Post by bobwright on Feb 21, 2021 12:45:26 GMT -5
The following are excerpts from the Facebook "Single Actions" page. Appreciate your comments:
The 1851 Navies came only in .36 originally.
At the end of the civil war a foreign company was contracted to build Colt pistols by the Colt Firearm Co. They started importing them in a .44 version with the reinforcing band added to the cylinder for the higher pressures.
The Italian replicas are both in .36 and .44 calibers, but not historically correct in the 1851 .44 Navies.
At the end of the civil war a foreign company was contracted to build Colt pistols by the Colt Firearm Co. They started importing them in a .44 version with the reinforcing band added to the cylinder for the higher pressures.
The Italian replicas are both in .36 and .44 calibers, but not historically correct in the 1851 .44 Navies.
And:
When I run across the source, I will post it for you Bob!
I can say this, the second generation Colt's were made in Europe by the same craftsman, or contracted companies, that did the contracts for the Union Army towards the end if the Civil War, both times sanctioned by Colt Co.
I can say this, the second generation Colt's were made in Europe by the same craftsman, or contracted companies, that did the contracts for the Union Army towards the end if the Civil War, both times sanctioned by Colt Co.
Further:
By banded I mean enlarged cylinder by increasing the diameter in the forward half of the cylinder which cause a raised band around the cylinder as compared to the contemporary .36's cylinders.
The 1860 frames were cut to accomodate the increased cylinder diameter out the gate during production. That was the only difference from the previous 1851 frames.
To the enhanced frames they added a grip a 1/2" longer and reworked the loading levers to a ratchet system for better leverage ratio when creating the 1860 models. That's why parts all interchange between the 1851's and the 1860's with the exception of the loading levers, as the ratcheting levers of the '60's model, required the corresponding barrel that is milled with holes for the ratchet cogs to fit into.
The reason some of their contracts were sent overseas to Europe was that Colt could not keep up with the demand for numbers on their own.
As for the .36 Navies, late in the war, too late to see service, some were being converted to .44 by the European manufacturers, and did so by adding a band to the .36 cal cylinders on hand and in stock, before they started milling the new cylinders for the .44's. with the included new larger diameter.
The confederates never produced a brass framed .44. The brass framed .44's are all modern productions or reproductions of the '51 Navies 36 cal pistols, but not historically accurate.
The 1860 frames were cut to accomodate the increased cylinder diameter out the gate during production. That was the only difference from the previous 1851 frames.
To the enhanced frames they added a grip a 1/2" longer and reworked the loading levers to a ratchet system for better leverage ratio when creating the 1860 models. That's why parts all interchange between the 1851's and the 1860's with the exception of the loading levers, as the ratcheting levers of the '60's model, required the corresponding barrel that is milled with holes for the ratchet cogs to fit into.
The reason some of their contracts were sent overseas to Europe was that Colt could not keep up with the demand for numbers on their own.
As for the .36 Navies, late in the war, too late to see service, some were being converted to .44 by the European manufacturers, and did so by adding a band to the .36 cal cylinders on hand and in stock, before they started milling the new cylinders for the .44's. with the included new larger diameter.
The confederates never produced a brass framed .44. The brass framed .44's are all modern productions or reproductions of the '51 Navies 36 cal pistols, but not historically accurate.
Your comments welcome. I have never heard nor read of this before.
Bob Wright