Pietta 1873 C&B Revolver

[arcticap]

Here's a look at the Traditions 1873 C&B revolver that has a 7.5 inch barrel. Traditions also offers it with a 4.75" barrel, and Dixie's comes with a 5.5" barrel.
Swinging open the loading gate provides wide open access for individually capping each nipple.

[bedbugbilly]

Nice looking revolver! How does she shoot? I'm assuming that you have to remove the cylinder and load in a press?

[arcticap]

This one isn't mine but there's a lot of user reviews on Dixiegun.com.

[simonkenton]

I have the same pistol by Uberti. I bought it NIB four years ago, for $325, with an extra cylinder and the loading stand.
It is a real nice gun. I removed the cartridge ejection mechanism, since it serves no purpose.

It is an oddball, a replica of a pistol that never existed. Still it is a good-shooting cap and ball pistol. This way, you get a Colt with the top strap!

It handles pretty nice without the weight of that ejection mechanism.

[Dino.]

Are conversion cylinders available for this model?

[Fingers McGee]

Originally Posted by dino

Are conversion cylinders available for this model?

No. It was designed primarily for European consumption where cartridge guns are not allowed or hard to get permits. The firing pin is off set from center so it would not ignite a primer, and the window in the frame is such that a normal firing pin would not work.

Additionally, this pistol is not NCOWS or SASS legal.

[arcticap]

Right now Traditions has a "summer sizzler special" sale on even longer barrel versions of these Pietta 1873's.
There's an 11.25" version for $329 and a 9.25" version for $369.
I don't recall ever seeing these long barrel models being available before.

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/es...tCode=FR187301

http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/es...tCode=FR187391

[simonkenton]

I like the gun so much, I was looking to buy another one a few years ago.
Evidently Uberti has quit making them.
I did notice those Piettas on the Dixie site, I may pick one up one day.

[Hawg]

I read where a guy was trying to convert this pistol to cartridges.
He had a very tough time, and he was a good metal worker.

He said, not worth the trouble to convert.

Mykeal has done it.

[mykeal]

No! Not me. Mine is still a percussion gun.

Personally, I think it's a fool's errand. Here's the hammer/frame configuration spoken about above:


By the time you get through cutting up the frame and reworking the timing you've spent more than a real SAA.

I like the gun. It shoots very well, very much like a real SAA. The need for a loading stand is a PITA, but I have 4 cylinders so I can load enough for a decent session.

It's not my favorite bp revolver, but it's one hell of a lot better than a Starr!

[Andy Griffith]

I bought one of these at a gun show sometime back for a good deal after first reading about them here. Mine gun is a Pietta.

Am I correct that there is a stock attachment for them? I haven't seen it listed anywhere- and I've been looking.

If not, I guess I can just slap a Navy or Army grip frame on it and make it work somehow- if I so intend, but I don't think it's worth the trouble.

[aarondhgraham]

Additionally, this pistol is not NCOWS or SASS legal

I'm asking a question here,,
I'm not saying you are incorrect,,,
But I sure saw a lot of SASS newbies using them,,,
They just could not shoot in "traditional" cowboy classes.

Although I am still a card carrying member of SASS,,,
I have been out of the game for a few years,,,
Did they ban that cap and ball revolver?,,,
I wonder what was the reason.

.

[Fingers McGee]

From the SASS handbook.

Frontiersman:
• Any Main Match percussion revolver with non-adjustable sights (Note exceptions listed re: dovetailed sights). (Exception: The 1873 Uberti percussion revolver is not allowed. )

[aarondhgraham]

I wonder what the reason was for specifically banning it,,,
Do you have any insight on the matter?

.

[Dino.]

I don't get it ...

One of the things that really entices me about BP pistols is thier ability to be converted to accept cartridges.

Here we have a replica of a true cartridge pistol that's made specifically for black powder and it can't even be converted? I really don't see the point.

What's next? ... a dedicated black powder AR15?

[simonkenton]

It is an oddity of Europe.

The Brits love American Wild West stuff.
They can't have cartridge pistols, but they can have muzzleloaders.
This gun was developed for them, so they could have the Colt SAA, albeit in muzzleloading form.


You'd be surprised what can be retro-engineered as a muzzleloader:

[Hawg]

No! Not me. Mine is still a percussion gun.

Ok, I remembered you posting those pics and thought it was yours.

[Fingers McGee]

Originally Posted by aaronddgraham

I'm asking a question here,,
I'm not saying you are incorrect,,,But I sure saw a lot of SASS newbies using them,,, They just could not shoot in "traditional" cowboy classes.

Although I am still a card carrying member of SASS,,, I have been out of the game for a few years,,, Did they ban that cap and ball revolver?,,, I wonder what was the reason.

I need to correct a prevous post. I stated that the 1873 was not SASS legal. Well, it's not - for Frontiersman as quoted in a subsequent post. The Territorial Governors voted against it being approved for Frontiersman in 2007. The general concensus was that it was not a replica of a firearm in use between 1860 and 1899 and there weren't that many in use so wasn't an issue.

However, the Uberti 1873 Percussion revolver was approved as a main match gun for all other categories in 2002.

I wasn't comfortable with the answer I had given, so I consulted one of the SASS RO Committee Members for the straight skinney

[Newton24b]

conversion is actually easy. all indicators point to the bp 1873 as merely a standard weapon taken from that cmpanies bottom rung line of standard cartridge 1873s that have bp cylinder and impartially bored firing pin cannels.

early thoughts were these were created to allow the gun companies to use frames thatdidnt meet heat treat for the regular line of production.

as is, a person who can dissassemble any 1873 aswell as work a drill press can do a mexican style conversion easily. a gunsmith should be able to put a colt style firing pin bushing in he frame and swap the hammers.

[wittzo]

There was a blackpowder AR-15. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...-powder-ar-15/



It uses a cartridge casing modified to take a 209 primer. You chamber the casing in the special BP upper and then load it with pellets and a .50 sabot round.

[breed]

its a very simple conversion. i have the pietta and uberti. all it takes is a little file work on the firing pin. mine shoots 45lc and 45acp. + they still work with the black powder cylinder. its nice having one gun that well fire 3 different rounds with nothing more than a cylinder change.

[mykeal]

Perhaps you'd post a picture of the modified firing pin and the frame hole with the cartridge cylinder installed. I'm have difficulty visualizing how the offset pin and frame hole match up with the centerfire cartridge.

[andrewstorm]

[Hawg]

pictures motion is seconded

Kinda like to see that myself.