Snub nose Colt 1862 police pocket?

[BPaddict]

Hi!

New to THR and to black powder too but quickly becoming an addict.

Has anyone made a snub nose Colt 1862 police pocket? Something with a 2.5 or 3 inch barrel and a birds head grip. I think this would be an awesome little gun, kinda like a mini avenging angel - the avenging cherub?

 

[rodwha]

I can't say for certain if I've seen that model with the birds head grip and have certain entertained doing so if/when I get one.

You can buy an Uberti 3.5" barrel, which is something I considered prior to the 4.5" barrel being offered as an option now (not aftermarket). I'm not sure if it comes with the sight or not.

One needs a certain length to burn the powder and I've seen with .44 cal models it needs about 3.5" for them. Not sure how it may differ with the shortened cylinder of a pocket model.

Prior to seeing a 4.5" barrel being offered I considered the 6.5" barrel (in case I find myself adequate enough to use it for close small game) with the 3.5" barrel for the cool factor of a modern pocket gun (their pockets were deeper from what I understand). But I like the loading lever as nobody just wants to pop off 5 shots and put it up, and I'm not so sure I'd be good enough to use it for hunting if I couldn't get much closer than 10 yds.

 

[Berkley]

"Has anyone made a snub nose Colt 1862 police pocket? Something with a 2.5 or 3 inch barrel"
Sam Colt made a few with 3 1/2" barrels.



The birdshead grip dates from the cartridge era of the 1870s and later. As far as making a new one, Uberti makes the only 1862 police models, and Pietta makes the only fantasy birdshead grip percussion revolvers. No idea if the Pietta grips would match up with the Uberti frame.

 

[Old Fuff]

They're a number of past threads in the black powder sub-forum posted by members have made these C&B "snubbies," or purchased them already made.

One negative if you want to shoot it is loading the cylinder without an attached bullet rammer. Think all this through before you jump.

 

[swathdiver]

A regular 4-1/2" barreled pocket police near disappears in baggy trousers or a large coat pocket.

 

[desidog]

Here's mine; the snub barrel is next to the balls...



I generally load it with the long barrel and then switch barrels to the snub.

 

[BPaddict]

"Has anyone made a snub nose Colt 1862 police pocket? Something with a 2.5 or 3 inch barrel"
Sam Colt made a few with 3 1/2" barrels.



The birdshead grip dates from the cartridge era of the 1870s and later. As far as making a new one, Uberti makes the only 1862 police models, and Pietta makes the only fantasy birdshead grip percussion revolvers. No idea if the Pietta grips would match up with the Uberti frame.

I had read that Colt made about 50 of them, but I hadn't seen a picture of one - thanks! I also realize the birds head grip would not be authentic but it just looks nice imho.

The wife ordered me an Avenging Angel with the " thunderer" grips from Taylor's- can't wait to try it out but already looking to get it a "little brother" lol.

 

[BPaddict]

They're a number of past threads in the black powder sub-forum posted by members have made these C&B "snubbies," or purchased them already made.

One negative if you want to shoot it is loading the cylinder without an attached bullet rammer. Think all this through before you jump.

I'll do some more searching! I realize that about the reloading but I figure (1) I'm not gonna be fighting ISIS with this piece, or any othe BP gun for that matter and (2) it's not that much more work to use a reloading tool and a mallet, just less self contained. Side benefit is less weight and slimmer profile.

No such thing as a quick reload unless you have a Remington-Beales and a spare cylinder

 

[BPaddict]

Here's mine; the snub barrel is next to the balls...



I generally load it with the long barrel and then switch barrels to the snub.

Very cool! Did you order that barrel from Uberti? Is it a 3 inch?

 

[Stormson]

I just got the 1860 snubbie from Taylors a couple days ago...

You'll be pleased.

 

[BPaddict]

Woohoo! Can't wait! What kind of a holster do you use for the 1860 snubbie?

Would the Hunter Co universal western holster work? It's available at Cabelas for a good price so I've been eyeing it but wonder if the snubbie might be too short to be secure in it.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunter-Company-Western-Universal-Holster/707909.uts

 

[Pokajabba]

I also have snub nose 1862 Police envy. An 1862 with 6.5" barrel and spare 3.5" barrel sounds like the total package to me.

Oh, and careful with the black powder addiction; it can quickly spiral out of control. Unchecked, you'll be buying Walkers, flintlocks... cannons.

 

[BPaddict]

I also have snub nose 1862 Police envy. An 1862 with 6.5" barrel and spare 3.5" barrel sounds like the total package to me.

Oh, and careful with the black powder addiction; it can quickly spiral out of control. Unchecked, you'll be buying Walkers, flintlocks... cannons.

Yes one fine day I will ge one also, though I kinda fancy the 5 1/2" barrel. Or maybe buy 2 of them and try to fashion a birds head grip for one of them... There goes that spiral into bankruptcy!

 

[Stormson]

Well, BPaddict, I cant say it WILL work, but it certainly LOOKS to me like it should...

Not sure why youd think it wouldnt cos of the short barrel? Doesnt really look to me like it DEPENDS on a long barrel??

At $30 though, I'd just as soon try and fashion something similar myself... I was thinking of cutting down something like this;

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/oklahomaleatherwesternstyle55quickdrawholster.aspx

 

[BPaddict]

Here's another rendering of what I imagine a snubnose 1862 police would look like - please somebody make one of these because I think it looks cool!

With a slightly rounded grip instead of a full birds head, it would also not look wholly out of place with a 4.5" or even 5.5" barrel and then you could have a 2" or 3" barrel without a loading lever to put on to get this look. A fun piece for side matches?

I wonder how hard it would be to modify the grip to look like this? Cut a little bit out of the grip frame, bend and weld it?

 

[BPaddict]

Well, BPaddict, I cant say it WILL work, but it certainly LOOKS to me like it should...

Not sure why youd think it wouldnt cos of the short barrel? Doesnt really look to me like it DEPENDS on a long barrel??

At $30 though, I'd just as soon try and fashion something similar myself... I was thinking of cutting down something like this;

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/oklahomaleatherwesternstyle55quickdrawholster.aspx

I just wonder if it would be unbalanced without a long barrel (when worn as a cross draw holster).

 

[Berkley]

I wonder how hard it would be to modify the grip to look like this? Cut a little bit out of the grip frame, bend and weld it?

I recently spotted this very interesting original Colt, which belonged to a fairly colorful US Marshal.



Here’s a closeup of the backstrap, showing where it was cut and brazed back together to create the birds head shape.

 

[BPaddict]

Very cool! Now if only I knew how to do that!

 

[rodwha]

I'm rather fond of the rounded butt, as well as the hammer on that converted Army. Been wanting to do that to my hammers as I have stubby fingers and the hammer can be a bit of a stretch.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Here is mine I used to have. Sold it awhile back.

 

[kBob]

Berkley,

Might I ask which colorful US marshal?

Neat looking old gun.

My biggest concern with Avenging Angels is the velocity loss over longer barrels. Still, as has been pointed out they are not likely to be used as weapons these days.

-kBob

 

[Berkley]

The fancy conversion belonged to Thomas Boles