Sgt. Saywut Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 My next pair of pistols will likely be Bisley Vaqueros, but I’m digging the appearance of the 1851 Navy Sheriff’s Model: I understand this is a BP pistol, and there are conversion cylinders available for centerfire cartridges. If I understand correctly also, such a conversion needs to take into consideration the barrel being sized for .36 caliber (or .44 caliber) bullets. Is there a pistol in this configuration that’s available from the factory ready to go, in smokeless 38 Special? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Not that I've been able to find Closest thing would be a Uberti with a round barrel. I bought some Pietta 1851 in .44 during Cabela's Thanksgiving sale and converted them to .45 Colt/Schofield/Special myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Henry Quick Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 29 minutes ago, Sgt. Saywut said: My next pair of pistols will likely be Bisley Vaqueros, but I’m digging the appearance of the 1851 Navy Sheriff’s Model: I understand this is a BP pistol, and there are conversion cylinders available for centerfire cartridges. If I understand correctly also, such a conversion needs to take into consideration the barrel being sized for .36 caliber (or .44 caliber) bullets. Is there a pistol in this configuration that’s available from the factory ready to go, in smokeless 38 Special? Blasphemy! Taylor's will sell you a conversion cylinder for the Pietta .36 to fire 38 LC, but there is no conversion for the .44. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 There are factory conversions with hex barrels and the proper bore dimensions for 38sp. http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/hand-guns/cartridge-revolvers/c-mason-revolver/c-mason-revolver-1851-navy.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 33 minutes ago, Sgt. Saywut said: ...Is there a pistol in this configuration that’s available from the factory ready to go, in smokeless 38 Special? Yes. Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason conversion. Available with 7 1/2", 5 1/2", and 4 3/4" barrels. .38 Special smokeless or BP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 1 minute ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: Yes. Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason conversion. Available with 7 1/2", 5 1/2", and 4 3/4" barrels. .38 Special smokeless or BP. Octagon barrels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 1 minute ago, Tyrel Cody said: Octagon barrels? Yes. Cimarron calls them 1851 Richards-Mason conversions, Taylors calls it C.Mason conversions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Saywut Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 Thanks for the input, folks. I hadn’t heard of the Mason conversion till just now, so didn’t see those during my search. Looks like the Mason conversion does away with the plunger though, which gives the pistol sort of a bulldog-like appearance that appeals to me. Kind of like how a full-lug S&W DA revolver catches my eye more than a half-lug revolver. Appreciate the responses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 9 minutes ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: Yes. Cimarron calls them 1851 Richards-Mason conversions, Taylors calls it C.Mason conversions. Thank you, I learned something new today. https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/1851-richards-mason-38-spl-4-3-4-in-barrel.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 12 minutes ago, Sgt. Saywut said: Thanks for the input, folks. I hadn’t heard of the Mason conversion till just now, so didn’t see those during my search. Looks like the Mason conversion does away with the plunger though, which gives the pistol sort of a bulldog-like appearance that appeals to me. Kind of like how a full-lug S&W DA revolver catches my eye more than a half-lug revolver. Appreciate the responses! There is also the Man With No Name conversion, but only in a 7 1/2 barrel. You would need to have it shortened to suit you. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411539884/Firearms/Handguns/Cimarron+Firearms+Co./Cimarron+CA9081+Man+With+No+Name+6RD+38SP+7.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Saywut Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 38 minutes ago, Tyrel Cody said: Not that I've been able to find Closest thing would be a Uberti with a round barrel. I bought some Pietta 1851 in .44 during Cabela's Thanksgiving sale and converted them to .45 Colt/Schofield/Special myself. Are you using .45 caliber bullets, or crimping down the .45 cases on .44 caliber bullets? Any issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 2 minutes ago, Sgt. Saywut said: Are you using .45 caliber bullets, or crimping down the .45 cases on .44 caliber bullets? Any issues? I normally use a 165 grain cast .45 bullet. If by .44 caliber bullets you mean the round balls that you would shoot out of a cap and ball revolver then yes, that works fine as they are sized at .454. .44 caliber cast bullets, size .427-.430, will not work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Sgt. Saywut, not sure if you know, but .44 percussion barrels are sized .452 which makes them perfect for a .45 conversion cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Clark Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: Yes. Uberti 1851 Richards-Mason conversion. Available with 7 1/2", 5 1/2", and 4 3/4" barrels. .38 Special smokeless or BP. Abilene has it right. On the RM type 1 guns the barrels are octagonal. The later type II version have the round barrels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Very easy to do your own conversion. Here is a pair I've been shooting for a few years now. These have the longer, blued "london" grip which really fill your hand... Here is an article I wrote for a black powder magazine a while ago: http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/1860-colt-army-sheriff-models.html These are set up for 45ACP or 45 Cowboy Special...... The loading ram has now been removed and ejector rod installed. Need to update the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 13 minutes ago, Rancho Roy said: Very easy to do your own conversion. Here is a pair I've been shooting for a few years now. These have the longer, blued "london" grip which really fill your hand... Here is an article I wrote for a black powder magazine a while ago: http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/1860-colt-army-sheriff-models.html These are set up for 45ACP or 45 Cowboy Special...... The loading ram has now been removed and ejector rod installed. Need to update the picture. You need to make and sell hammers with the fix you did in one of those blog posts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Quote You need to make and sell hammers with the fix you did in one of those blog posts Yes, one of the problems with the Pietta is they are made out of " hard cheese "...... VERY soft metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Saywut Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 2 hours ago, Goody, SASS #26190 said: There is also the Man With No Name conversion, but only in a 7 1/2 barrel. You would need to have it shortened to suit you. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411539884/Firearms/Handguns/Cimarron+Firearms+Co./Cimarron+CA9081+Man+With+No+Name+6RD+38SP+7.5 Is that even feasible? Any gunsmiths out there who could do the job properly and make it look like in the pic in my OP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 4 minutes ago, Sgt. Saywut said: Is that even feasible? Any gunsmiths out there who could do the job properly and make it look like in the pic in my OP? No doubt there are several, but it's probably not cost effective. Hardest part is probably shortening the loading lever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I had a pair of Remingtons cut down to 5 1/2 inch and he shortened the levers. Boomstick Jay did the work, and quite well I might say. As for cost, you gotta pay to play. If you want something that is not available over the counter it will cost you one way or another. I would probably buy the C&B's ($199 each on sale) and add conversions ($235 or so for R$D's). Sure, 357 diameter bullets will rattle down the bores, but I promise you are gonna hit targets at these distances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 18 minutes ago, Goody, SASS #26190 said: I had a pair of Remingtons cut down to 5 1/2 inch and he shortened the levers. Boomstick Jay did the work, and quite well I might say. As for cost, you gotta pay to play. If you want something that is not available over the counter it will cost you one way or another. I would probably buy the C&B's ($199 each on sale) and add conversions ($235 or so for R$D's). Sure, 357 diameter bullets will rattle down the bores, but I promise you are gonna hit targets at these distances. Or get the .44s and Convert to .45 Cowboy Special; won't be a ton more recoil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Saywut Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 4 hours ago, John Henry Quick said: Blasphemy! Taylor's will sell you a conversion cylinder for the Pietta .36 to fire 38 LC, but there is no conversion for the .44. Yeah yeah The 5” version of this one actually looks the closest to the Sheriff’s Model I posted, so it’s definitely promising. On a related note, are there any lowered hammers readily available for the 1851 Navy to facilitate one-handed shooting? Or will that have to be done by a gunsmith with TIG equipment? Also, with the conversion cylinder, is loading / unloading similar to that in a SAA Colt / Vaquero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 No aftermarket lowered hammers that I know of. They can be heated and bent or as you suggested, TIG welded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Henry Quick Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Sgt. Saywut said: Yeah yeah The 5” version of this one actually looks the closest to the Sheriff’s Model I posted, so it’s definitely promising. On a related note, are there any lowered hammers readily available for the 1851 Navy to facilitate one-handed shooting? Or will that have to be done by a gunsmith with TIG equipment? Also, with the conversion cylinder, is loading / unloading similar to that in a SAA Colt / Vaquero? There are no lowered hammers that I am aware of. I believe that it would require a full conversion to avoid having to remove the cylinders for un/loading. Honestly, I've never spent time researcing it - I'm happy with plain old C&B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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