Favorite cap and ball, and why?

[Oregon Bill]

OK pards, what is your absolute favorite cap and ball revolver -- the one you would keep if you could have only one, and preferably one that was actually manufactured by Colt, Remington or one of the lesser arms makers (i.e.m no Colt Navys in .44)?
Why do you like it so much?
I've had 51s, 61s, 60s, Remington 58s, dragoons and a Walker. I still like a Navy the best, I think, although I surely do admire a Remington's sights and simple cylinder removal. I just like the Navy's balance, its grip frame and that fact that it was there from 1851 through the end of the percussion era.

[Major 2]

 though I'm very fond of the 51 Navy and have several

It's the 1860 Army ...  Finest artistic design in a revolver ever , the grip,  44 Cal. ( allows for 45 Conversion )

[Fingers McGee]

Hands down it's the 1861 Navy.  All the balance and pointability of the 1851 Navy with the streamlined look and improvements (ratcheting loading lever & larger lever catch) of the 1860 Army

[Advertising]

[Oregon Bill]

Fingers, the only reason I'd pick the '51 over the svelte '61 is that it is legit in the early Gold Rush years, while the '61 is not. An important consideration out here on the West Coast.

[Forty Rod]

though I'm very fond to the 51 Navy and have several

It's 1860 Army ...  Finest artistic design in a revolver ever , the grip,  44 Cal. ( allows for 45 Conversion )

I agree.  With the three screw frame and no cutouts for stock attachments, it's far and away the most elegant looking percussion revolver ever made.

[Lefty Dude]

It would be my Belgium 1860 Colt, made in 1959-60. This one is the civilian model three screw with the silver plated TG & backstrap.
It is now in Hoof Hearted's shop being fitted with a Theur 45 colt cylinder.
Hopefully HH will post a Pix or two when  it is completed. He is re-bluing the barrel to match the new cartridge cylinder.
HH you have my permission to post pix's here.
The Civilian 1860 is the best Colt C&B produced.

[Noz]

5.5" Colt 1860. Fits my hand and I like the 44 cal.

[The Trinity Kid]

My favorite is the Remington NMA.  Fits me like a glove.  And the .44 is nice too.  I like my '51, but the Remington just balances better for me.  The lever flagging catches my fancy as well.

--TK

[The Pathfinder]

I've got to go with the civilian 1860 as well. Heck I've got four of 'em. one ASM, one Uberti and a pair of the Centaures. what can I say, I really hate that fourth screw. Of course that doesn't stop me from having another half dozen or so that have it as well, including a pair of 2nd gen Colts.

[Cliff Fendley]

Hands down it's the 1861 Navy.  All the balance and pointability of the 1851 Navy with the streamlined look and improvements (ratcheting loading lever & larger lever catch) of the 1860 Army

+1

[Major 2]

The 3 screw frame did not make the 1860 unique to Civilian Model.
My Original Circa 1862 is a 3 screw frame and w/ inspectors cartouche grip, was issued to the 5th Iowa Cavalry.


Edit..

Re-reading your original post...

" ... the one you would keep if you could have only one, and preferably one that was actually manufactured by Colt, Remington or one of the lesser arms maker"

It would have to be the above.... however, I'd be hard pressed to allow my original Grizwold & Gunnison to leave my stewardship
 because of it's rarity. 

[Slowhand Bob]

!860 Colt with grips swapped out with the Navy model.  Had Remington more closely copied the Colt Navy grip shape and size the '58 revolver would have been unstoppable.

[Octagonal Barrel]

Having only four cap'n'balls, I barely qualify to reply.  I've got a Uberti Augusta (1851Colt Navy brasser w/ octagonal barrel), an ASP Beals Remmie (see my avatar), and two Pietta 1862 Police (short '61 Navys with unhistorical fluted barrels, or '62 Polices with unhistorical fluted barrels and 6 shots instead of 5, depending on how you look at them).

The only thing I don't like about the Augusta is that it takes .380 round ball.  .375 is available locally without mail order or casting myself.

By looks, the ASP should be my favorite.  Big, functional, a good shooter, and a good looker.  Engraved, sort of.  A real gunfigher's gun.

But the favorites are the Pietta '62s.  Six shots let's 'em work for CAS, they're short enough to be relatively fast on the draw, and they're good shooters.  Even if they are "fantasy" and with the infamous Pietta tail.  ...And they take .375's I can get locally.  Reliable guns - as long as you've got your cones and caps sorted out.

If I had money for another dozen guns or so, I'd bet I'd fall in line with the historical '61 Navy crowd.  Even if my name is "Octagonal Barrel."

[Oregon Bill]

Sure appreciate all the replies. It is a sweet misery trying to choose one of these fine shooters. Leaning toward a '51 London this morning, but really like the power and beauty of the 1860, although the grip doesn't fit me like the Navy's does.

[Long Johns Wolf]

I am with Lefty Dude and Pathfinder: Belgian Centaure "1960 NEW MODEL ARMY" no question about that.
And converted to shoot .44 Colt cartridges, ha.
Long Johns Wolf

[Noz]

Sure appreciate all the replies. It is a sweet misery trying to choose one of these fine shooters. Leaning toward a '51 London this morning, but really like the power and beauty of the 1860, although the grip doesn't fit me like the Navy's does.

Go with the gun that fits you! You will shoot it better and be happier in the long run.

Everything else is just window dressing.

[Cliff Fendley]

Sure appreciate all the replies. It is a sweet misery trying to choose one of these fine shooters. Leaning toward a '51 London this morning, but really like the power and beauty of the 1860, although the grip doesn't fit me like the Navy's does.

If you like the navy grip but the beauty of the 1860 then the 61 navy has all that. Still 36 caliber but if your not hunting with it doesn't matter. 

[Paladin UK]

Noz says............

Go with the gun that fits you! You will shoot it better and be happier in the long run.

Could not agree more 

Paladin (What lurvs the 1860 ) UK

[Tornado]

Sure appreciate all the replies. It is a sweet misery trying to choose one of these fine shooters. Leaning toward a '51 London this morning, but really like the power and beauty of the 1860, although the grip doesn't fit me like the Navy's does.

What you should be asking is which one should I get first!    C&B guns are social creatures and do not like to be alone, I vote for an 1860 with navy grips to start off with.

[Oregon Bill]

Well, Cabelas has their Pietta London Navy for $249, plus a coupon, so that's what I ordered. Agree an 1860 with Navy grips would be the nuts.