Well, I finally got one! Ordered a Cimmaron Carbine in 44 Special. I was really trying to decide between an SRC and Short Rifle, and had come down on the side of the SRC. Talked to my dealer, and he called Cimmarron. They said they had 8 SRCs in stock in 44 Spl. and ONE Carbine without the saddle ring feature in that caliber. I didn't even know they made it without the saddle ring... Dealer pointed out that the non-SRC is also historically accurate, so I ordered that one, just to be different.
Got it Monday and shot it yesterday. I loaded up some smokeless, since I had the bullets already sized and lubed, and it was quick and easy. Shot cloverleafs at 25 yards. My one disappointment (small) is that it doesn't have a sight setting that works at 50 to 100 yards. I held the top of the front sight even with the tallest outside parts of the buckhorn rear and that put me about right for elevation at 50 yards, but seriously low at 100. Flipped the sight up and used the lower aperture, and the rounds went about 12" high at 100 yards... No sight setting zeroes for 100. The rear sight is the simple flip-up/down buckhorn sight. I'm thinking I might want to get the more complicated ladder sight. Any suggestions?
I've got the Adirondack Jack's lifter to convert this to 44 Russian, and I'll get to that in a couple weekends, but I'm really eager to get this tricked-out like an Indian-owned gun. I've got a nice turkey feather and have ordered some brass tacks. But, I've got a couple questions and would like some input:
I'd like this carbine to look about 5 years old with a majority of that period being non-attention to maintenance. That means letting the brass naturally tarnish, but is there a safe way to speed this up? Also, what to do about the modern-looking glossy finish on the wood? Is there a good way to strip this, and what about a new finish (hand-rubbed?)?
BTW, I'm reenacting a civilian scout circa 1872-5. This carbine will be a "battlefield pick-up." For pistols, I'm carrying an Open Top currently, but I'd like to switch my main pistol to a S&W American model, if one of the companies (like Cimmarron) would get us a repro of an early model. (I'd relegate the Open Top to a back-up gun or second gun for SASS matches.) My plan is to shoot 44 Russians in everything to represent/equivalent the 44 Henry cartridge.