Replica Augusta Machine Works Revolver

[expat_alaska]

I was re-reading a few books I have on Confederate pistols and saw that the Augusta Machine Works gun used primarily 12 stop slot cylinders, more so than the 6 stop slot cylinders.

So, I put together one using a Traditions Pietta 1851 Navy .36 with a 12 stop slot cylinder that I use for a Rigdon & Ansley. The original Augusta guns with the 12 stop slot cylinders had the extra 6 stop slots made with no approaches. My bad.

Mine:



Original (note that the backstrap shoulders are different, also):



Jim

 

[Tommygunn]

Nice work. I always thought that 12-stop system was better than Colt's pin/hammer slot system, as it seems sturdier than tiny pins, plus with Colt the bolt rests on the cylinder, and could potentially Mar it .... but I suspect back then marring it would not be considered so important.
I've seen more than one old revolver with a ring all around the cylinder from bolt drag.

 

[expat_alaska]

Nice work. I always thought that 12-stop system was better than Colt's pin/hammer slot system, as it seems sturdier than tiny pins, plus with Colt the bolt rests on the cylinder, and could potentially mar it ... but I suspect back then marring it would not be considered so important.
I've seen more than one old revolver with a ring all around the cylinder from bolt drag.

I agree with you about the Colt cylinder pins and the 12 stop slots. I have read that the Augusta pistol used the 12 stop slot cylinder first, and that Charles Rigdon used it after his fulfillment of the government L&R contract and copied it from the AMW pistol, even though it was copied from the Manhattan Arms patent of 1859. The bolt drag is because the revolver was not timed correctly and had a taller bolt than what was needed.

The cylinder I used was the one on the left, an older used Pietta with no pins. I paid $25 for it from another forum member. The standard cylinder (new) with pins is on the right that I paid $95 for from VTI.



The next pic is what I believe maybe a very good defarbed 1851 Navy where the maker paid considerable attention to the cylinder, but it may just be a refinished original looking at the backstrap square shoulders. The load aperture at the barrel lug is smaller than the modern Uberti or Pietta guns. It is in too good shape to be an original finish, IMO.



Thanks for looking, folks!

Regards,

Jim

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Very nice job Jim!
How many different revolvers are you now able to recreate in your collection?
David

 

[expat_alaska]

Thanks, David!

Using 4 Pietta 1851 Navy .36 "type" pistols and an extra modified plain cylinder, I am able to emulate 7 historical guns ( Navy 2nd Model Squareback, Navy 3rd/4th Model, Griswold & Gunnison, Leech & Rigdon, Rigdon & Ansley, Schneider & Glassick, Augusta Machine Works) and 2 basically non-historical guns (Navy 2nd Model round barrel, Navy 3rd/4th Model round barrel) just by swapping out barrel assemblies/cylinders/frames.

I don't count the Columbus Firearms Manufacturing Company pistol as it is very similar to a Leech & Rigdon with the smooth cylinder. So maybe that makes 8 historical guns.

Of course, they all have the Pietta "billboards".

Jim

 

[Fingers McGee]

Here is one of a pair I had made back in 2010. They were to replicate a pair from around 1870 that saw some war usage. I shoot them in SAS matches from time to time.

 

[expat_alaska]

Fingers, as always, very nice!

Jim

 

[ShotgunDave]

Nice work Jim. Always like seeing your re-creations.

And yours is awesome too Fingers!

Excellent work Fellas.

 

[desidog]

The lines on the original barrel are great. Are you going to get the 1851 barrel machined with those nice radii instead of the blockiness of the 1851 barrel @ the load lever pivot screw?

I like that idea, but don’t have the machining skills...

 

[expat_alaska]

The lines on the original barrel are great. Are you going to get the 1851 barrel machined with those nice radii instead of the blockiness of the 1851 barrel @ the load lever pivot screw?

I like that idea, but don’t have the machining skills...

desidog, I agree with you about looks of the radii on the original Augusta barrel lug. I could do it with hand files, but I won't do it no matter the method/process. The Augusta barrel lug is longer (front to back) than the Pietta Navy as one can see that the front of the Augusta lug aligns vertically with the rammer pivot screw, whereas the Navy is considerably shorter and does not. I fear that taking too much metal away from the Navy barrel lug to simulate this will leave too little "meat" around the load lever pivot screw. Nice suggestion, but I feel it is not feasible in my case. The original Augustas also have a smaller load aperture (without the Navy bevel) and larger, more square shoulders on the backstrap, and I am not adept at adding metal (steel or brass) to these areas to make them more historical. Beyond my capabilities. Besides, the 12 stop slot cylinder I substituted has approaches on the safety slots (R&A cylinder) whereas the original Augusta does not.

I almost (!) wish I was working for a living again so I could afford fantasies such as an authentic copy of an AMW pistol, but that is not in the cards.

Thanks for the reply, sir!

Regards,

Jim

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Jim,
Being retired has its pros and cons for sure!

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Here are three more views of the Augusta Machine Works revolvers. Two of them have 12-stop cylinders and one has a 6-stop cylinder. One can see many subtle differences that indicate the hand made nature of these revolvers, such as barrel lug shape, hammer shape and gripstrap shape.

http://www.damonmills.com/PS Pages/PS 18/augusta.htm

http://www.historicalarms.com/civil...chine-works-antique-confederate-revolver.html

http://www.historicalarms.com/civil...le/antique-confederate-revolver-for-sale.html

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Here's a photo from the above links.

 

[LonesomePigeon]

And here is my low serial number Gregorelli & Uberti 1851 Navy repro with a 6-stop non-engraved cylinder.

 

[expat_alaska]

View attachment 816271
Here's a photo from the above links.

As always, why can't you guys show the pistols from the right side to show the load aperture and the recoil shield! What is the big deal about showing the left side of the gun? All of the important info is to be obtained on the right side of the gun, especially if it concerns repros.

Jim

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Jim if you go to the links in my post there are views of the other side of those guns. If you want to see my GU here is a photo of the other side.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I like LonesomePigeon's implications on the hand made nature and specifically the difference in the barrel lug.
Building a replacement barrel lug would be a great addition, and entirely feasible for most handy folks with hand tools.