1860 army long cylinder conversion

[Pappy Hayes]

What do you guys think about the Uberti 1860 Army Long cylinder? I wish it could be had in .44 caliber. Would like to add it to my 1860 collection. It is between this or getting another Richard's Type II in .38 and make a 1861 conversion.

[Abilene]

It is basically just a regular Opentop with a '60 percussion style barrel that has an opentop style rear sight added to it.

[Coffinmaker]

  Well Heck 

As is probably known, I'm a "Conversionista."  I like almost anything "conversion.'  When I recently first saw and became aware of the "Long Cylinder" from Taylors, My knee jerk reflex was "Gottahaveium."  Then I looked harder. 

Yep.  Ittza Open Top.  An Open Top with an 1860esque barrel assembly.  For an 1860 Long Cylinder, the Cylinder is kinda "wrong" as there is no step and no rebated water table.  With that in mind however, from Six Feet it certainly looks the Biz.  Fine from the Freeway as we said in the Cabinet Shop.

Then I thought, all I need to do is source the Barrel Assembly for my Open Tops which are set to load all three available cartridges.  PRESTO!!  Instant Long Cylinder.  Then I came to my senses an remembered I already have a nifty custom barrel in .45 for my Open Tops.  My enthusiasm quickly wained.  Not that it isn't a really neat gun.  Tiz.

I don't remember the specifics of the Type II in 38.  If the .38 Type II has the Step'd Cylinder and rebated water table of the .45, the cylinder would be completely "wrong" for an 1861.  If however, the Type II in .38 has an un-stepped cylinder and flat water table, all one would need for an 1861 would be a Navy pattern Grip Set(s) and PRESTO!!  Instant 1861.

If you have neither, it's down to a Coin Flip.

So Hey Abilene!!  You remember if the .38 Type II has a non-rebated Cylinder??

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[Abilene]

...So Hey Abilene!!  You remember if the .38 Type II has a non-rebated Cylinder??

Yes, it does.  That's why I put a Navy grip set on mine and made it a '61 

[Pappy Hayes]

 I think I will stay with the original plan and get the .38. What ejector rod comes on the .38? All I need to do is sell my 5 1/2 barrel RM in .45 colt. It is new in box non-fired. I have it listed  in the for sale but not had any interest.

[Abilene]

I think I will stay with the original plan and get the .38. What ejector rod comes on the .38? All I need to do is sell my 5 1/2 barrel RM in .45 colt. It is new in box non-fired. I have it listed  in the for sale but not had any interest.

I'm not sure I understand the question about the ejector rod.  It is the same rod that comes on the .44/45 Type II's.  On my .38 Type II, the ejector lines up with the cylinder holes fine for ejection.  On one of my 5 '51 Richards-Masons the ejector hits the front of the cylinder and has to be unloaded like an old Vaquero, "before the click".

[Pappy Hayes]

This is the ejector rod on the Richard's Type II. On the 1861 ejector is shorter and close to the cylinder.

[Abilene]

That picture is an 1861 Richards-Mason, which is a different barrel and ejector entirely from the Type II.  Bear in mind that a '61 Type II was never actually made by Colt, save for the one sample gun. It's like a lot of the conversions Uberti and ASM made, neat guns but not quite authentic.

[Pappy Hayes]

I have a book on conversions and it talks about the 1861 conversions

[Abilene]

I have a book on conversions and it talks about the 1861 conversions

Right, so any '61 conversions you see in the book will be R-M's (and maybe Thuer - Colt converted quite a few models with Thuer but not sure about the '61).  Type 1 or 2 Richards '61's were only made by Italians.  The Italians never made any '61 R-M's (not sure why).

[Long Johns Wolf]

All the original Colt 1860 Long Cylinder Conversions I have seen have straight cylinders and straight watertable, no rebates.
None had a loading gate.
But I have seen pictures of original Colt 1861 LCCs fitted with a loading gate.
Long Johns Wolf