The Dance is done.

[Fredcdobbs]

I got the new Pietta Dance in shape to shoot. Slixshot nips on the way. The hammer has a nice U notch and the other notch is filled.
Interior parts are slicked up and main spring thinned. Grips stripped, refinished and now nicely fit the grip frame. The triggerguard has been rounded and slimmed cause that's the way I like em. I had to adjust the wedge a bit. I also opened up the cylinders to handle .454 balls like my Ubetis. The gun balances well and just feels nice and smooth. Good purchase. Cabelas had em for $269 but Dixie was $349.

[Tornado]

Nice work! 
I have often wondered if an 1860 Kirst Conversion would fit that frame?

[Fredcdobbs]

Nice work! 
I have often wondered if an 1860 Kirst Conversion would fit that frame?

Don't know but it's probably a basic 1860 Army frame size and an Army cylinder sans engraving and a Navy size grip. I bet if you sent it to Kirst's gunsmith in Texas, he could tell you. Maybe he's fit one already. One thing for sure, you don't have to cut the loading channel, heh. Might look a tad odd.
It's probably the small navy grip that makes this gun feel like a real hog leg. Lots of barrel hanging out there.
I read someone put a Pietta Army grip to get a handle on it. I like it the way it is.

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[pony express]

I don't think an 1860 conversion will fit, it appears that the Dance doesn't have a rebated cylinder. Maybe a Dragoon?

[Fredcdobbs]

I don't think an 1860 conversion will fit, it appears that the Dance doesn't have a rebated cylinder. Maybe a Dragoon?

Don't really know. Have not checked out Pietta to see if they make a Dragoon.

[pony express]

Hadn't considered that, but I don't think they do make one. The Dance may have it's own unique cylinder.

[Fredcdobbs]

Hadn't considered that, but I don't think they do make one. The Dance may have it's own unique cylinder.

Well, my curiosity is up so I emailed Gary (Hoofhearted) to see what he thinks. j

[Fox Creek Kid]

The Pietta Dance repro uses their own '60 Army frame. Original Dance revolvers used a Navy frame for the .36 and an approximation of a Dragoon frame for the .44:


http://www.littlegun.info/arme%20americaine/revolver%20confedere/a%20revolver%20confedere%20dance%20gb.htm

[Tornado]

The Pietta Dance repro uses their own '60 Army frame. Original Dance revolvers used a Navy frame for the .36 and an approximation of a Dragoon frame for the .44:


http://www.littlegun.info/arme%20americaine/revolver%20confedere/a%20revolver%20confedere%20dance%20gb.htm

According to that information it looks like they changed the design new every new batch. 
The Pietta Dance design has no rebated frame and it does not have the front of the cylinder enlarged.  So it must have a unique frame and a '60 conversion probably would not work without some customizing.  I have a '60 Kirst cylinder if you want some dimensions.

[Fredcdobbs]

According to that information it looks like they changed the design new every new batch. 
The Pietta Dance design has no rebated frame and it does not have the front of the cylinder enlarged.  So it must have a unique frame and a '60 conversion probably would not work without some customizing.  I have a '60 Kirst cylinder if you want some dimensions.

Thanks for the offer but I now have a 1860 army being converted to a Kirst cylinder and made into a snubbie. When it gets back, I'll check the cylinder out against the Dance. The gun appears to be a 1860 size frame with a straight cylinder and a Dragoon styled barrel assembly.  I'll find out later. Not in any rush. The barrel is almost identical in size to a 1860 army. Pretty interesting gun. I like it.

[Flint]

Pietta either lowered the frame all the way back, or raised the arbor center.  I know that ASM lowered the frame channel on their 71 Opentop, making the floor very thin and the bolt almost unserviceable.  I don't think Pietta would do that.  The arbor location of the Uberti 71 Opentop would allow the cylinder to be straight.  That would mean the barrel is exclusive as well.

If the cylinder diameter matches the forward section of the 1860, then the 1860 cylinder would not work, as the bolt wouldn't reach the cylinder notches, which on an 1860, are on the Navy sized end of the cylinder.