1851 Navy: Help push me over the edge.....
- Thread starter Jay27
- Start date
okiefarmer
New member
I finally got an 1860 Sheriff Model in .44, 5-1/2 to fill my holster. Here is pic of the other mates in the closet, does not include the single shot front stuffers.
1851 on lower left, center right is ROA, lower right is 1860 8 incher, the other two are '58 Remmies, one in .36 (shorter) and the other a .44
1851 on lower left, center right is ROA, lower right is 1860 8 incher, the other two are '58 Remmies, one in .36 (shorter) and the other a .44
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Fingers McGee
New member
Here are some of my Navies - with a couple Armies thrown in for good measure.
From Top to Bottom:
Pair of C Series, 2nd Gen Colt '51 Navies w/American Holly grips
Pair of Uberti Frontiersman '51 Navies
Pair of Taylor/Uberti 1861 Navies w/American Holly grips
Pair of .44 Cal Pietta US Marshal model '51 Navies
Uberti Stainless Steel 1851 Navy
Pietta .36 Cal US Marshal model '51 Navy
Pair of Pietta Lawman model 1860 Armies w/faux Ivory grips & half fluted cylinders
From Top to Bottom:
Pair of C Series, 2nd Gen Colt '51 Navies w/American Holly grips
Pair of Uberti Frontiersman '51 Navies
Pair of Taylor/Uberti 1861 Navies w/American Holly grips
Pair of .44 Cal Pietta US Marshal model '51 Navies
Uberti Stainless Steel 1851 Navy
Pietta .36 Cal US Marshal model '51 Navy
Pair of Pietta Lawman model 1860 Armies w/faux Ivory grips & half fluted cylinders
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simonkenton
New member
The 1851 Navy is THE classic cap and ball pistol.
You must buy one.
You must buy one.
If you choose to get a '51 Navy be sure to get it in .36 (The "real"caliber) and get it with a steel frame.
I have a Uberti "London" .36 with the steel frame and backstrap and it;s a finely balanced, soft shooting revolver. The London is a classy variation however the steel frame brass backstrap is the basic origonal setup.
If you choose either a brass frame or a .44 be aware this is not the origonal caliber or frame material and you must beaware this is a weaker gun than a steel frame revolver. Light load a brass frame (15-20 gr) and check it frequentlly for wear.
There is just somthing about the "Feel" of a '51 Navy! Maybe it's the way they sit low in the hand, maybe it's the speed and accuracy of the caliber, maybe it's everything combined but the '51Navy is the quintisential Belt Revolver and does just about everything perfectlly!
The .44 is a caliber they "should" have made, but didn't and to be historically correct is the thing. We buy these replicas to try and shoot what the old timers did so stick with the "real thing".
ZVP
I have a Uberti "London" .36 with the steel frame and backstrap and it;s a finely balanced, soft shooting revolver. The London is a classy variation however the steel frame brass backstrap is the basic origonal setup.
If you choose either a brass frame or a .44 be aware this is not the origonal caliber or frame material and you must beaware this is a weaker gun than a steel frame revolver. Light load a brass frame (15-20 gr) and check it frequentlly for wear.
There is just somthing about the "Feel" of a '51 Navy! Maybe it's the way they sit low in the hand, maybe it's the speed and accuracy of the caliber, maybe it's everything combined but the '51Navy is the quintisential Belt Revolver and does just about everything perfectlly!
The .44 is a caliber they "should" have made, but didn't and to be historically correct is the thing. We buy these replicas to try and shoot what the old timers did so stick with the "real thing".
ZVP
starbuck125
New member
I beleive that the 1851 navy colt is the best overall bp pistol there is, but thats just my liking, not everyones.As for the cal. of the 51 navy, if its a .36 or .44 cal. buy what you want, your the one thats going to be shooting it.Yes the orginal was a .36 cal, but some people, including me, like the .44 cal.& i"m glad that they offer it in that cal.As i said before ,thats just what i like .Also midway has some 51 navy for $262.99,steel frame, they"re pietta pistols , i own two of the 51"s ,both pietta , steele frame , great shooting pistols, get you one of these fine guns .....you"ll love them .
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Microgunner
New member
Hell, the folks over at the 1851 Navy plant need to make a living too.
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madcratebuilder
New member
Boy, the sky is the limit on the 51's, just about any configuration you an think of. If I could only have one Colt it would be a 
Some of my 51's.
RE Lee
US Grant
C series Colt
Pair of High standard Rebs
Another High standard Reb
Some of my 51's.
RE Lee
US Grant
C series Colt
Pair of High standard Rebs
Another High standard Reb
Fingers McGee
New member
Back in the day, when first introduced, the 1851 Navy was known as the 'Belt Pistol of Navy caliber'. When the 1861 model came out, it was known as the Improved Belt Pistol of Navy Caliber, and the '51 became the Old Model Belt Pistol of Navy Caliber. The Navy Caliber designation meant .36 Cal.
The Walker was known as the Whitneyville Walker, or Model of 1847 Army pistol. When the Dragoons came out, the Walker became the Old Model Army pistol and the Dragoons were known as the Improved Holster Pistol of Army Caliber. Then, when the 1860 Army came out it was called the New Model Holster Pistol of Army Caliber and the Dragoons became the Old Model Holster Pistol. The Army Caliber designation meant the pistol was in .44 Cal.
The current crop of .44 Cal - Army Caliber - pistols with octagonal barels are abberrations cooked up by modern manufacturers. Colt never made a .44 caliber pistol on the 51/60 sized frame with an octagonal barrel - there were a couple .40 cal experimental models made, however. I guess the proper designation could be 1851 Army; but I just choose to pretty much ignore them, even though I have a couple.
I have a Colt 2nd generation 1851 Navy, in .36 caliber of course, and love it.
I've read a number of times that back in the 1950s and 60s, when fancy gun-twirling was at its peak, the 1851 Navy was considered the finest-balanced revolver ever made.
I don't dispute that. The `51 Navy fairly rolls forward and backward on its own when you finger is in the trigger guard. And it points beautifully. I don't own an 1861 but it's sleeker and may be even better balanced.
My only complaint with the .36 caliber is the lack of readily available balls larger than .375 inch. In the past I've written Speer and Hornady, urging them to come out with a .380 inch ball for the cap and ball sixguns. Such a ball could also be used for indoor plinking or pest control in the .38-55, .375 H&H, .378 Weatherby Magnum and other .37-caliber rifles.
Neither Speer or Hornady ever replied.
I've learned, since owning my first cap and ball revolver about 1970, that slightly larger balls not only cling to the walls of the chamber better, but ramming them down produces a wider bearing surface for the rifling to grip. This aids accuracy.
I haven't used a .375 ball in years. I shoot .380-inch balls.
Search the internet and you'll find sources for .380-inch lead balls for the .36-caliber cap and ball sixgun.
Dixie Gun Works offers them. Gad Custom Cartridges offers .380-inch balls for $5 for 100. A very reasonable price. Check out its website at http://gadcustomcartridges.com/
For loading information, see my sticky in this section entitled, "So you want a cap and ball revolver?"
Have fun with that pistol!
heh heh heh ... another one recruited for my master for the Black Side ... excellenttttttttttttttttt ....
I've read a number of times that back in the 1950s and 60s, when fancy gun-twirling was at its peak, the 1851 Navy was considered the finest-balanced revolver ever made.
I don't dispute that. The `51 Navy fairly rolls forward and backward on its own when you finger is in the trigger guard. And it points beautifully. I don't own an 1861 but it's sleeker and may be even better balanced.
My only complaint with the .36 caliber is the lack of readily available balls larger than .375 inch. In the past I've written Speer and Hornady, urging them to come out with a .380 inch ball for the cap and ball sixguns. Such a ball could also be used for indoor plinking or pest control in the .38-55, .375 H&H, .378 Weatherby Magnum and other .37-caliber rifles.
Neither Speer or Hornady ever replied.
I've learned, since owning my first cap and ball revolver about 1970, that slightly larger balls not only cling to the walls of the chamber better, but ramming them down produces a wider bearing surface for the rifling to grip. This aids accuracy.
I haven't used a .375 ball in years. I shoot .380-inch balls.
Search the internet and you'll find sources for .380-inch lead balls for the .36-caliber cap and ball sixgun.
Dixie Gun Works offers them. Gad Custom Cartridges offers .380-inch balls for $5 for 100. A very reasonable price. Check out its website at http://gadcustomcartridges.com/
For loading information, see my sticky in this section entitled, "So you want a cap and ball revolver?"
Have fun with that pistol!
heh heh heh ... another one recruited for my master for the Black Side ... excellenttttttttttttttttt ....
madcratebuilder
New member
I like the old nomenclature, I would use it but no one would know what I'm talking about.......I guess they don't anyway.
Fingers McGee
New member
I prefer the old designations also. The date model designations were promulgated by collectors that were too lazy to use the correct names IMNSHO.
olmontanaboy
New member
This is my Navy London on the bottom and in the slim jim holster. The grips are made by Tru-Ivory.
Fingers McGee
New member
Good looking London Navy 
The Tru Ivory grips really set it off.
The Tru Ivory grips really set it off.olmontanaboy
New member
Thanks Fingers, that's a mighty fine collection you have there for sure.
Suiftwater
Inactive
Here is my old Pietta Navy Sheriff cased in a hand modified cigarret box:
Godd box for the cigarrets and better for this beauty.
Here, a diferent view with the holster:
Godd box for the cigarrets and better for this beauty.
Here, a diferent view with the holster:
