from the bottom of the holster.