1851 Navy & beginner

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Now back in the Day, you were issued a sidearm, and that was it. We (at least I) shoot my replicas for fun and to reconnect with and learn the history of the firearm. Lear to master it "as is", not being a purist, just my .02
 
I didn't forget you guys, but nothing happened since August to report, except that "Red Land Rover" (a car toy serving as a platform for moving target) works great, above all expectations. But I haven't visited my range or fired my revolver since August because I'm preoccupied, since I started another job and I work all this time non-stop and also because my father passed away recently.
 
Sorry to hear of your loss. Life often gets in the way of hobbies; your revolver will be patiently waiting for you when have the time.

Here is hoping you and yours have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year’s Season.

Glad you checked in with us.
 
1861

So very sorry to hear of the loss of your father. A day doesn't go by that I don't think of my father.

My deepest condolences to you and your family.
 
I'm trying to recover from recent traumas, and this was always a good escapism and a feel-good place, so I'm back...

Some months ago I got unprimed brass casings, a 100 pieces of 38 special from MAGTECH, made in Brazil. This week I expect 500 wadcutters and 500 Winchester small pistol primers to arrive. So slowly I'm equipping myself with everything I need to shift from muzzleloading to reloading. Very slowly, but I'm getting there. (All that is expensive and difficult to find in Europe and I have to import everything.)

Now I'd like to return to the very first reply ever in this mega-thread, by rodwha:

The Colt 1860 Army is built from that same frame but had a longer grip. If you purchase (Pietta) the grip frame and grip this should likely help you.

In my first post I wrote that I find the grip of 1851 Navy too small. I got used to it, but still I feel it's too small (unlike the perfect grip on Schofield which I own as accurate airsoft version). Now I would like to try Army's longer grip. Here in Europe I'm unable to buy the frame only, so I'll just have to buy a whole revolver. 16 months ago rodwha wrote it very clearly - and thank you rodwha for that first reply and very important info. But since the new revolver costs several hundred Euros or Dollars - I'd like to check that one more time, just to be 100% sure. So...

I have Pietta 1851 Navy .36 and if I buy Pietta 1860 Army .44 - can I take the barrel and the (conversion) cylinder from the Navy and instal them on the frame of the Army?

As always - THANKS.
 
I have Pietta 1851 Navy .36 and if I buy Pietta 1860 Army .44 - can I take the barrel and the (conversion) cylinder from the Navy and instal them on the frame of the Army?
I don't think so - you can take the grip frame from the 1860 and put it on the 1851 frame. Be advised that some fitting will be required. Have you tried contacting Maxim from westernguns.fr, or henrykrank.com for spare 1860 grip frame? Even not listed on their sites, they still might be able to help you.

About brass and bullets - have you tried https://www.shooting-supplies.eu/ ? They have good assortment and OK prices (OK for the EU...)
 
Hey Mizar, than we'll just have to wait for rodwha and possibly others to comment, because rodwha did wrote built from that same frame

Yes, I'm already their satisfied customer.
 
Oh, now I think I understand what you both (rodwha and Mizar) meant - that I should keep the 1851 Navy frame too (alongside its barrel and cylinder) and pair all that - with the grip (stocks) + backstrap + trigger guard / front strap of the 1860 Army. Right? I missunderstood your grip frame expression for the frame, I think.
But - I would like to have two frames / two revolvers, so that I can modify one frame (Army) to be used with conversion cylinder, and to have the other frame (Navy) intact. So, back to my original idea/question - is it possible to pair the Navy [barrel + conversion cylinder] with the Army [frame + everything else]?

Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!
 
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Not very easily.

At least in the 44 versions - the triggers in the 1860 pietta and 1851 pietta are different lengths. One is longer than the other. So you most likely would need to swap the trigger guard, back strap, and triggers to make it work. Plus do some fitting.

I haven't tried just taking the cylinder and barrel off my 1851 Navy and putting them on my 1860 Army.
 
need to swap the trigger guard, back strap, and triggers to make it work
But all that would be from the same gun - 1860 Army.

I haven't tried just taking the cylinder and barrel off my 1851 Navy and putting them on my 1860 Army.
That's exactly what I want - to put the cylinder and barrel from 1851 Navy on 1860 Army. You think you could do that for me, try it and see if they fit? PLEASE?
Of course I sent the same question to Pietta, but they may not reply soon, since it's Christmas.

My goal is to try the longer (Army) grip, and at the same time to get another frame which I could modify, keeping my original Navy frame intact. So I was hoping to solve both problems with just one purchase, which would be the Army revolver, IF Army's frame and Navy's barrel+cylinder can be paired together.
 
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That's exactly what I want - to put the cylinder and barrel from 1851 Navy on 1860 Army. You think you could do that for me, try it and see if they fit? PLEASE?
Of course I sent the same question to Pietta, but they may not reply soon, since it's Christmas.

I'm back in Africa. :(
 
Thanks anyway drobs! I hope you like Africa :) My family lived in Dakar for few years, before I was born.
Maybe someone else performed such test, trying to pair Navy and Army parts?
 
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Hello 1861, welcome back. I'm pretty new here but I read through this entire thread, with interest.

You can switch the Navy cylinder and barrel onto the Army frame, but not the other way around. But be advised, you'll have that space at the front of the cylinder, that is cut into the water table of the frame, for the rebate on the .44 cal cylinder. It won't effect function but it won't look right, you'll have a space at the front of the cylinder.

You could also take the grip frames from both guns and switch them. Pietta is really good about parts interchange. I've heard people say that you can't do this with Uberti made guns, but I did it today with my Uberti Navy and Army just to test. it worked just fine. I can post pictures if it will help.

Hope this helps!
 
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