1875 Remington `Outlaw`

1875 Remington ‘Outlaw’ by A.
Uberti
Uberti 1875 Remington New Army Revolver
Between 25,000 and 30,000 Remington revolvers were
manufactured during the years 1875-1889 in three different
ammunition sizes: .44 Remington Center fire; .44-40; and .45
Long Colt. These were not optional; rather, the caliber of
production models was determined by their date of manufacture.
These revolvers were manufactured to be in direct competition
with the new Colt Single Action Army that was introduced in
1873.
In 1868, Remington began offering five shot metallic cartridge
conversions of the revolver in .46 rim fire. Remington paid a
royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, owners of the Rollin White
patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) on bored-through revolver
cylinders for metallic cartridge use. The 1858 Remington Army
cartridge-conversions were the first large-caliber cartridge
revolvers available, beating even Smith & Wesson’s .44
American to market by nearly two years.
When Rollin White’s request of extension for his breechloading revolvers patent was rejected by the American
Government in January 1870 the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms
Manufacturing Company started working on its own metallic
cartridge rear-loaders. Up until then, it had been only
practicing the so-called Richards-Mason conversions. Colt
continued converting muzzle-loading percussion revolvers into
rear-loaders until 1878, but in 1871 Colt’s had patented at
least two rear-loading revolvers using metallic cartridges:
the Colt House Revolver and the Open Top. The House revolver
went into production the same year in 1871 but the Open Top
didn’t start production until 1872.
Uberti 1871-1872 Colt Navy Revolver
It was a failure of the 1871-1872 Colt Open top revolver in
qualifying for the U.S. Army’s demand for a robust revolver
that led Colt to design a completely new revolver that became
the ‘standard’ from which other single-action revolvers are
measured – the 1873 Colt Single Action Army.
The 1858 Remington Army conversions were considered by some
superior revolvers to the Colt and many were carried by
civilians, law enforcement, and soldiers. However, the 1873
Colt Single Action Army was the Army’s choice of revolvers and
Remington took a back seat. The 1875 Remington New Army;
however, was still considered by many as the better revolver.
In a sense, the Remington revolver was the Chevrolet to the
Colt’s Ford.
Uberti 1858 Remington Army Conversion Revolver
Uberti 1875 Remington New Army Revolver
The 1875 Remington New Army differed from the 1858 Remington
Conversion in a few areas;
7-1/2 inch round barrel as compared to the 1858 8-inch
barrel octagon
Updated front sight
A fluted cylinder
Walnut grip panels
Blued or nickel-plated finish with case-hardened hammer
and loading gate. (The color-case hardened frame on the
Uberti reproduction is not period correct – but it looks
nice and has nice patterning.)
Spring-loaded cartridge ejector rod replaced the no
spring ejection rod of the 1858 model
A completely redesigned frame. (Note that the cylinder
pin lock on the Uberti reproduction is not correct, but
was added by Uberti and is similar to the Colt).
The 1875 Remington New Army was designed as a true
cartridge revolver rather than a conversion like the
1858 model
The loading gate was redesigned and resembles that of
the Colt 1873 Single Action Army
The firing pin is hammer mounted and protrudes through
the frame; The 1858 Remington’s firing pin was internal
to the frame.
Lanyard ring
Standard barrel length was 7-1/2 inches (as with my model
that, in the real world, would have been considered as the
“Improved Army” revolver), although a very few revolvers were
produced with 5-3/4 inch barrels (Uberti calls this the
“Frontier” model). The familiar ‘sail’ was retained; however,
and was perhaps a means to distinguish the Remington revolvers
from the Colt line. The 1875 Remington New Army was the last
revolver manufactured by Remington that incorporated the
‘sail’ in its design.
The 1875 Remington New Army was a robust revolver and tipped
the scales at about 2.8 pounds (unloaded) as compared to the
1873 Colt Single Action Army that weighed about 2.3 pounds
(unloaded).
The Uberti 1875 Remington ‘Outlaw” is a very close
reproduction of the original revolver. With this version, the
lanyard ring does not exist, as it was removed by many users
at the time (honest folks as well as outlaws), and was not
needed. However, some lanyard rings remained because many
could not afford a good holster and these revolvers were
stuffed into trousers and sashes; a makeshift lanyard could be
used to keep from losing the revolver.
1875 Remington New Army Grip
1873 Colt Single Action
Army Grip
If one compares the 1875 Remington New Army with the Colt 1873
Single Action Army, one thing is apparent – the difference in
grip. The 1873 Colt single Action Army back strap is more
swept back, which allows the revolver to ‘roll’ or ‘plow’ in
the hand. The back strap of the Remington 1875 Remington New
Army is more downward and slightly inward. Although the grip
is flared at the bottom, it is in my mind, more comparable to
the Smith & Wesson No. 3 and Colt ‘Bisley’ revolvers, though
not so pronounced. When shooting the Remington, it seems that
the hand plays more of a part in recoil control than the Colt.
The grip of the 1875 Remington New Army fits my hand better
than the 1873 Colt Single Action Army. The front of the grip
is also set back more than Colt revolvers; a feature that
works well in my hands when on rare occasions when I shoot a
single-action revolver two-handed.
Load One, Skip One, Load
Four in the Massive Chambers
for .45 Colt
With any single-action revolver based on early designs, the
‘load one-skip one-load four’ principle still applies. I do
this even with modern single-action revolvers like the Ruger
Blackhawk and other single-action revolvers – just to keep the
habit alive. Also, I must be noted that the Uberti version of
the 1875 Remington New Army does not incorporate and ‘hammer
block’ safety as does the 1873 Colt Single Action Army and the
Remington 1858 New Army Conversion model. The revolver
definitely dictates the ‘load one-skip one-load four’
principle.
Spring Loaded Cylinder
Base Pin Lock
Cylinder Base Pin Extends
Fully Into The Sail
You might take note of the cylinder base pin on the 1875
Remington New Army revolver. Unlike the short cylinder base
pin of the 1873 Colt Single Action Army, the cylinder base pin
of the 1875 Remington New Army inserts into the long ‘sail’ of
the revolver. On the original 1875 Remington New Army, the
cylinder base pin was held into place by a spring latch system
at the front of the cylinder base pin. The Uberti model
differs from the original in that a spring loaded detent pin
is used, like that found on the Colt 1873 Single Action Army.
Grip Panels Removed for Edge
Smoothing. Note the Robust
Main Spring.
The fit and finish on the Uberti 1875 ‘Outlaw’ model is very
good but just short of excellent. While the bluing on the
barrel assembly is excellent, the cylinder bluing is not
uniform. This; however, is not a game stopper and in no way
takes away from the performance of the revolver. The grip
panels, at the back strap, are slightly rough and not exactly
matched to the back strap. Some very light sanding and buffing
are needed to smooth out the fit. Again, this is not a game
stopper.
Nice Patterning on the
Color Case Hardened
Frame is a Nice Contrast
With the Bluing of the
Rest of the Revolver
The ‘color case hardened’ frame (not period correct, by the
way) and hammer is nicely patterned and lends a nice contrast
with the blue-steeled barrel assembly, trigger guard assembly,
and the nicely-grained, two-piece grip panels. The grip panels
are the only items that I would like to change on this
revolver. As is common to Uberti firearms, the grip panels
just seem too red to me. While I don’t think that a nice set
of ‘aged stag’ grips would look good on this revolver, a nice
set of dark walnut grip panels might. By the way, although
Uberti also makes an 1875 Remington New Army revolver with a
brass trigger guard, it is not period correct; the original
revolver was all steel.
At the range, the Uberti 1875 Remington New Army is a pleasure
to shoot. It is surprising how accurate these reproductions
actually are and keeping all shots in a 4-inch circle at 15
yards, one-handed, is easy to do if you do your part.
Tall Front Sight of the 1875
Remington New Army revolver
The front sight was spot-on for a 6 o’clock hold with the POI
about 1.5 inches high from POA at 15 yards. After shooting
revolvers and pistols with a short sight radius, the 7.5-inch
barrel on this beast is welcomed by my old eyes and I can see
why folks of the past who carried these revolvers liked their
accuracy.
The trigger pull on my particular revolver is just over 2.5
pounds of pull and has a crisp let-off with virtually no overtravel. The cylinder locks up tight and the ‘flash gap’
measures less than .004 inches. Using ‘Cowboy Grade’ 250-grain
loads from PROGRADE, the Uberti 1875 Remington ‘Outlaw’
performed without a hitch.
Placing the hammer at half-cock and using the shell ejector,
each expended shell ejected nicely and cleanly. In some cases,
due to the light loads used, the expended .45 Colt shells just
fell out from the chambers without prompting with the ejector
rod. Load one, skip one, load four more and close the loading
gate, pull the hammer to its full-cock position, control the
hammer drop while pulling the trigger to place the firing pin
on an empty cylinder, and you are ready to shoot again.
Use Snap Caps for Dry Fire
Practice to Prevent Damage
to Firing Pin
If you decide to practice (dry fire) with the revolver, I
highly recommend the use of ‘snap caps’ and I prefer the AZoom snap caps over all others. Dry-firing these revolvers
without ‘snap caps’ is not recommended, as it could damage the
hammer-mounted firing pin. In fact, I use ‘snap caps’ for dry
firing in any firearm to prevent possible damage to the
firearm.
RANGE UPDATE 09/27/2015:
My second trip to the range revealed a flaw with the revolver.
With the light loads of the ‘Cowboy Grade’ 250-grain loads
from PROGRADE, there seemed to be no problem that I could
detect. However, I was shooting a hotter 250-grain ‘Cowboy’
load from Georgia Arms (725 fps) on the second trip and this
is when the problem reared its ugly head.
When attempting to
unload the second round fired, the cylinder would bind to the
point that it had to be removed. I looked closely at the base
of the ammunition being fired and the recoil shield of the
revolver. There was a step that was quite dominant in the
machining of the frame. The step was dominant enough to catch
my fingernail, and it seemed, dominant enough to catch the rim
or primer of an expended shell casing.
The frame was obviously machined this way by the manufacturer.
In essence, the frame’s recoil shield is thicker behind the
cartridge to be fired than in other places. I really don’t
mind this at all, as this area takes the brunt of the
recoiling shell casing and thicker is better. However, a
graduated thickness is better than a step thickness.
Now, I could either send the revolver back for
replacement/repair or attempt to rectify the situation myself.
I decided on the latter. I needed to bevel the edge enough to
allow a fired case and primer to slide over the step rather
than coming to an abrupt stop.
A
jewelers flat file and a piece of extremely fine Emery cloth
came into play. I lightly filed the offending step at about a
45-degree angle until the cylinder would not bind on any of
the expended shells. This meant filing and fitting often. I
did not want to remove too much metal, but just enough metal
where I could not feel my fingernail catching on the step and
cylinder drag could not be felt when the cylinder was rotated
with expended cases. Once the step felt smooth, the very fine
piece of Emory cloth was placed on the file and the step
rubbed to remove file marks and lightly polish the surface of
the now beveled edge. I finally reached a point where no
binding was detected as the cylinder was rotated with once
fired casings. At this point, it was time to stop any further
filing and go for polishing only.
Sometimes you just have to go for it and hope for the best.
By the way, the first shot of Georgia Arms ‘Cowboy’ ammunition
hit the ‘X’ at 15-yards. Subsequent shots were all in the ‘X’
ring from a standing “Duelist” position. This not a testament
to my shooting, but it is a testament to the accuracy this
revolver is capable of. With the 2.5 pound trigger in this
revolver, one has to be cognizant of trigger control at all
times when the hammer is cocked because surprise breaks are
the norm.
WRAPPING IT UP:
Uberti 1875 Remington New Army Revolver Reproduction
There were many for whom the 1875 Remington New Army was the
weapon of choice; among them are Buffalo Bill Cody (whose
piece is in the Cody Museum with a hand-written note by Cody
“It never failed me.”) and by outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
The 1875 Remington New Army was also carried by the agents who
murdered Chief Sitting Bull. The 1875 has been featured in
numerous films, including being carried by Ned Pepper (played
by Robert Duvall in the early version of True Grit) and
carried by Bruce Dern in the western “Will Penny”. The
Remington 1875 SAA was Sheriff Seth Bullock’s firearm
throughout the series “Deadwood”.
After the 1875 Remington New
Army, Remington No Longer
Used the “Sail”
The 1875 Remington New Army revolver was, in my mind, that
last ‘true’ Remington revolver as the ‘sail’ was non-existent
with Remington’s 1888 (New Army Pocket) and 1890 (New Model
Army) revolvers. I do have to say that having a reproduction
of the Remington 1890 New Model Army revolver is tempting, as
the original was manufactured in limited numbers and is a
highly desirable collectible. I; however, would have to settle
with an excellent reproduction of this revolver and that is
fine with me.
Uberti
1875
“Outlaw”
Remington
The Uberti 1875 Remington “Outlaw” New Army revolver is a fine
example of the original only with modern materials and
manufacturing. Take a break from modern firearms, slow down,
and step back into history for a bit while shooting
reproductions of the revolvers that helped to bring handguns
into the modern age. A time when real ‘gun control’ was
determined by how well you handled a handgun, rifle, and
shotgun. Come to think of it, that fact remains still today.
RESOURCES:
Remington
Model
1875:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_1875
Outlaw,
Frontier
&
Police
Revolvers:
http://www.uberti.com/outlaw-frontier-and-police-revolvers
A-Zoom Snap Caps: http://www.azoomsnapcaps.com/home/
Ruger Charger – Old Review
Update
Ruger Charger (Early Model)
The Ruger 22 Charger – Don’t Dodge This One!
The Ruger 22 Charger has been in the Ruger menu for quite some
time. I purchased one just to see what Ruger could do with a
10/22 action with a shortened barrel. The 22 Charger pistol,
introduced in late 2007, is a handgun based on the 10/22
action. The 22 Charger comes with a laminated wood pistol
stock with forend, a 10″ (254 mm) matte blued heavy barrel, a
bipod, and a Weaver style scope base in lieu of iron sights.
Overall length is just shy of 20″ (508 mm).
My particular Charger came with a black/purple laminated
pistol grip stock that took me a little getting used to, but
has grown on me, and I like it quite well now.
The Ruger Charger is Quite
Accurate
With
Good
Ammunition
The Charger does not come equipped with sights but does come
with a already-mounted Weaver style scope base. Attaching a
NcSTAR Pistolero Rifle Scope – 2-7×32 Pistol Scope was no
problem at all, as Ruger provides all of the necessary base
hardware to do so. Having a 10/22, and which the action for
the Charger is based, I was not expecting a most excellent
trigger – and I was not disappointed. Based on my previous
encounters with the 10/22 trigger, it was time to change a few
things. First up was to change out the stock trigger hammer
with a Volquartsen Target Hammer with Bushings. Next up was
changing the stock bolt release with a Volquartsen Automatic
Bolt Release unit that allows me to pull back the bolt
slightly to the rear to release the bolt, thus eliminating the
need to push up and backward on the bolt lock mechanism to
release the bolt. The next item replaced was the bolt stop pin
and a polyurethane Volquartsen Recoil Buffer filled the need
perfectly and stops damage caused by the bolt battering the
recoil pin.
The last item changed out was the magazine release lever to a
unit that would allow dropping the standard 10-round rotary
magazine without changing my grip. I have one such unit on my
10/22 but since that is a rifle stock, as compared to the
pistol grip of the Charger, I opted for the Tactical Solutions
Performance Extended Magazine Release that allows me to push a
lever, drop the magazine, and insert a fresh magazine without
releasing the gun with my shooting hand.
For less than $100, I now had a 2.5-pound trigger pulling,
easy bolt releasing, quieter-than-stock, and fast magazine
changing very long pistol. This was to be just a good plinking
pistol and the aforementioned items was a simple approach to
making it just that.
The Ruger 22 Charger comes with a bipod that looks like a
Harris unit (I do not know if it is but it closely resembles
one) that easily attaches to the front sling swivel mount. The
bipod extends from 8-inches to 12-inches. The spring-loaded
legs of the bi-pod assure a rock steady platform to work with.
Note that you can use the 25-round aftermarket magazines with
the bi-pod attached. I prefer the standard 10-round rotary
magazines to aftermarket units; however, simply because they
have never failed me. The stock for the Charger is quite long
and can be a handful to hold steady with the 3.5-pound weight
of the gun without using the bi-pod. Most shooters of this
gun, when shooting offhand, simply use the support hand to
grab the stock’s forend to stabilize the gun.
The ergonomically designed grip of the pistol fits well in my
hand. The laminated stock is moisture-resistant, which help to
maintain zero in changing weather conditions.
The one feature that I would like to have is an automatic bolt
lock that would hold the bolt open after the last round fires.
There is an aftermarket fix for this but it requires a
magazine modification provided by the manufacturer of the
automatic bolt lock system, CST. You can send your stock 10round rotary magazines to CST for modification – for a price,
of course. To me, the show is not worth the price of admission
and I resign myself to charging the bolt by hand. To others,
it may be a worthwhile investment.
I had originally intended this gun for plinking and an allaround fun gun to have. The first sight that I mounted was a
Truglo 1 x 30mm 5 MOA Red Dot Sight TG8030P and it was fine
for up to 25-yards. My old eyes demanded more and a search for
a decent pistol scope ensued.
Although one can spend many dollars on a quality scope, the
NcSTAR Pistolero Rifle Scope – 2-7×32 Pistol Scope has turned
out to be a perfect scope for this gun (Note that I mounted
one on my Mosin Nagant as a scout scope and it has held up
well to recoil and stays zeroed). I mounted the scope with a
set of Weaver 1″ mounts. The scope has 8.7-to-10.7-inch eye
relief and gives me a 14-to-4.5-foot field of view at 100
yards. The downside is the additional 11.6-ounces of scope
weight added to the 3.5-pounds of gun weight. A good scope;
however, allows me push the limits of the Charger and longer
ranges than 25 yards.
RANGE TIME:
For this range session, I set 25-yards as my initial zero. A
25-yard zero should get me within 1″ at 50-yards without
holding over and about 1.5-inches low at 75-yards,
theoretically.
Ammunition included the following:
Fiocchi 38-grain PHP
CCI Blazer 40-grain RN
CCI Mini-Mag 36-grain CPHP
This was OTC ammo like most of us use and it would be a good
indicator of how this pistol would do with run-of-the-mill
ammunition. Match ammunition would undoubtedly give me better
results.
Range Results:
Fiocchi 38-grain PHP:
(Left Target in picture) The Fiocchi 38-grain Plated Hollow
Point ammunition turned in the worst group of the three types
of ammunition fired. I attribute some of this to this
ammunition being the first of the three fired and I was trying
to get used to the new trigger job that developed a slight
glitch; the trigger would not return fully. Apparently, the
new trigger spring is slightly on the light side and I will
have to fix that.
Notice that two things occurred: The round at the bottom was
actually a light load and I could feel the difference in
recoil and sound when it fired. It was probably a “squib”
round; it was simply not loaded as hot as the other rounds
that fired.
When I saw the hole at the right side of the target through
the scope I thought, “Man, how did I pull that one?” When I
pulled the target forward after I completed the tests, I
noticed that it was a 9mm round and not a .22. The lane next
to me was a husband, wife, and daughter trio was shooting a
9mm pistol. Somehow, one of their rounds killed my target,
they were using a laser, and their targets were 10 feet in
front of them and yet one of them managed to hit my target one
lane over!
With the exception of the “squibb” round, The Fiocchi
ammunition shot well out of the Charger with no FTFs or FTEs.
Overall, the Fiocchi ammunition gave me good results, but not
up to my standard and, apparently, not of the gun’s either.
CCI Blazer 40-grain RN:
(Center target in picture) The CCI Blazer 40-grain RN gave me
an excellent group with what I consider two fliers.
Unfortunately, I only had 20 rounds of this ammunition so I
could not really test it to its fullest.
Again, there were no failures with the ammunition.
CCI Mini-Mag 36-grain CPHP:
Right target in picture) The CCI Mini-Mag and the CCI Blazer
were pretty close to being equal. The results show 100 rounds
of CCI Mini-Mag. The rounds were initially hitting slightly
high and right of center and adjusted my POA to bring the
shots down. I will be finalizing the zero at 50 yards some
time next week and I was not too concerned about it for this
session.
The Ruger 22 Charger has turned out to be a fun gun to shoot
and I cannot wait to see what it will do at a greater distance
than 25 yards. With the exception of a weak trigger spring, (I
am just going to do some polishing, as the new trigger will
eventually wear itself in) it functioned flawlessly.
Before the range session, I added a Pachmyr Tactical Grip
Sleeve that I had laying around just to see if I would like it
– and I do. The grip sleeve helps to position my hand at the
same spot, it cushions the hand against the immense recoil
that only a .22 long rifle round can generate, makes the grip
slightly sticky, and I like finger-grooved grips.
The bi-pod, as provided by Ruger, really helps to stabilize
the gun when shooting. With the weight of the firearm plus the
scope, this gun really needs a stable platform. If you do not
wish to use the bipod, you can hold the forearm like you would
a rifle with your off hand.
Take note that due to technical features, (such as the
magazine being outside the pistol grip (as in the TEC-9), the
Ruger Charger is not legally available in all U.S. states.
Ruger has been producing the standard version of their 10/22
rifle since 1964 and that alone should tell you something.
Ruger has taken that 10/22 platform and turned it into a
pistol version with the Ruger 22 Charger.
PROS AND CONS:
Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
The Ruger 22 Charger uses the same Ruger 10/22 reliable
platform.
It has great accuracy.
Same reliable rotary magazine as the Ruger 10/22 and
accepts same high capacity magazines
Attractive wood laminated grip.
The grip/stock has a smooth and ergonomic feel.
A carrying case and bipod is included.
Cons:
The front end is heavy and the gun needs a stable
platform from which to fire.
A better trigger would be nice, but you can always
upgrade with aftermarket parts, as I did.
The cost is about $80 more than the 10/22 rifle, but
then you do get a case, bipod and laminated stock, all
of which are clearly added costs.
UPDATE:
Range Results with New Ruger BX
Trigger, BX25 Magazines, and Blazer
40-grain LR Ammunition. High Shots
were the First Three and Then I
Started Settling In
Not satisfied with the Volksquartzen trigger upgrade, I
purchased and installed the Ruger BX trigger. The Ruger BX
trigger is a drop-in upgrade that Ruger announced some time
back. I purchased one for the Ruger Charger and a 10/22 rifle.
I can say that I am happily pleased with the BX trigger in
both firearms.
I finally got a chance to take the Ruger Charger to the range
after installing the BX trigger and the results were
outstanding (for me). This was also an opportunity for me to
test the two Ruger BX25 magazines that I had purchased, and
which had been stoked to the maximum for about 7 months (I
know – I don’t get out much).
There were absolutely no failures with the magazines, the new
trigger, or anything; it was really quite boring, but still
worth mentioning. Distance was twenty-five yards and I was
shooting an old box of Blazer 40-grain 22LR ammunition.
The first three shots out of the BX25 magazine landed a little
high and I adjusted the scope magnification and my shooting
position (bi-pod extended and my support hand stabilizing the
butt of the grip). The resulting group took out the near
center of the bull. I was satisfied; however, with the results
and with the new Ruger BX trigger even with shooting Blazer
ammunition. With better ammunition, and a better eye, I would
hope to close that group up.
The new BX Trigger was a little gritty at first but is
smoothing out really well. With a three-pound trigger break,
this trigger is a world of difference over the standard Ruger
10/22 trigger.
Since I first wrote this article, Ruger has come out with two
outstanding versions of the Ruger Charger that are well worth
looking into; the standard and the take-down. Personally, I
like my early version and don’t care for the grip that is
currently being used on the new models. For me, I would need a
grip sleeve or see if the Hogue over-molded grip, that fits
all AR platforms, would fit the Charger (that by all
appearances it would). The take-down version would be a handy
handgun for BOB or GHB use.
The Ruger Charger is a hoot to shoot and downright accurate at
that. I always enjoy spending range time with a good .22
caliber rifle, revolver, or pistol and I have always enjoyed
the Ruger Charger.
RESOURCES:
Ruger
Charger:
http://ruger.com/products/22Charger/models.html
NcSTAR Pistolero Rifle Scope – 2-7×32 Pistol Scope /
Blue
/
Ring
SPB2732B:
http://www.opticsplanet.com/ncstar-pistol-long-eye-relie
f-scope-2-7×32-pistol-scope-blue-ring-spb2732b.html
Ruger
BX
Trigger
Review:
http://guntoters.com/blog/2015/06/06/ruger-bx-trigger-pr
oduct-review
/
Rediscovering
Revolvers
(Early)
There are several things that I love (among others, of course)
and two of those are “Period Correct” movies (firearms and
manner of dress) and firearms used during those periods. The
period that I am addressing is a short period prior to and
after the “War of Northern Aggression”, which I feel brought
about the greatest change in personal weaponry with regards to
revolver firearms – the metallic cartridge.
I have shot a percussion
revolver (reproduction of an
1851 Navy Colt in .36 caliber)
although I have never owned one.
I have several modern Ruger
single-action revolvers, but
they are far removed from those that were available to both
the North and the South during the period of, say, 1851 and
1890. At that time in history, there were three American
firearm manufactures that played leading roles in the
advancement of the revolver; Smith and Wesson, Remington, and
Colt. Colt was a leader in American ‘wheel guns’ as percussion
revolvers like the Colt Paterson (1836), Colt’s Dragoon
(1848), and ‘Walker’ Colt (1847) were already major players.
Smith & Wesson; however, held one of the major keys to the
advancement of the revolver – the Rollin White patent.
SMITH & WESSON:
Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson came from old
New England families. Horace learned the firearms
trade while working at the National Armory in
Springfield, Massachusetts. Daniel’s experience
came from apprenticing with his brother Edwin
Wesson, the leading maker of target rifles and pistols in the
1840s.
The two men formed their first partnership in 1852 in Norwich,
Connecticut, with the aim of marketing a lever action
repeating pistol that could use a fully self-contained
cartridge. This first pistol venture was not a financial
success, and by 1854 the company was having financial
difficulties.
The original Smith & Wesson Factory in Springfield,
Massachusetts, when faced with their financial difficulties,
were forced to sell their company to a shirt manufacturer by
the name of Oliver Winchester. In 1866, using the original
lever action design created by Smith & Wesson, Winchester’s
company emerged as the famous Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
In 1856 Smith & Wesson formed their second partnership to
produce a small revolver designed to fire the Rimfire
cartridge they patented in August of 1854. This revolver was
the first successful fully self-contained cartridge revolver
available in the world. Smith & Wesson secured patents for the
revolver to prevent other manufacturers from producing a
cartridge revolver – giving the young company a very lucrative
business.
The partners realized that when their patents expired they
would need a new design to maintain their market superiority.
The new design was completed in 1869 and the company began
marketing it in 1870. The Model 3 American, as it became known
in the United States, was the first large caliber Original
Smith & Wesson Factory in Springfield, Massachusetts cartridge
revolver and established Smith & Wesson as a world leader in
handgun manufacturing. The two most important customers for
the new revolver were the United States Cavalry, which
purchased 1,000 units for use on the Western Frontier, and the
Russian Imperial Government.
Colt; however, had been around earlier than Smith and Wesson,
but up until 1870 Smith & Wesson held one key that was crucial
to Colt moving forward.
COLT MANUFACTURING COMPANY:
The Colt revolving cylinder concept is said to
have occurred to Sam Colt while serving as a
seaman aboard the ship Corvo. He observed a
similar principle in mechanical workings of the
ship, generally believed to be the capstan or the
windlass. It was on the ship that Sam carved the wooden
representation of his idea. While the design was simple &
applicable to both longarms & sidearms, his idea was not an
instant success. Many people still preferred traditional
flintlock muskets or pistols to the revolver.
In 1836, Sam’s entrepreneurial career began at age 22, opening
his first plant in Paterson, New Jersey with the help of a
successful uncle. He soon developed & produced the pocket,
belt, and holster model pistols along with two types of
rifles. In these models, known as percussion guns, the
gunpowder & bullets were loaded into the revolving cylinder,
the primer was placed in a nipple on the outside of the
cylinder, and then the primer would be struck by the hammer
when the trigger was pulled. Despite favorable performance,
sales were sluggish & the plant closed in 1842. After the
closing of the Paterson plant, Sam began focusing on other
ideas, including waterproof ammunition, underwater mines, and
also worked with inventor Samuel Morse on the telegraph.
In 1845, units of the US Dragoon forces & Texas rangers were
fighting the Indians in Texas, and contributed their success
to Colt’s firearms. As a result, Captain Samuel H. Walker of
the US Army collaborated with Colt in designing a new, more
powerful revolver. Dubbed the “Walker”, the US Ordnance
Department ordered one thousand of the new pistols. Without a
factory, Colt turned to Eli Whitney Jr. who had a factory in
Connecticut, to fill the thousand gun order in 1847.
In 1851, Sam became the first American manufacturer to open a
plant in England, solidifying his reputation in the
international market. Sam also began purchasing land on the
South Meadows, an area of Hartford on the Connecticut River.
The factory became operational in 1855, incorporated as Colt’s
Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. Colt, aware of the
achievements made in New England’s machine tool industry,
specified interchangeable parts for his guns. Colt’s
aggressive marketing campaigns were just as important, and
many of his highly decorated & engraved guns won prizes at
international fairs, and were also presented publicly to heads
of state, including Czar Nicholas I of Russia, King Frederick
VII of Denmark, and King Charles XV of Sweden. By 1856, Colt
was producing 150 weapons a day, and the reputation of models
like the 1851 Navy and 1849 Pocket as accurate, reliable, and
of the finest workmanship & design had spread throughout the
world.
Colt’s success brought him fame & fortune. He became one of
the ten wealthiest businessmen in the US, became a pillar of
the Hartford community, and was awarded the honorary title of
“Colonel” by the governor of Connecticut. He and his wife
Elizabeth built Armsmear, his private mansion with greenhouses
& formal gardens at the western edge of the armory property,
where it still stands today.
Sam’s health began to fail in 1860 as the country moved
towards the Civil War. Prior to the formal declaration of war,
Colt continued to supply his customers in the southern states.
Once official, Colt supplied only the Union forces. By the end
of 1861, the factory was running at full capacity with over
one thousand employees and annual profits exceeding a quarter
million dollars. On January 10, 1862, at age 47, Samuel Colt
died, having produced over 400,000 firearms and building a
fortune worth fifteen million dollars, an incredible sum for
the time.
Sam’s early death left his industrial empire and fortune to
his widow Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt. Elizabeth’s inner
strength and deep love for her husband gave her the
determination to maintain ownership of the company and see
that his legacy lived on.
In 1864, the Colt Armory burned to the ground, causing the
suspension of all but limited military production for three
years. Under Elizabeth’s direction, the factory was rebuilt
and made to be as fireproof as possible. Just after the
rebuilding of the factory, Colt began building Dr. R.J.
Gatling’s machine guns, a semiautomatic firearm operated by a
hand crank that turned a cluster of six to ten barrels while
feeding ammunition into the breech.
Further change & growth came in the 1870’s when Colt began to
manufacture revolvers that used self-contained metallic
cartridges. This change gave birth to the famous Colt Single
Action Army Revolver, which was introduced in 1873. The Single
Action Army was an immediate sales success and soon became
known as “the gun that won the West”. Between 1873 and 1941,
Colt produced more than 350,000 Single Action Army revolvers,
including about 40,000 of the .45 caliber model produced for
the U.S. Government. Famous proponents of the revolver include
Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson, General George Patton, and
Teddy Roosevelt. Single Action Army production continues to
this day. Product expansion continued through the end of the
19th century to include the Model 1877 and Model 1878 double
action revolvers, the New Army & New Navy models with the
first swing out cylinders, concealable derringers, shotguns,
and rifles.
In the mix; however, was Eliphalet Remington
REMINGTON ARMS:
Legend has it that a young Eliphalet Remington II
believed he could build a better gun than he could
buy, and he set out to craft such a gun on his
father’s forge located at Ilion Gulch, New York.
In the autumn of 1816, Eliphalet entered a
shooting match with his new flintlock rifle, and while he only
finished second, his handmade rifle was a success. Orders for
new Remington-made rifles and barrels began to accumulate from
the many other contestants, and before Eliphalet left the
shooting field, he was in the gun business.
In 1828, Remington moved its operations from Ilion Gulch to a
site close to the newly constructed Erie Canal. This site, in
Ilion, New York, is part of the property on which the Ilion
firearms plant sits today.
In
1865,
the
partnership
of
E.
Remington
&
Sons
was
incorporated as a stock company. Over the years, the
partnership and the succeeding corporation developed the first
hammerless solid breech repeating shotgun, the first
hammerless autoloading shotgun, the first successful highpower slide action repeating rifle, and the first lock breach
autoloading rifle. In 1865-66, Remington produced the stateof-the-art Rolling Block Rifle.
In an effort to diversify their holdings, Schuyler, Hartley &
Graham purchased two small New England cartridge companies in
1867I. These companies were later closed, and the equipment
moved to a new site in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On August 9,
1867, the Union Metallic Cartridge Company was incorporated.
It was particularly noted for its development of metallic
cartridges. It and its successor company subsequently
developed the first paper shotshells successfully manufactured
in the United States, the first primer adapted to smokeless
powder; the first battery cup for best quality paper
shotshells; the first cartridges for automatic pistols; the
first standard high-power smokeless cartridges for big game
autoloading rifles; the first .410 bore gauge shotshell in the
United States; the first nickeled primer; the first oil-proof
automatic pistol cartridges; and the first completely wetproof
loaded shells, including top wad, crimp and body.
In 1873, E. Remington & Sons embarked on a new venture, and in
September of 1873, the first Remington typewriters were
produced. However, firearms will still being manufactured.
1886 – Remington sells the typewriter business. This business
would later become Remington Rand, then Sperry Rand.
1888 – In March 1888, E. Remington & Sons was acquired by
Marcellus Hartley and partners. E. Remington & Sons was
reorganized, and the new company was named the Remington Arms
Company. In later years, in order to better utilize the
potential of the Remington Plant, the company would produce
sewing machines and cash registers.
MY PERSONAL SELECTION:
While I could never be able to shoot nor own all of the
handguns available to man at this early time in history, there
were five revolvers that stand out in my mind that, and that I
believe, shaped the future of revolvers:
1858 Remington Army Conversion
1870 Smith & Wesson Model 3 “American”
1871-1872 Colt Open Top Revolver Conversion
1873 Colt Single Action Army
1875 Remington New Army
It is my goal to have a reproduction of all five of these
firearms, and thanks to “Spaghetti Westerns” and companies
like Uberti and Pietta, reproductions of past revolvers is
within my reach. I don’t want “Hollywood” guns; I want
something as close to the originals as possible, but with
modern materials, manufacturing, and ammunition.
1858 REMINGTON NEW ARMY:
My first attempt of having a reproduced piece of history, was
acquiring the 1858 Remington Army Conversion although full
production of the revolver did not start until 1861. The 1858
Remington New Army Model was the first revolver to be
“converted” from a percussion piece to a revolver that
utilized a cylinder housing 6 self-contained cartridges. This
was a milestone for Remington, as Remington was able to
purchase cylinders from Smith & Wesson by paying royalty fees
to Smith & Wesson; whereas, Colt did not. Both Colt and
Remington produced percussion revolvers, but many felt (as I
feel now) that the Remington was a better and more durable
unit due to its top-strap, which the Colt revolver did not
incorporate until 1873. Both revolvers; however, shared battle
in field and aboard ships throughout the Civil War. In 1864,
Colt’s plant burned to the ground and only military-use models
of firearms were produced. Remington took the lead on and off
of the battlefield in “cartridge” revolvers with the 1858
Remington New Army Model.
As a side note, the 1858 New Army Conversion rev9olver was
used by Clint Eastwood in the movie ‘Pale Rider’ (1985)
1870 SMITH & WESSON MODEL 3 “AMERICAN”:
It wasn’t until after the Civil War (1861 – 1865) that Smith
and Wesson was able to revolutionize the revolver and did so
with the 1870 Smith and Wesson Model 3 revolver. The Smith &
Wesson Model 3 was a single-action, cartridge-firing, topbreak revolver produced by Smith & Wesson from circa 1870 to
1915. It was not; however, known as the “Schofield” revolver
until 1875 when the US Ordnance Board granted Smith & Wesson a
contract to outfit the military with Model 3 revolvers
incorporating the design improvements of Major George W.
Schofield (known as the “Schofield revolver”), providing that
they could make the revolvers fire the .45 Colt (AKA “.45 Long
Colt”) ammunition already in use by the US military. Smith &
Wesson instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45
caliber round, the .45 Schofield, otherwise known as the .45
S&W.
The Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver was the first to utilize a
“Top Break” top strap that enabled the user to quickly un-load
and load cartridges from the rear of an exposed cylinder.
1871 – 1872 COLT OPEN TOP REVOLVER:
Whe
n Rollin White’s request of extension for his breech-loading
revolvers patent was rejected by the American Government in
January 1870 the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
started working on its own metallic cartridge rear-loaders. Up
until then, the Colt Company continued converting muzzleloading percussion revolvers into rear-loaders until 1878, but
in 1871 Colt’s had patented at least two rear-loading
revolvers using metallic cartridges: the Colt House Revolver
and the Open Top. The House revolver went into production the
same year in 1871 but the Open Top didn’t start production
until 1872. The major distinction between the 1871/1872 Colt
open-top revolvers over previous endeavors at open-top
“conversions” was that the 1871/1872 Colt Open Top revolver
was the first revolver from Colt that was a true “cartridge”
revolver.
But why is the Colt 1871 – 1872 Open Top revolver such a key
revolver for Colt? It was actually the failure of the revolver
that led to the most popular single-action revolver of all
time.
You see, up until the Colt 1871 – 1872 Open Top revolver both
Colt and Remington was updating old percussion revolvers to
accept the new metallic cartridges. Revolvers circa 1851 and
1860 were updated after Remington began updating the 1858
Remington New Army.
Bound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and
not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson (as did
Remington), Colt could not begin development of bored-through
revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4,
1869.
The 1871/1872 version of the open-top revolver, then chambered
for the .44 caliber rounds, was submitted to the US Army for
testing in 1872. The Army rejected the pistol and asked for a
more powerful caliber with a stronger frame. Mason redesigned
the frame to incorporate a topstrap, similar to the Remington
revolvers, and placed the rear sight on the rear of the frame;
he consulted with Richards on some other improvements. The
first prototype of the new gun was still chambered in .44 rim
fire, but this new gun was chambered for the newest caliber
known as the .45 Colt. This new design started production in
1873, giving birth to a new model, the Colt Single Action
Army, and a new serial numbering. The 1871/1872 Colt Open Top
revolver was the last of its kind for Colt. This, to me, the
fact that the 1871/1872 Colt open top revolver was the first
of Colt’s cartridge revolvers, and that actually led to the
development of the Colt 1873 Single Action Army revolver, is
why I have a reproduction of this revolver – it was an end of
an era for Colt revolvers.
As a side note, the 1860 Richards-Mason conversion was used by
Clint Eastwood (and several other actors) in the film ‘Outlaw
Josie Wales’ (1976) during scenes that actually called for
firing the revolver (blanks, of course); otherwise, 1860
percussion revolvers were used for ‘static shots’. In
actuality, the Richard’s conversions did not take place until
after 1870 – long after the time period depicted in the movie.
1873 COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY:
The original
1873 Colt New Action Army had a top strap, sported a 7.5-inch
barrel, and was chambered for six .45 Colt cartridges. Many
variations have been manufactured since by many companies and
the sheer numbers of reproduction revolvers testify to the
staying power of the original Colt “Peacemaker” revolver.
There are actually 3 “generations” of the 1873 Colt Single
Action Army revolvers; the Pi, P2, and P3. P1 revolvers were
manufactured from 1873 through 1941. P2 revolvers were
manufactured from 1956 to 1974. P3 revolvers have been
manufactured from 1976 through today’s time.
As with most revolvers, various barrel lengths and
configurations apply to the 1873 Colt Single Action Army
revolver. I’ll touch on that later.
Although I have Ruger single-action revolvers that are a
modern take-off of the original colt design with modern
material and manufacturing, plus the addition of safeties that
are a slap-in-the-face of true single-action connoisseurs, the
desire to have a 1873 Colt Single Action Army reproduction in
my possession has driven me to find one. As of this writing, I
have a reproduction by Uberti on order. While many favor the
shorter barreled version, I wanted one as close to the
original as modernly possible; 7.5-inch barrel and chambered
in the original production .45 Colt. Hopefully, I’ll be
shooting one soon.
REMINGTON MODEL 1875 SINGLE ACTION ARMY:
Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army (a.k.a. Improved Army
or Frontier Army) was a revolver by the E. Remington & Sons.
It was a based upon the successful Remington Model 1858 with
both revolvers having the same size, appearance, and the
removable cylinder. The new 1875 Remington differed mainly
from the older 1858 percussion model by having a bored through
cylinder chambered for metallic cartridges. Thus, in 1875,
Remington entered the cartridge revolver market with this bigframe, army style revolver, intended to compete with the Colt
Peacemaker. Ordinary citizens and Old West lawmen alike
recognized the sturdy quality of the new Remington revolvers.
This design was followed by the Model 1888 and the Model 1890.
So why do I consider the Remington Model 1875 Single Action
Army over the 1888 or 1890 models? The 1875 Remington New Army
was a first true cartridge revolver for Remington and not a
conversion as was the 1858 version. The Remington Model 1875
Single Action Army has a fluted cylinder, a round barrel (a
change from the octagon barrel), and the barrel shortened to
7.5 inches. The main reason for my selection; however, was
because the Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army was the
last revolver to incorporate the “sail” in its design. The
“sail” as it is sometimes called (also a “web”) added to the
structural integrity of the revolver and also set it apart
from the Colt design. I would imagine that the “sail” was also
extremely hazardous to a foe’s head when it was cracked over
his numb skull; something that “Wild Bill” Hickock was famous
for (yes that is recorded history and not speculation on my
part). An intermediate (transitional) model of cartridge
revolver was introduced in 1888 called the “New Model Pocket
Army”, which lacked the “sail” and the 1890 Remington singleactions kept the solid frame and similar styling of the 1875
model, but lacked the large web under the ejector rod housing
and equipped with checkered rubber grips.
SIZE DOES MATTER:
It seems that a common theme runs through early revolvers and
later semi-automatic pistols – and that is barrel length.
With revolvers, the “Calvary” model was usually a revolver
with an 8” or 7.5” barrel. This could equate to the
“Government” model colt sizing for the 1911 semi-automatic
pistol with a 5” barrel.
Artillery models of early revolvers usually had a 5.5” barrel,
which would equate to the “Commander” size Colt 1911 pistol
with its 4.25” barrel.
Shorter barreled versions of early revolvers were sometimes
referred to as “Civilian”, “Gun Fighter” or “Sheriff” models,
which might be compared to the “Officer” version of the Colt
1911 pistol with a 3.5” barrel.
ONWARD AND BACKWARD:
Perhaps there is an iconic reason for
owning reproduction firearms of original
barrel length, as well as a trip down
memory lane. Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) packed
a Colt single action model 1873 71/2 inch
barrel in 45 caliber. It was an actual
antique made in 1895, not a modern day
copy. When it sold at auction along with
the gun and holster were papers from
Stembridge stateing it was the gun used in
the series along with an affidavit from James Arness himself.
It sold for $15,000.00.
Clint Eastwood used reproductions of Colt Open Top and
Remington closed top revolvers in several movies and included
both percussion and cartridge revolvers as the scenes
demanded. Most notable was; Outlaw Josie Wales, Man with No
Name, and Pale Rider.
The Smith & Wesson No. 3 revolver was seen in the movie
“Unforgiven” and which was used in scenes with the ‘Schofield
Kid’ (Jaimz Woolvett) and William Munny (Clint Eastwood).
Of course, reproductions of the 1873 Colt Single Action Army
revolver have been used (with various barrel lengths) in too
many western films and T.V. series to count.
Reproductions of early revolvers are simply fun to shoot and
are a welcome break from shooting my more modern pistols. The
problem is that having reproductions of early revolvers is
habit forming and sometimes you have to decide when to draw
the line They are like potato chips because you just can’t
have one, and like “National Treasure”, one mystery leads to
the next.
The details for my personal selections are shown below:
1858 Remington Army Conversion, .45 Colt, steel, 8”
barrel (Calvary)
1870 Smith & Wesson Model 3 “American”, .45 Colt, steel,
6.5” barrel
1871-1872 Colt Open Top Revolver, .45 Colt, steel frame
and barrel, brass backstrap and trigger guard, 5.5”
barrel (Artillery)
1873 Colt Single Action Army, .45 Colt, 7.5” barrel
(Calvary)
1875 Remington Single Action Army, .45 Colt, steel, 7.5”
barrel (Calvary)
Although these reproductions can be found in various calibers,
I wanted to stick with one (the .45 LC) throughout the
collection. Note that none of the above are in stainless
steel, and as much as I like stainless steel in any handgun or
rifle, stainless steel was not around in those days and nickel
plating just does not wear well with time. There is nothing
like a worn blued-revolver with a fine patina, developed over
years of wear and tear and a great set of wood stocks to hold
it with.
Although the Ruger “Vaquero” might have been a better choice
for the 1873 Colt Single Action Army, it is no longer
manufactured in the original 7.5” barrel length, is very hard
to find in that barrel length, and much more expensive than
the Uberti model. Also, even though the “Vaquero” is a Ruger,
“Cowboy” ammunition is still recommended – and that, as far as
I’m concerned, puts it on par with Uberti’s version of the
1873 Colt Single Action Army.
There has to be other singleaction cartridge revolvers that
interest me, and of course,
there are many. For example, who
would
not
want
a
Colt
“Birdshead”
single-action
revolver, a Colt “Bisley”, or a “Man with No Name” 1860 Colt
revolver? Who could pass up the chance to own a six-gun that
was carried by the likes of ‘Bat Masterson’, ‘Billy the Kid’,
‘Wild Bill Hickock’, or even ‘The Duke’? A modern reproduction
of these firearms makes that possible.
And, who says that a single-action revolver cannot be used for
self-defense? A pair of 5.5” barreled 1873 Colt “Peacemakers”
in a bedroom drawer, with each stoked with 5 rounds of
ammunition, are as effective today as they were in the past.
After all, 230-grain .45 LC bullets are still 230-grain .45 LC
bullets when traveling at 850 fps or so.
WRAPPING THINGS UP:
While my current interest lies in enjoying ‘conversion’
revolvers, I also have in interest in building and shooting my
own brace of post-revolutionary, muzzle-loading ‘Kentucky’
pistols or maybe a brace of flintlock ‘Pirate’ pist0ls. That;
however, is another story for another time, and hopefully, one
that I will still be around to write.
Perhaps you might want to take a
break from the here and now? You
have one or more modern rifles,
shotguns, revolvers, and pistols
so plunk down a few dollars and
pick up a reproduction of an
early revolver, place yourself
in a time when the West was
truly wild and civil strife was at its height, shoot the
revolver, and better understand what it was like in those days
of soldiers, desperadoes, and Indians crying out for your
blood. You will quickly realize why multiple handguns were
carried by many in their times of need and you will quickly
appreciate what we have today. After all, self-defense needs
have changed – or have they?
RESOURCES AND ATTRIBUTIONS:
Rollin White: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollin_White
Remington
Model
1858:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_1858
Smith
&
Wesson
Model
3:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_3
Colt
Model
1871-72
Open
Top:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Model_1871-72_Open_To
p
Colt
Single
Action
Army:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Single_Action_Army
Remington
Model
1875:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_1875
Uberti: http://www.uberti.com/
Cimarron Firearms: http://cimarron-firearms.com/
Taylor & Company, Inc.: http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/
E.M.F Company, Inc.: http://www.emf-company.com/
1871 Navy Colt Conversion (Early Version) by A. Uberti:
http://guntoters.com/blog/2015/09/01/1871-navy-colt-conv
ersion-early-version-by-a-uberti/
1858 Remington New Army Conversion by A. Uberti:
http://guntoters.com/blog/2015/08/29/1858-remington-newarmy-conversion-by-a-uberti/
SHTF Gear Holster
“Commander”
–
1911
SHTF Gear
Holster
ACE-1
Gen
2
Having used a SHTF Gear holster in the past, for a Springfield
XDs 4.0 .45 acp and a Glock G43, I was pretty confident that I
would receive an excellent SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster after
ordering one for the Ruger SR1911CMD-A pistol. The SHTF Gear
holster for the Springfield XDs was a Gen 1 holster that had
no tension adjustment. It; however, houses the Springfield XDs
3.3 and 4.0 .45 acp pistols just fine as it is. The SHTF Gear
ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster for the Glock G43 came with tension
adjustments, although no adjustment was needed and the G43
fits snugly in the holster when carried.
The SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster for the Ruger SR1911CMD was
ordered directly from SHTF Gear for that specific pistol;
Ruger, SR1911, 4.25” barrel. The holster will also house any
4.25” or shorter barreled 1911 such as an “Officer” length
1911.
As I desire a little more holster cant than what is supplied,
dropping the rear clip one hole, which raises the rear of the
holster, is a very easy process and can be done using the
provided hex-head tool.
Some basics of the SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster
COMFORT
Proprietary Comfort Curve design
Custom sized for each gun
Adjustable ride height
Adjustable cant
CONVENIENCE
Adjustable retention
Cut for a full grip (Combat Cut)
Tuckable design
Flared opening
CONFIDENCE
30-day money-back guarantee
Proudly made in the USA
Lifetime warranty
.093 Kydex
*standard clips fit belts up to 1.75″ wide
SHTF Gear Holster for 4.25″
1911 – Note Sweat Shield and
Mounting Clip positions for
Extreme Forward Holster Cant
Although stiff at first, the SHTF Gear holster quickly molds
itself to your body shape after a period of wear and becomes
quite comfortable to wear. While the sweat guard is acceptable
with the Springfield XDs and Glock G43 pistols, I was
interested to see how it would work on a 1911-based pistol
outfitted with an extended safety. You see, the sweat guard
has a tendency to fold outward against the pistol, and since
the 1911-based pistol has an external thumb safety,
interference with the thumb safety could occur. On advice from
a friend, and while I like a sweat guard, I prefer safety over
having one. With my Crossbreed Super Tuck (CBST) holster for a
1911-based pistol, the sweat shield was cut off and
interference with the thumb safety is non-existent. The SHTF
Gear holster faced the same fate. Read on!
Note Flared Entry Point on
SHTF Gear Holsters and
“Combat Cut” Sweat Shield
Several advantages exist with the SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2
Holster over the CBST is that the new version have a flared
entry point for the pistol, which makes it much easier to
guide the pistol into the holster. Additionally, the muzzle
end of the holster is tapered inward past the muzzle, which
helps to lower the profile of the holster when worn, and
compared to the CBST, provides protection of the muzzle and
front sight. (You must order a holster for a 5-inch barreled
pistol.) The CBST is more of a “universal” holster in that any
length of a 1911-based pistol can be carried (with some
exceptions, of course).
The rear of the holster is “rough out” and helps to prevent
the holster from slipping when worn. The mounting clips are
heavy-duty and do a fine job of holding the holster to the
belt.
Each mounting hole for the clips are pre-stamped for the
three-pronged security nuts, which prevents the prongs from
collapsing when being tightened. This is a handy feature
because it gets very frustrating when I have to straighten out
the prongs on the CBST because they collapsed against the hard
leather instead of digging in like they should.
The SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster is dyed black and blends in
well with darker clothing.
SHTF Gear Holster Showing
Dual Tension Points and
Multiple Adjustment Points
for Ride Height and cant
Two tension points ensure that the pistol stays in place. A
second set of compression washers are provided should you need
a tighter fit. Also provided are two spare screws; one for
holster tension and one for mounting. I highly recommend that
you remove the existing mounting and tension screws, place a
dab of blue thread locking compound on the screw threads, and
then tighten the mounting screws and adjust for your desired
tension. This will help prevent the screws from backing out
during normal wear. (I check the screws on my holster weekly
when the holsters are worn.)
SHTF Gear Holster Comes with
Two Additional Spacers, a
Hex-head Wrench and Two
Spare Screws
Tension is commonly applied to the trigger guard. The trigger
guard then becomes a wear point. Depending upon the finish on
your pistol, you may experience wear at some point(s) on the
finish. With an adjustable tension holster, you can adjust the
tension to lessen the wear at the trigger guards while having
enough tension to secure the firearm. The majority of tension
on the firearm is due to the outward pressure of your body
against the holster backing. With my CBST (with no means of
adjusting tension without using a heat source), I sometimes
have to twist the butt of the firearm slightly inward at the
rear to clear the holster cleanly (not hanging up on the
tension point). With the SHTH Gear holster (and others), I can
simply adjust the tension screws to provide a balance of ease
of drawing the pistol and enough tension to keep the pistol in
the holster during normal wear.
Shell
Is
Stitched
and
Riveted to Backing
The .093-inch thick Kydex shell is riveted and sewn to the
leather backing, which results in a very strong holster.
The bottom line of any IWB holster is how well it conceals,
how comfortable it is to carry, and how well the holster
secures the firearm.
The SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster is fully adjustable for ride
height and cant. Although I like an IWB holster to ride as low
as possible, I don’t want the top of the pants interfering
with holstering the firearm. With a compact (or sub-compact)
pistol, the butt of the pistol will naturally be low and
easier to conceal. With a 1911-based pistol, like the Ruger
SR1911CMD (and SR1911CMD-A), the grip is longer due to the 7round capacity. My preference, in the case of the 1911-based
pistol, is to have more of a forward cant that tucks the grip
under my ribcage. In doing so, I can conceal the grip nicely
even when slightly bent over. The SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2
Holster allows me to adjust the holster ride height and cant
to my liking.
My only contention with the holster was the shield. Without
it; however, there would be no place for the manufacturer to
plant a logo. Sweat shields may be fine with pistols like the
Glock, Springfield, Smith & Wesson, or other relatively smooth
sided pistols, but with pistols that have frame-mounted
safeties I have come not to like them. As I stated earlier,
the sweat shield on the CBST for the 1911 had surgery
performed on it, as did the SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster. If
someone wants to know what holster I am using, I will tell
them. I need holsters to simply work as I need them; they are
not intended to be a rolling advertisement for the manufacture
of the holster.
Modified SHTF Gear HolsterRear View of Modified Sweat
for 4.25″ 1911 – Note SweatShield – Plenty of Room for
Thumb Safety and Full Grip –
Shield Removed
Some
Finishing
Still
Required
A line was drawn and a #2 X-ACTO knife did the surgery. I
dressed up the edge and black leather dye was applied to the
exposed edge. I patted my self on the back after I mounted the
holster and slid the Ruger SR1911CMD-A into the holster; it
was like a knife slicing into warm butter and I heard that
satisfying “snick” as the pistol locked into place. Like the
CBST, the SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2 Holster is a very secure
holster and I feel better knowing that the muzzle and front
sight are better protected.
As I mentioned earlier, although the holster is stiff at first
it quickly begins to conform to the body after wearing it a
short time. Since I carry just behind the right hip, the lower
front of the holster flares outward a bit, which conforms to
my hip while the bottom rear of the holster wraps inward
against my body; it is a highly comfortable holster to wear.
The holster and firearms are pulled tightly into my side just
where I want it. The substantial clips hold it in place while
the rough-out backing keeps it from sliding around. Note that
you also have the option of ordering J-hooks in lieu of the
metal clips. My everyday belt is 1.75-inches wide and either
the standard metal clip or J-hooks work fine with it. With
narrow belts, the J-hook may work better if you have to tuck
your shirt in over the firearm and are not wearing an outer
garment (for example; a sport coat, vest, or jacket), as they
are less conspicuous than the metal clips.
UPDATE:
Initially, I placed the rear mounting screw to the bottom-most
mounting hole, which provided for more of a forward holster
cant. After a day of wearing the holster, I decided to go back
to the original configuration. However, after wearing the
holster for a week, and allowing the holster to bend to my
body shape, I realized that I actually wanted more cant to the
holster as the butt of the Ruger SR1911CMD-A was not being
concealed as well as I wanted it to be. I placed the rear
mounting screw to the bottom-most mounting hole and things
immediately got better. I still have maximum concealment while
standing or sitting and without the butt of the pistol digging
into my ribs. Thankfully, the SHTF Gear Holster provides a lot
of adjustment choices.
SHTF Gear “Modified” Holster
for 4.25″ 1911 Rides High
and Tight (Note that his is
a well worn belt but is
still very usable for IWB)
I have carried a 1911-based pistol in duty holsters and OWB
holsters; both of which had security built into them in the
form of thumb-breaks. With an IWB holster; however, thumb
breaks are a detriment to the draw and holstering the firearm;
thumb breaks can also interfere with the safety unless you
train in pushing the thumb-break out of the way when drawing
the firearm and also pushing the thumb-break and strap out of
the way when holstering the firearm. Most of the time, it
takes two hands to safely holster a 1911-based pistol when the
holster has a thumb break. A good IWB holster does not rely on
thumb breaks to secure the firearm – your body provides the
security and well as the holster. The SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2
Holster allows me to adjust the tension to my liking. Now, I
have not tested its retention while doing cartwheels, backspin kicks, jumping jacks, or hanging from tree limbs upside
down; however, I have tested it while performing a variety of
activities and body positions (sitting, standing, crouching,
kneeling, and bent over) and the pistol remained securely in
place. The pistol can also be drawn from any of these
positions without hanging up.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I’ll give the SHTF Gear ACE-1 Gen 2
Holster a 5 – sweat guard and all.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE:
I would like to see SHTF Gear offer their holsters without the
sweat shield as well as with the sweat shield. With that said,
the sweat shield does work well with most pistols and it was
my personal preference to remove the sweat shield and not due
to any fault in the holster’s design. Note that the sweat
shield on the SHTF Gear holster for the Glock G43 and
Springfield XDs pistol was not removed and work very well for
their intended purpose.
SOURCES:
SHTF
Gear:
http://www.shtfgear.com/products/ace-1-gen-2-holster
Shoot For The Fun Of It!
When we finally get enough time
and ammunition we head to the
range –usually for a purpose.
Whether to sight in a scope on a rifle for hunting, break in a
new firearm, run shooting drills, or practice with our
favorite EDC, we have a purpose in doing so. It is usually
serious business in how we shoot. For hunting purposes, we
want to bring meat to the table instead of buying who-knowswhat off the grocery shelf. When we break in a new firearm we
want to be ensured that it will function flawlessly when we
need it. When we practice with our favorite EDC, we need the
confidence that the firearm will serve the purpose of
defending ourselves, family, and castle.
On a recent range excursion, I took two firearms; my EDC and a
single-action revolver. Granted that I was breaking in two new
firearms but I had a different reason for doing so. Shooting
my EDC is serious business while shooting the single-action
revolver was for the sheer pleasure of doing so.
A Uberti 1871 Open Top Colt
Navy Conversion and a Ruger
1911CMD-A – Guess Which One
Is For Fun
My EDC is a modern semi-automatic pistol that I have to
totally rely on should the need arise to do so. Normally, I
use a target that depicts the human form to shoot at with my
EDC; I need to know that I can shoot at and hit parts of the
human body when I need to. I don’t shoot for tallying points,
but I do shoot for stopping a threat should one present itself
to me. The distance of the target usually varies from seven
yards to twenty-five yards during the course of a practice
session.
I have several single-action and double-action revolvers;
however, the single-action revolvers are immensely more
enjoyable to shoot for me. Why? I carried a double-action
revolver as a LEO in a past life and I acquaint it with
defensive use. The single-action revolver has never been
carried in defense from man, although one has accompanied me
in the past when camping or hiking (when I used to do those
things). I look at the single-action revolver as a tool to
have fun with. Normally, a target will be a simple bulls-eye
posted at a moderate distance.
I may, during a range session with my EDC, shoot the firearm
one-handed strong side, two-handed in a modified Weaver
stance, and one handed weak side. Two-handed modified Weaver
is the most common of the three that I practice.
With the single-action revolver, I only shoot one-handed and
most often from the strong side and a “bladed” stance. No
scopes, no red dot, and no lasers; just me and what sights the
SA revolver affords me. Since the West has already been won,
there is no need for fast draws; just a closed eye, an
extended arm, and a steady hold on the firearm. No matter that
the SA revolver is of modern design, I load one, skip one,
load four, and rest the hammer on an unloaded chamber.
Sometimes, I shoot older style SA revolvers that require this
loading (no hammer block safeties), I need to follow the
rules, and not deviate from them.
There is some satisfaction in pulling the hammer on a SA
revolver to the full-cocked position, whether there are four
clicks or two when doing so. There is some sense of
satisfaction when I pull an extremely light trigger and send a
round downrange regardless of the caliber of ammunition being
fired. I also select calibers that are pleasurable to shoot;
.22 LR, .38 special/.357 magnum, .45 LC, and .44 special/.44
magnum. While I have fired a .500 Linebaugh in a SA revolver,
I do not find it pleasurable to shoot; therefore, I don’t
anymore. A 240-grain, .44 magnum round is about my upper end
of giggles and tee-hees to shoot out of a Ruger Super
Blackhawk.
On a side note, I think that younger shooters don’t appreciate
the SA revolver. They may not have been around when “Cowboy”
and “Western” movies and television series were the hay of the
day, and when the seemingly endless capacity of the SA
revolver reigned king and were drawn from “Hollywood” holsters
by the likes of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and The Lone Ranger
(among others). While we all appreciate the modern marvels of
pistol persuasion, young folks just don’t appreciate the
history made through innovation of handgun visionaries and gun
smiths of the past that got us to this point. To them I say
sometimes you have to go back in time to appreciate what you
now have.
Although I prefer the SA revolver for pleasure, it is not
everyone’s favorite piece. The SA revolver only carries a full
capacity of six rounds of ammunition, it is slow to load and
unload, sights are sometimes wanting, and it forces one into
using good marksmanship skills. Modern folks don’t have time
for that; we need the instant gratification that only highcapacity, semi-automatic pistol magazines can provide – or so
it seems at times. Poor quality shooting is camouflaged by
more quantity of shots taken.
If shooting a single-action revolver is not be your cup ‘o
tea, that is fine with me. If you enjoy shooting a Ruger 10/22
for fun by all means do it. If your EDC pleases you to shoot,
and if you can also have fun with it, why not do so?
The bottom line is that we need
to take some time out from the
stress of our personal training
with self-defense firearms and
insert some time for shooting
them simply for the pleasure of
doing so. Hang some “fun”
targets and remove some of the
stress in your life. Aim small,
miss small, and enjoy yourself
while doing so.
1871 Navy Colt Conversion
(Early Version) by A. Uberti
A Single-Action Open
Colt Navy Revolver
Top
The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber (i.e., .36
cal), later known as the Colt 1851 Navy or Navy Revolver, is a
cap and ball revolver that was designed by Samuel Colt between
1847 and 1850. Colt first called this Revolver Ranger model;
but the designation Navy quickly took over. It remained in
production until 1873, when revolvers using fixed metallic
cartridges came into widespread use.
In 1871, Colt employee Charles Richards was awarded a patent
for converting Colt percussion models to breech loading
cartridge revolvers. The Richards cartridge conversion was an
instant success. On July 2, 1872, William Mason, another Colt
employee, was awarded a patent for an improvement to the
Richards model. Conversion models remained popular with
cowboys (many originals will be found with imprints of fence
staples on the butt) even after the introduction of the 1873
Colt®. This was due to the low cost of conversion models. Use
continued long after more modern cartridge revolvers were
introduced.
In 1959, Aldo Uberti began making replicas of Civil War-era
cap and ball revolvers. He founded A. Uberti S.R.L. in the
village of Gardone Val Trompia in the Italian Alps. Over the
years, as his craftsmen gained experience, the company
increased production by including more and more of the Old
West firearms. Uberti reproduction firearms were instrumental
in providing firearm for many a “Spaghetti Western” and that
sparked a growth in “period correct” firearms for us lovers of
these firearms.
Uberti firearms are exacting replicas, down to the finest
detail. Many are improvements over the originals, with the
advancement of materials and the use of modern machinery. With
the 1871 Navy Colt Conversion replica (and others), Uberti
remained true to the Richards-Mason cartridge conversion, but
has added a safety bock in the hammer, which can be activated
or deactivated by the turn of a simple screw, to bring the
firearm up to modern safety standards.
A Reproduction of the A 1871
Colt Navy Conversion Found a
Home
The Uberti 1871 Colt Navy Open Top Conversion revolver (model
341356) sports a 5.5 inch round barrel. Another model is
available with a 7.5-inch barrel. A case-hardened frame
matches up nicely with the brass back strap and trigger guard
and to the blued-steel barrel assembly. The brass back strap
and trigger guard lends a nice contrast with the rest of the
revolver and when matched with some highly polished walnut
grip panels, the overall revolver is very stylized and sleek
looking.
An Ejector Rod With a Twist
As part of the conversion to cartridges from percussion
revolvers, the 1871 Colt Navy Open Top Conversion revolver has
a spring-loaded ejector rod that assists in ridding the
revolver of spent cartridges. Similar to the ejector rod used
on later 1873 Colt “Peacemaker” revolvers, the ejector rod is
on the right side of the barrel (secured by a heavy screw in
the frame) and has a small lever that must be first rotated
upward and then rearward to expel the spent cartridge. A
loading gate keeps the rounds within the cylinder and a simply
push of the tube outward releases the loading gate.
Loading gate and Six
Round Cylinder of .45
LC Ammunition. Note use
of A-Zoom Snap Caps for
Dry Firing and Storage.
Also Note Rear Site
Notch on Rear of Barrel
The cylinder in this particular model holds 6 rounds of .45
Long Colt, although other models are available in .38 special.
Like all cartridge conversion reproductions by Uberti, the
revolvers can fire modern smokeless powder or cartridges with
black powder. High pressure loads are not recommended and any
“SASS” approved “Cowboy” ammunition should provide years of
enjoyment and service from these revolvers.
An Almost Non-Existent
“Flash
Gap”
Possible
Problem? Maybe Not. Also,
note the rear sight notch.
The “Flash Gap”, the distance between the forcing cone and the
face of the cylinder is less than .004-inches (the thinnest
feeler gauge that I have). The breech end of the barrel slopes
nicely into the cylinder area, which is true to the original
design of these revolvers. Unlike revolvers with top straps,
where hot gases are forced into the top strap when a cartridge
fires, the open-top revolver allows hot gases to escape upward
with nothing to stop them. Spacer blocks between cylinder and
frame were common as were two-part cylinders where the
cylinder had to be removed from the revolver for loading and
reloading. The Richards/Mason conversion removed all of that
stuff and what resulted was a cartridge revolver that loaded
and unloaded via a side gate that is also part of the recoil
shield. I have wondered about the apparent lack of “Flash Gap”
and attributed to one of two things (or both). The revolver
has been manufactured to specifications matching the original
1871 Colt Navy revolver. Is the lack of “flash gap” due to a
manufacturing defect, or being as true as possible to the
original design, intentional manufacturing? Considering that
the original 1871 Colt Navy revolver was a BP (Black Powder)
revolver, a tight cylinder-to-forcing cone gap may have helped
prevent “Flash Over” from one chamber to another. It was (and
still is) common practice with BP revolvers to grease the
front of the cylinder to prevent “Flash Over” that could not
only destroy the firearm but also injure the shooter. (It must
be noted that lubricated patches are available for BP
revolvers that negate the greasing of the cylinder face.) When
cartridge conversions came about, perhaps the “Flash Gap”
distance was retained even though the occurrence of “Flash
Over” was removed. The disadvantage of a tight forcing coneto-cylinder gap, of course, is that the buildup of powder and
lead on the face of the cylinder could cause the cylinder to
bind. Only firing the revolver and time will tell me if this
is an area for concern. With the few rounds that I did fire
through the revolver, I did not experience any problem in this
area. I have feeling that removing lead buildup on the
cylinder face will be a priority with this revolver.
The cylinder, unlike that found on the 1858 Remington New Army
conversion, does not have recessed chambers; there is a gap
between the rear of the cylinder and the frame. This gap
allows the shooter to instantly see if the firearm is loaded.
The cylinder locks up tight and there is absolutely no play
front-to-rear or side-to-side. This revolver is tightly fitted
and that is a testament to the quality, while not perfect, of
Uberti reproductions.
Cylinder
Scroll
Work
Replicates the Original
The cylinder of this revolver is engraved with a scene of the
victory of the Second Texas Navy at the Battle of Campeche on
May 16, 1843, just like the original and is not fluted, which
adds strength to the cylinder. Chamber thickness is about .047
inch, so no, this is not a Ruger and ammunition should be
selected to compliment the firearm and not destroy it. For
230-grain .45 LC ammunition, I like to stay around the 850 fps
velocity if not under, which is a comfortable load to shoot.
If I want to run hot loads, I’ll go to the Ruger Blackhawk.
Hammer Block Safety Operation
The hammer, as mentioned before, incorporated a safety block
that is operated by the turn of a screw. The screw can only be
seen when the hammer is in the half-cock or fully cocked
positions. Although the block safety does move away from the
original design, I have come to not notice it all.
Dry Firing Without Snap Caps
Is Not recommended. A-Zoom
45 Colt Snap Caps (On Left)
Are Perfect To Use for Dry
Firing and Storage And Are
Exactly The Same Dimensions
of Live Ammunition (On
Right)
The firing pin, unlike that on the 1858 Remington conversion,
is part of the hammer and plunges through a corresponding hole
in the frame to strike the cartridge. This is definitely not a
revolver to carry with six rounds. If the hammer is struck or
dropped over a live round, something not so nice will happen
when the cartridge fires. As with all revolvers of this
nature; move the hammer to the half-cock position, load one,
skip one, load four, pull the hammer to the full cock
position, and then the thumb controls the descent of the
hammer while the trigger is pulled and comes to rest on an
empty chamber.
It is not advised to dry-fire this revolver and use of snap
caps is highly recommended. I use those by A-Zoom for dry-fire
and when storing the firearm. You can see those chambered in
the firearm in the accompanying image.
A New Trigger With Just Over
3 Pounds of Pull
There is absolutely no take-up in the trigger and (on this
particular model) the trigger breaks crisply at a hair over
three pounds with just a hint of over-travel. As the trigger
in my revolver wears in, I am sure that it will smooth out and
become lighter still.
With Practice, the Entire
Revolver Breaks Down Faster
Takedown Wedge, Side View of
than Field Stripping a 1911
the Rear Sight, and Check
Pistol. There is no need to
That “Flash Gap” – Less Than
go further than this.
.004″
Substantial
Cylinder
Support. Note Slot for
Barrel Wedge. Lubriplate NO.
130-A Coats the Cylinder
Rod.
Recoil Shield and Firing Pin
Access Hole
Some say that the open-top revolver was not as strong as those
with a closed top. That could be argued as the open-top
revolver using a much thicker cylinder pin that is found on
closed-top revolvers and which aids to the strength of the
open-top revolver. The cylinder is held into place by a wedge
that is inserted and locked into a very robust frame. To takedown an open-top revolver of this type, a screwdriver is used
to turn the retaining screw until it is parallel with the
cylinder pin. Although it is possible to push the wedge
through the frame after a few sessions of disassembly,
sometimes it takes a small hammer and something soft to get
the wedge started. Afterward it can be plucked from the frame
and set aside. The barrel is then grabbed and pulled forward
off of the cylinder pin. The cylinder is then rotated off of
the pin. To assembly the revolver; the cylinder is pushed onto
the cylinder pin and rotated slightly until it engages the
cylinder hand (the part that rotates the cylinder), the barrel
assembly is then pushed onto the cylinder pin, the wedge is
inserted into the frame and lightly tapped into place, and the
locking screw is turned just enough to secure the wedge into
the frame. With a practiced hand, disassembling the open-top
revolver can be performed faster than field stripping a 1911
Colt pistol.
Checkered Hammer Spur
Ensures Positive Cocking
The Uberti 1871 Colt Navy conversion revolver weighs in at 2.2
pounds dry and has enough handle to hold onto. The wide and
flared grip bottom helps in keeping muzzle rise in check while
the plough of a grip allows the revolver to roll back in the
hand, which puts the hammer spur within easy reach of the
cocking thumb. The hammer spur has a diamond-shape pattern to
ensure a good surface for cocking. The hammer has a deep
valley in which to rest the thumb during cocking or holding
the hammer while de-cocking.
Surprisingly, the revolver is nicely balanced.
The Slight Mismatch At
Rear Of Frame Does Not
Affect Operation of the
Revolver
The brass back strap and trigger guard is a two piece unit
that is attached to the cold-steel frame by six screws. A
single screw mounts the back strap to the trigger guard. On
the left side of the revolver, just behind the trigger guard,
the caliber of the firearm is stamped. The firearm’s serial
number is stamped on both the frame and the brass just beneath
the cylinder at the front. 1871 is stamped into the frame just
above the disassembly wedge. Also and just below the cylinder
on the left side of the frame, the frame is marked with the
so-called “Two July” patent marking, also found on the 1851
Navy-, 1861 Navy- and 1860 Army-conversion revolvers. The “Two
July” patents were also found on very early Colt Single Action
Army revolvers. The top of the barrel is stamped with
manufactures stamps. In addition, the caliber is stamped under
the barrel just rearward of the ejector rod “button”, which in
this case is CAL.45 LC.
Front
Blade
Sight
is
a
Simple
Rear Sight is a raised
Notch At the Forcing
Cone End of the Barrel
Sights on the 1871 Colt Navy Conversion are quite unique. The
front sight is a fixed bladed sight that is inset on the front
of the barrel while the rear sight was unique to the 1871/72
Colt Navy. The rear sight is a raised notch at the rear of the
barrel near the forcing cone. Since the 1871 Colt Navy was an
open-top revolver there were not too many choices to provide a
rear sight. On some open-top revolvers, there was a sighting
notch cut into the hammer; when the hammer was at full cock,
the front sight was aligned with the rear sight – the hammer.
With the 1871 Colt Navy, the front sight is aligned with the
raised rear notch.
The Business End in .45 LC
The front sight and the rear notch are very thin. These were
more instinctive shooting firearms than target revolvers;
simply point the barrel in the right direction and pull the
trigger. However, it is surprising how accurate these firearms
can be when time is taken to actually use the sights. Although
this revolver is available in .38 special, .45 LC is my
preferred chambering and is quite impressive from the business
end of the revolver.
There are some imperfections in the brass with my particular
revolver, but this is not a show piece and I can live with
them. If I can’t, I know how to remove the imperfections but
they take no quality away from the piece. The brass does
polish up nicely with some Flitz polish.
RANGE DUTY:
Folks unfamiliar with revolvers of this nature discount them
because of their supposed poor accuracy. Nothing could be
further from the truth; they are as accurate as any modern
firearm at “combat distances” and beyond.
As with the 1858 Remington New Army Conversion by Uberti, I
traipsed over to the range immediately after purchasing the
1871 Colt Navy conversion revolver. I still had some PROGRADE
.45 Colt 250-grain Cowboy Grade ammunition left over from a
previous shoot and decided to put twelve more downrange for
function testing. A simple target was posted at fifteen yards,
as I had done with the 1858 Remington New Army Conversion, and
I wanted to see how the 5.5 inch barrel of the Navy would fare
against the 8 inch barrel of the Remy conversion.
I am in the habit of firing SA revolvers from a standing one
hand position. Dropping the sight picture to a six o’clock
hold and trying to concentrate on the very narrow front sight
and rear channel, I put six shots pretty close to the center.
Another round of six rounds was fired and I have to say that
the accuracy of the 1871 Colt Navy was on par with the 1858
Remington New Army conversion. The muzzle lift was a little
more pronounced due to the shorter barrel on the Navy but I
was more than satisfied with the result. I was expecting much
more flash from the top of the forcing cone, due to the
revolver not having a top strap, but was surprised how little
side flash there actually was. Perhaps, it was due to the
tight forcing cone-to cylinder or simply the shape of the
outside of the barrel at the forcing cone. At this point I
really don’t know. What I do know is that when I placed the
sights at 6 o’clock on the target, 45 caliber holes starting
appearing just above the POA. Let’s just say that with an IDPA
target, all shots were within the center and head -0 areas.
That’s not bad for a reproduction revolver.
As a side note, a fella a few lanes over from me was working
out a semi-automatic pistols. He was shooting two-handed
strings anywhere from two to four rounds fast fire. I checked
his target after he fired, and out of the multiple rounds
fired only three were in the bull. I fired six rounds during
his shooting; six rounds in a 5″ group centered in the -0 area
while shooting one-handed. I’m not bragging on my shooting,
but I am saying that sometimes we need to slow down to shoot
accurately.
Uberti 1871 Colt Navy
Conversion Looking Sweet In
a Hunter Slim Jim Cross Draw
Holster
What I do know is that the 1871 Navy Colt Conversion (Early
Version) by A Uberti is a fine piece of work, it is a natural
pointer for me, and accurate enough to make me want to shoot
it more – unlike some other “replica” firearms I have shot in
the past. The 1871 Navy Colt Conversion also looks great and
fits well into a Hunter Cross-Draw Slim Jim Holster.
Shooting should be fun when we are not training for selfdefense, and shooting a fine replica of a single-action
revolver that was used by many well after the famous 1873 Colt
Peacemaker makes it happen. After all, who can turn down the
chance to fire a revolver made famous by famous users
including; Wild Bill Hickok, John Henry “Doc” Holliday,
Richard Francis Burton, Ned Kelly, Bully Hayes, Richard H.
Barter, Robert E. Lee, Nathan B. Forrest, John O’Neill, Frank
Gardiner, Quantrill’s Raiders, John Coffee “Jack” Hays,
“Bigfoot” Wallace, Ben McCulloch, Addison Gillespie, John
“Rip” Ford, “Sul” Ross and most Texas Rangers prior to the
Civil War and (fictionally) Rooster Cogburn.
I know that Uberti has a firearm just waiting for you. For me,
I want to add two more reproductions to the mix when and if
funds allow (Author’s Note: I was able to purchase this
revolver for $100 with a trade-in of one of my rarely shot
more modern pistols.):
Uberti 1875 Army Outlaw, a Remington reproduction in .45
LC and 7.5-inch barrel. I like the 1875 Remington over
the 1873 Colt Army revolver for a couple of reasons; it
became the underdog once Colt introduced the 1873
“Peacemaker” and I feel that the 1875 Remington was
superior to the 1873 Colt in several ways. That’s just
me.
Uberti 1873 Colt Cattleman, .45 Colt, and with the
original length 7.5″ barrel
SOURCES:
for
information
on
http://www.uberti.com/
Uberti
A-Zoom Snap Caps (dry fire and
http://www.azoomsnapcaps.com/home/
products,
storage),
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