Fluted or HALF Fluted Colt 1860?

[ClemBert]

Did Colt release a half fluted cylinder on the 1860 Army model or only full fluted? Anyone know the history behind the various Colt 1860 models that were released?

 

[Crawdad1]

Yes, half fluted by special order. Few were made.

See this discussion,

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/is-this-an-1860-army.815274/

Of the reproductions, I think ASM use to offer a half fluted rebated cylinder and I think Pietta does now.

 

[Crawdad1]

Here's one from Pietta,
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/737166477

I'm not certain if my buddy had an ASM or Pietta half fluted cylinder back in the 80's but it was a fairly decent shooter. He never got serious about working up a load and tweaking it for better accuracy. He got tired of all the cleaning and retired it. Good looking revolver though.

 

[ClemBert]

Thanks, that's a good thread. The reason I was asking is because I was hankering for a 1862 Pocket Police and thought that it just might need a big brother.

As soon as you showed a Pietta I thought for sure it was another Pietta fantasy island concoction....but others have stated that there was in fact a half fluted option available from the Colt factory. Usually, you see the full fluted cylinders which are also nice.

 

[Crawdad1]

I don't know if Pietta still builds them or not or if the half fluted cylinder can be bought as a spare part from somebody.
I have a Uberti 1860 repro and I know they don't offer a half fluted cylinder. .


Maybe find something used on Gunbroker.

 

[ClemBert]

From what I can tell from a brief search it looks like it would have to be a Pietta. So the next question is how faithful is the Pietta 1860 Army reproduction. As I understand it, Uberti is spot on whereas Pietta takes liberties much more often.

 

[Jimster]

My Uberti 1860 full fluted is awesome. I’ve read that early 1860s had full fluted cylinders but reports of failures due to the metallurgy of the day encouraged the use of solid non fluted cylinders. Modern made versions are safe because of modern steels and such. So I’ve read.

 

[44 Dave]

Both are Uberti, the '60 was built in 1969.

 

[ClemBert]

Those are nice! Where's a time machine when you need one. How long is the barrel on the pocket police?

 

[44 Dave]

Those are nice! Where's a time machine when you need one. How long is the barrel on the pocket police?

The Police has a 5 1/2" , shorter barrels=shorter loading leavers. The 5 1/2 is just right.
Forty years after I got the first '60 I found another 39 serial numbers away, now I need a pair of '62s.

 

[Eyrie G. Dogg]

Hi Crawdad - I have a Pietta Colt 1860 made in 1997 [BI] that has the semi-fluted cylinder. I have always assumed that the half flutes on a '60, while looking good, were not historical. I have never seen a photo or heard of an original that had other than the full flutes. If you or others have source information on half fluted cylinders being made available from Colt, back in the day, it would be of the greatest interest.

Thanks.

 

[Tommygunn]

Hi Crawdad - I have a Pietta Colt 1860 made in 1997 [BI] that has the semi-fluted cylinder. I have always assumed that the half flutes on a '60, while looking good, were not historical. I have never seen a photo or heard of an original that had other than the full flutes. If you or others have source information on half fluted cylinders being made available from Colt, back in the day, it would be of the greatest interest.

Thanks.

Buried somewhere I have a book published in 1947 (or thereabout) with a photo of an original. The Pietta replica is a very accurate repro .... as close as any Pietta is to an original. They were apparently available by special order from Colt, and not many were made.

 

[Crawdad1]

Welcome to the forum, Eyrie G Dogg,

In Haven and Belden's "A History of the Colt Revolver" shows one with this comment: "This piece is unusual in that it is provided with a half-fluted cylinder to special order."

https://www.amazon.com/History-Revolver-Patent-Manufacturing-Company/dp/0517011697

The original post is in this thread, post #28,

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/is-this-an-1860-army.815274/

 

[dickydalton]

Just get a Colt!

DSC00015

• dickydalton
• Jul 28, 2017

3rd Generation 1860

 

[Crawdad1]

Damn, how I love that Colt!!!

 

[Crawdad1]

Deleted, duplicate post.

 

[dickydalton]

Damn how I love that Colt!!!

I think the Black/Bluing is a great feature. The frame being that way instead of case hardened makes it beautiful, in my opinion.

 

[dickydalton]

Deleted, duplicate post.

Aww, say it again Sam!!!!!!

 

[bannockburn]

dickydalton

I hear ya' brother...I hear ya'!

 

[ClemBert]

It looks like current inventory shows Pietta has a half fluted 1860 product. Curious to know what dimensional differences there might be with a 2018 Pietta vs Uberti. Seem to recall Pietta had been taking more liberties from being true to the original Colt design (grip or frame size) in older production but haven't followed what they have been doing lately.

 

[Crawdad1]

Your options are limited either looking for an older Uberti or ASM which are pretty rare or buy a current Pietta. This is a newer Pietta 1860 Army repro. If you can live with the shape of the grip.

 

[ClemBert]

So you are saying that Pietta continues to produce a non-authentic grip frame. I wonder why they continue to do that and what other dimension are off?

 

[Crawdad1]

Neither do I and I don't know why they do that. It bugs me too.

I don't have this Pietta anymore so I can't compare it.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

I don't have this Pietta anymore so I can't compare it.

By the cartouche on the grip, I presume that was an EMF Hartford model from a few years ago.
Here is their current 1860 (with no cartouche) for comparison:

 

[Crawdad1]

That's not bad at all and more in line with the Colt grip. .