the truth about brass framed pistols

Information on brass frame Italian repros- from "Percussion Pistols and Revolvers-History, Performance, and Practical Use" c.2005

"Replicas- the good, the bad, and the ugly"

"If the claim that the Italian revolvers possessed better overall mechanical qualities than the originals had any merit, revolvers would never have come into general use in the previous century."

"The first replicas and many of those in the current marketplace were and are plagued with indifferent and absent quality control and manufacturing standards. Inconsistent tolerances, poorly fitted actions and brittle springs and action parts make for expensive paperweights rather than shootable firearms. It is not unusual to find original Colt and Remington revolvers (from the 1860's) still functioning after a century and a half. It is equally common to encounter Italian replicas that are non-functional at the onset or break down after firing a few shots. Importers complain of poor response to gun orders and unavailable spare parts for repair. Shooters learn by experience and word of mouth about the negative factors that go unreported in the industry-driven periodicals and books on muzzleloading."

"The same situation exists with replicas of Confederate revolvers- close variations of the Whitney and Colt designs. Many of them have brass frames and are more suited as curios or collectibles than high volume shooters."

"The industry publications gush on about the joys of blackpowder shooting but fail to mention that the shooter must become a gunsmith in training."


Midway USA on conversions for brass frames:


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=857132

Note: This conversion cylinder is for BLACK POWDER cartridges or black powder equivalent cartridges (also called Cowboy Ammunition) on a steel frame revolver ONLY. Attempting to use modern ammunition and/or installation on a brass frame will create a dangerous condition that can result in injury or death.

A drop-in cylinder allows you to fire centerfire ammunition in your blackpowder revolver. It will convert your blackpowder revolver to fire "Cowboy" ammunition. Only top grade certified steel (4150 Steel Cylinder and 4140 Steel Top Plate) is used in the production of these cylinders to offer superior quality, strength and safety. Due to manufacturing variations in revolvers, some minor fitting may be required. No FFL required to purchase. Not for use in brass frame revolvers. Not available in all areas.
 
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Hey captain, i was wondering why you posted this info
not that there is anything wrong with it good info,
but i will be surprised if anybody on this forum will say
wow i did not know that,:confused: but anyway it makes
good reading + good info for those who dont know one
end of a pistol from the other.:D
 
Pretty much common knowledge among cap & ball shooters, I think. Although many brass frame guns do quite well with light BP loads, and will last for years. And I don't know anyone on this board who would recommend mating a "brasser" with a conversion cylinder. :confused:
 
You can post all the "quotes" you want. That won't change the fact that their are a lot of brass frame shooters that do not have any problems with their revolver. They are aware of the limitations.

Why do you keep posting these troll threads about open tops and brassers?
 
The "truth" about anything is subjective, at best. I have a few brass framed guns that work just fine. I don't shoot them every day - I don't shoot any gun every day - but I rotate through my lineup like a baseball team. If you are at all interested in the history of BP cap and & ball revolvers, you cannot ignore brass framed guns, no more than you can ignore a Paterson. But, when shooting any BP gun, common sense must prevail in regard to loads, cleaning, expectations, etc.
Just curious - were you scared by a brass framed or open-top gun when you were a kid? Maybe one jumped out of the dark and yelled "Boo!" or hid under your bed and gave you nightmares.
That is a good book you quote from, but not the Bible. And watch out for copyright violations.
 
here's one more from "blackpowder primer" that states brass frames are weak- but has a more neutral stance concerning mild loads- point #5 "random afterthoughts"

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Choy.html

5. Brass frame revolvers are frowned upon and considered weak and prone to shoot loose. True! However a number of Confederate revolvers were originally made in brass, the Griswold and Gunnison and the Schneider and Glassick were copies of the 1851 Navy, Spiller and Burr a copy of the Whitney and the T.W. Cofer with a spur trigger. The first model of the Remington New Model pocket revolver in .31 is also of brass. Shooting a brass frame with mild loads should not be a problem.
 
I like your style, CaptainCrossman. You just keep plugging away, we take some good humored swipes at you, but you don't get flustered and call me (for example) a side winding yellow bellied stump-broke-mule loving son of a whatever (which, by the way, is my wife's pet name for me).
OK, you win. Brass isn't as strong as steel.
But brass sure is purty, ain't it?
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Brass isn't as strong as steel.

Most people acknowledge and accept it's limitations. One person tho seems to make it his personal vendetta to scourge the Earth of brass framed revolvers.:rolleyes:
 
I give up :confused: Are you saying that we shouldnt buy brass framed revolvers cause they're cheap pieces of faulty machinery that will break if we use them?

BTW, From the excerpts, and reviews of the book on Amazon; it kinda sounds like the authors had a hard on for the Italian repo market as a whole, not just brass framed ones.


And that's all I have to say about that.
 
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Yep, brass sure is purty.

Stump broke mule story...
Two young guys from MA move to Utah. One of them goes horse back riding for the first time with some good ol' local boys who decide to play a joke on the Yankee. They tell him to ask for a "stump-broke mule," which he did. Well, that was pretty funny.
If you don' know what a stump-broke mule is, go to any horse ranch and ask to ride one. I learned...
 
Isn't the moral of the story "know the limitations of your firearm"? I would think that would apply to brass frame BP revolvers and any firearm in general. Every firearm has its limits.
 
""Isn't the moral of the story "know the limitations of your firearm"? I would think that would apply to brass frame BP revolvers and any firearm in general.""
ClemBert: Well said! :)
 
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