1860 London particulars

[unknwn]

I am considering a Pietta 1860 London as my first example of the '60 Colt open top series (the fluted cylinder 1860 I ordered at the end of July ended up backordered and looks as if it is still another 5-6 weeks out).
Would anyone out there be able to describe what the engraving on the London cylinder depicts?
Is it the same naval battle scene as on the 1851 Navy?
Also, what's it like firing a '51 Navy grip with a .44 load versus the '60 Army grip?
Can I expect the smaller grip to be terribly more difficult to handle with a heavier .44 charge than the certainly larger '60 Army grip frame that the gun was designed for?
Is this '60 London .44 an authentic reproduction of actual production or is it a fantasy gun like .44 caliber '51 Navy guns are?

 

[Tommygunn]

The cylinder scene is the same as on the standard 1860.
As for how it shoots, the one I have is so new I haven't had the chance to shoot it.
I do have an old Brass frame 1860 that Armi San Marco made; they put 1851 grips on all of the 1860s. I don't recall it being significantly "snappier" than any other regular gripped 1860. I do like the larger grip of the regular 1860 better, but the 1851 style isn't so small it is uncomfortable for me.
As for how "accurate" it is I've been asking that myself. To the point I understand it, by the time the 1860 came out the London Colt plant had been shut down, but parts from it were sent to America and assembled into the Colt 1860 London, which were sold in England.
If the above is incorrect then likely one of the more knowledgeable members here will no doubt correct me --- and whip me with a wet noodle for passing on bad info. ;-)