catfish33
Member
Are the Cylinders from a 1851 .44 Navy Revolver (Pietta) the same as the .44 1860 Army (Pietta)? Just trying to understand why the 5 shot conversion is offered for the 1860 army and not for the 1851 Navy. Thanks in advance.
.44 Navy Cyl. the same as a .44 Army Cyl.?
- Thread starter catfish33
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Camp David
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catfish33 said:
Catfish: regretably I cannot answer yoru question but I would URGE extreme caution with interchanging cylinders for any revolver as they are cut to extreme tolerances by factory for a reason: to align perfectly with forcing cone of barrel... a little out of line will not only result in a gas leak but an explosion upon firing. I had this happen once with a cheap single action that had its cylinder swapped out wthout my knowledge. I use only cylinder that came with weapon for either percussion and regular handguns. Dangerous otherwise! Be careful.
MrAcheson
Member
The 1851 navy in .44 is a modern invention. Navy's were originally all .36s, but someone had the bright idea to stick the grip frame on a .44. I don't know if you can convert a .44 navy safely.
UPDATE: I don't know that the grip frame is all that they changed to make a .44 "navy". So don't take that as gospel. The may have relieved the frame and done all sorts of stuff to make the .44 cylinder fit.
I'd call the converter people, either R&D or Kirst, they'd have some understanding about what is safe and what isn't.
UPDATE: I don't know that the grip frame is all that they changed to make a .44 "navy". So don't take that as gospel. The may have relieved the frame and done all sorts of stuff to make the .44 cylinder fit.
I'd call the converter people, either R&D or Kirst, they'd have some understanding about what is safe and what isn't.
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catfish33
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I realize there never was such a thing as the .44 Navy. But am wondering if the Cylinders are the same on the 1860 .44 cal replica.
The cylinders are more or less identical when the guns (and/or cylinders) come from the same maker.
The 1860 cylinder was "rebated." In other words it is stepped in the middle with the front part being larger then the back. The original 1860 Army was built on a modified Navy frame, so the replica-builders took an 1860 frame and fitted a Navy sized backstrap and trigger guard to it. Next they made some .44 barrels on the Navy pattern. To all of this they added a .44 1860 cylinder.
Colt never made such a gun, but some folks like them.
The 1860 cylinder was "rebated." In other words it is stepped in the middle with the front part being larger then the back. The original 1860 Army was built on a modified Navy frame, so the replica-builders took an 1860 frame and fitted a Navy sized backstrap and trigger guard to it. Next they made some .44 barrels on the Navy pattern. To all of this they added a .44 1860 cylinder.
Colt never made such a gun, but some folks like them.
catfish33
Member
OK thanks Old Fuff. The cylinder on my .44 Navy is rebated also that is why I figured the cylinders were the same. My next question would be is there any reason the conversion for the 1860 Army wouldn't work on my 1851 Navy? Thanks in advance.
I'm not sure which way you want to go ... 
Do you propose to make the .44 Navy (so-called) into an 1860 Army, or a .36 1851 Navy?
To do either might involve some fitting maybe followed by refinishing, and in any case you have to be sure the conversion parts, particularly barrels and cylinders were made by the same company that made the revolver. This is not one of those "drop-in" parts sort of thing unless you get very lucky.
Do you propose to make the .44 Navy (so-called) into an 1860 Army, or a .36 1851 Navy?
To do either might involve some fitting maybe followed by refinishing, and in any case you have to be sure the conversion parts, particularly barrels and cylinders were made by the same company that made the revolver. This is not one of those "drop-in" parts sort of thing unless you get very lucky.
catfish33
Member
No I am looking at the .45LC conversion kit. Convert from black powder to a .45LC shell. They offer it for the 1860 Army but there is no listing for the .44 Navy. If the cylinders are the same I should just be able to swap in the conversion cylinder and be done with it. That way I could convert back to BP or Shells.
First of all, slug your barrel and be sure the bore is at least .452"; then be sure the conversion cylinder is made to fit your particular brand of revolver.
Last of all, do not make this conversion on a brass-framed revolver, and it would be advisable to use black powder handloads. The gun was not proofed for smokeless powder. As a general rule the Remington 1858 clones are a better choice for this, and the best one is Ruger's Old Army.
Keep in mind that the original cap & ball-to-cartridge conversions were chambered in .44 Colt, not .45 Colt.
Last of all, do not make this conversion on a brass-framed revolver, and it would be advisable to use black powder handloads. The gun was not proofed for smokeless powder. As a general rule the Remington 1858 clones are a better choice for this, and the best one is Ruger's Old Army.
Keep in mind that the original cap & ball-to-cartridge conversions were chambered in .44 Colt, not .45 Colt.
catfish33
Member
Yeah I realize that you don't want to use the brass frame. I have the steel frame model and I am looking at a R&D Pietta 1860 Army conversion to use on this particular gun. The balls I use in the revolver now are .454. I have no concern about the barrel being large enoough. But you make a very valid point. I will run one down tonight and check it. Thanks for your help.
The balls are oversized and designed to be swaged down in the chamber, so they may end up as small as .450". The bore in turn may be as small as .446" and you propose to drive a .452"/250 grain bullet through it when the barrel is only held on by a key going through a slot in the front of the basepin.
Don't spend any money until you get all of this checked out ...
Don't spend any money until you get all of this checked out ...
catfish33
Member
I realize that. Like I said you had a valid point and I would be checking it tonight.
catfish33
Member
IT is a .452 bore. It even calls that out in the Dixie Gun Works catalog. So I should be good to go.
catfish33
Member
I will Old Fuff. Thanks for the help.
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