1861 Navy

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,  Seems like no one is ever that excited about the 1861 Navy, and I'm curious as to why.  It would seem to be pretty much the ultimate .36!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

The 1861 Navy is a spectacular piece. It's a hard guess why it isn't more popular. That and the 1862 Pocket Police, which is perhaps an even better size for a .36 than the 1861 although it is only a 5-shot model.

[Graveyard Jack]

Not only do I wish they were more popular but I also wish Uberti would make a proper Richards-Mason conversion. Rather than just an 1860 chambered in .38Spl. It just ain't the same.

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[Coffinmaker]

   Ah Ha, and Since You Asked 

Don't really have a Clue.  Or:  Histeraclly (yes it's miss-spelled), the 1851 Navy became the most celebrated, natural pointing, bestest balanced, superist hand gun of the age.  Then carried forward to the present time with the exact same accolade.  Not that the 1851 isn't all of those things, it certainly is (according to legend).  And, it has the ubiquitous Octagon Barrel.

Now, in plain fact, the 1861 is an 1851.  Same frame, same clockworks, same cylinder, etc.  The big departure is the 1860esque barrel assembly.  Which is described by many as "sleek and sexy."  I happen to like the 1861 even though I have a penchant for Octagonal Barrels.  But, were one to consider the now defunct line of Armi San Marco Richards conversions, which were built primarily on the 1851 frame with the 1861 barrel assembly, which actually makes them 1861s, they are without doubt, the sleekest and sexiest SAs or Conversions ever.  Even if they are/were a Hysterical No No. 

Now, I go back to the 1861 being unappreciated.  It is Unappreciated.  I don't have a clue why.  Perhaps if W. B. Hickok had preferences the 1861, it would be held in higher acclaim.

I know, were I to build a new personal set of 38 cartridge conversions,  I'd start with Pietta 1861s.  Chop Chop Shaka Laka.

Lets Have Fun Out There

[bushwhacker]

I love my 61 navy’s. Mine are not converted but I love shooting them with the eras gone 147 grain Richmond Laboratory bullets. 

[Niederlander]

How close to point of aim is it with that bullet?

[bushwhacker]

About 1 to 11/2 inches high at apex. 10 yards.  A lot of that is the operator’s error!

[Niederlander]

Good to hear!  I've got that mold but haven't tried it yet.

[Niederlander]

Bushwacker, What powder charge do you use with the Richmond bullet?  Do you use a felt wad under it?

[Dan Topper]

I have a 1862 Pocket Police conversion done by Millington. Love it. I want an 1861 Navy Conversion bad. But perhaps I can shed light on why they aren't more popular. They take a lot of work to do properly. The plug has a slightly unusual shape and the barrel gets lots of milling to do right. That is my two cents worth on why they aren't more popular. Too much work and as a result more expensive.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Do you have a photo of that 1862?

[Major 2]

I've posted these photos before, Pietta 61 w/ Kirst & 7.5, 51 conversion barrel.
I use a heal base bullet with the 3" barrel, but the 7.5 is .357 lined.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's pretty cool with both barrels. Have you considered getting the 3" barrel lined so they both use the same ammunition?

Did you make the holster? If so, what did you use for the toe cap?

[Major 2]

That's pretty cool with both barrels. Have you considered getting the 3" barrel lined so they both use the same ammunition?

Did you make the holster? If so, what did you use for the toe cap?

Yes, to both    ... the cap was salvaged from a $1 yard sale India brass tea pitcher lid.
Cut down at the arrows, buffed and fitted.

[bushwhacker]

Neiderlander, I use APP 3F. It is 18 grains. With BP and a felt wad I could only get about 14 grains.  The APP does really well. No problems with knockdown targets,

[greyhawk]

  Ah Ha, and Since You Asked 

Don't really have a Clue.  Or:  Histeraclly (yes it's miss-spelled), the 1851 Navy became the most celebrated, natural pointing, bestest balanced, superist hand gun of the age.  Then carried forward to the present time with the exact same accolade.  Not that the 1851 isn't all of those things, it certainly is (according to legend).  And, it has the ubiquitous Octagon Barrel.

Now, in plain fact, the 1861 is an 1851.  Same frame, same clockworks, same cylinder, etc.  The big departure is the 1860esque barrel assembly.  Which is described by many as "sleek and sexy."  I happen to like the 1861 even though I have a penchant for Octagonal Barrels.  But, were one to consider the now defunct line of Armi San Marco Richards conversions, which were built primarily on the 1851 frame with the 1861 barrel assembly, which actually makes them 1861s, they are without doubt, the sleekest and sexiest SAs or Conversions ever.  Even if they are/were a Hysterical No No. 

Now, I go back to the 1861 being unappreciated.  It is Unappreciated.  I don't have a clue why.  Perhaps if W. B. Hickok had preferences the 1861, it would be held in higher acclaim.

I know, were I to build a new personal set of 38 cartridge conversions,  I'd start with Pietta 1861s.  Chop Chop Shaka Laka.

Lets Have Fun Out There

Hey Coffinmaker
didja ever have the gears strip on one of them sleek an sexy guns? We did (son not me) -  the loading lever gears chewed out the cogs underneath the barrel - he bought it pretty reasonable off a dealer not renowned for giving out bargains - I reckon it started to fail, got traded, got fiddled up enough to work for a bit and we got it - nice lookin 1860 army with shoulder stock. I couldnt fix the gears at the time so I made a new loading lever a la remington style - had ta drill one hole in the barrel assembly. Nobody has spotted the repair yet - you blokes would easy but ya have to be payin attention.     

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yes, to both    ... the cap was salvaged from a $1 yard sale India brass tea pitcher lid.
Cut down at the arrows, buffed and fitted.

Thanks, that's a great idea. Very innovative.

[Johnson Barr]

This one has been posted before. I have had best luck with the R&D .38 Spl. conversion cylinder. I opened up the cylinder throat to accommodate .375 heeled bullets and re-chambered the cylinder for 38 S&W brass. The 38 S&W brass case mouth makes loading the heeled Old West bullet mould castings a snap. Powder is GOEX 3f Pinnacle that I still have on hand. APP was the GOEX producer in the day. Tend more times than not to pair the '61 with my Henry Trapper at matches.

[Niederlander]

Anyone got an Uberti 1861 barrel and lever they're not using?

[Niederlander]

Just read something about the 1861' lack of popularity that makes sense to me.  According to the article, there was such a glut of revolvers left over from the Civil War that they just didn't sell very well.