Only One Made!

[Fox Creek Kid]

I saw this in a gun journal years ago when it was for sale then.


https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4096/181/experimental-prototype-38-cf-colt-18711872-open-top-revolver

[Abilene]

well that's interesting.  It makes my .38 '71 OT now authentic! 

Notice the rammer hole in the barrel and dovetailed rear sight.  I bet they repurposed a '61 barrel.

[Coffinmaker]

Yepper!!  Makes our Central Fire 38 Open Tops more legitimate.  I'm all for that actually.

At one time there was "rumor" floating around of a "tool room" Open Top built for Central Fire 44 Henry.  I've personally never seen it nor talked to anyone who has actually seen it let alone actually touched it.  Certainly wouldn't surprise me though.

[Major 2]

If you go to the NRA Museum collection at Bass Pro in Springfield Mo. you will see the only one 40 cal. conversion 1851 Navy.

And here is my Kenny Howell conversion ("Last Stand from Saber River") one of 5 made (including Selleck's 3 HERO guns in 45.)
 
1860 Army 1st Model Richards in 38 Colt

The three Hero Guns (faux Ivory grips) went to Selleck (now NRA collection) Elmore Leonard (Author) and the director Dick Lowry.

The other two, I only know about the one (mine) sold to Rudy Ugland (Wrangler)
And I talked him out of it. 

[Galloway]

Funny I sold mine off years ago figuring it wasnt authentic enough for me. Duelist1954 mentions colt made several 38 caliber open tops in his last video on them I recall, and appears right in this case.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Major, that's a fine pistol. I like the Saber River pistol(s). Yours is a fine example of one in .38 Colt.

[Coffinmaker]

  REMEMBER

Way back inna Wabac machine (Thank you Sherman & Perfesser), "38" was real close to "real" 38.  .375 Bore rather than our present day .357 bore guns.  The 38 Colt cartridge was then quite common over the counter and was nothing to sneeze at.  38 Special by comparison is pretty anemic.  HOWEVER:

The Saber River guns are just the Beez Kneez!! You Betcha

[Coffinmaker]

  REMEMBER MORE

It also makes it kind of annoying to note, the original .44 Colt was actually a .45!!  As opposed to the 427/430 of the "modern" 44 Colt.  Ergo, Colt simply thru bored the Cylinder of the 1860and created the deep star and recoil plate with loading gate.

While it (44 Colt) was a .45, twaz a much shorter case with less capacity than the later 45 Colt round.  Makes for interesting speculation about numbers when considering the .44 caliber 1860 was really a .45 and the .36 caliber 1851 was actually closer to .38 and neither are the same as the modern equivalent.

Interestingly, Colt never, ever, chambered an 1860 conversion for .45 Colt.  To introduce the .45 Colt, they begat the "1873" SAA With Sam Colt's hated "top strap."  Makes me wonder why Colt didn't just lengthen the 44 Colt case??  I suspect to get the performance the Army wanted, would have resulted in a very long cartridge/Cylinder.  A cartridge converted "Dragoon" perhaps??

[Coffinmaker]

  OH YEAH

And just for funzies, the Henry Rifle was actually a .44 (.446) and thusly, the original Colt Open Top was actually chambered for .44.   That being  originally the .44 Henry Flat.  Although there is rumor of a tool room example Open Top built for 44 Henry Central Fire.

The really fun part of that being, I have TWO Open Top barrels for my .44s that are actually marked 44-40 (by Uberti) and are .427 bore.  So, exactly why did Winchester make the 1873 Rifle a 42 caliber and call it 44-40??

So:  Why of why is today's 38 Special really a THIRTY FIVE??

Ok Ok Ok, I quit for now.  Burma Shave!!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Basically, percussion bores were measured at the top of the lands and cartridge bores were (and still are) measured at the bottom of the grooves.

This .44 percussion is dead on with .45 Colt cartridges loaded with .454 bullets.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Some of the lowest serial numbered '72 Open Tops (including #1) were chambered in .44 Russian, as was the first SAA.

The later 'Improved Henry' slugs at circa 0.432" groove diam. interestingly. Remember, SAAMI specs did not exist then and industrial precision measurement was in its infancy. Some Sharps .44 slug at over .0450" and I know of a Marlin 1881 45-70 that slugged over 0.460"!

[Major 2]

Kid, I have question for you, I'm quite sure you will remember this Type II.

I know there was at least two you commissioned, back about 2006?
This one and I've seen the other that Oklahoma Tom acquired at some point around
2016-17.
I thought there was third, but the question how many did you have made?   

This one I purchased from you in 2007 and was my main match (NCOWS, I still have it; it still looks and functions like new.
OKLA Tom's had fire blued screws I recall.
I don't know who did the nickel, but it has held up beautifully for 20 years use.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Major Deuce,

   The third was made into a 1st Model Richards that was sold long ago.