Uberti 1851 navy

napg19 · July 12, 2015, 01:40 PM

Interested in getting a 1851 navy in .38spl man with no name replica from Uberti. only thing is they sell a open top and a conversion model with different prices. what is the difference between open top and conversion besides the sights and one barrel is smooth vs a hexgonal barrel.
Also the ejector rod is modern style compared to the Cimerron Arms 1851 Navy converion (made by Uberti) which you have to pull down a rod and pull out a internal rod to push out spent cartridges.
I think the Cimerron Arms model looks more like the correct gun for the period of conversion due to the ejection rod on the first mentioned navy looks like it would really be alot of conversion work for its time. But I'm used to being
wrong

.
All info would help. I'm looking at the 7 1/2" barrel model.
Thanks, Richard.

Hawg · July 12, 2015, 03:22 PM

The man with no name is a 51 navy conversion, the round barrel navy is a 62 Colt. Conversion models are just that, conversions. The original conversions didn't usually have an ejector rod. The open tops don't have the hole for the ram.

bedbugbilly · July 12, 2015, 09:21 PM

I think that what your are referring to is possibly the "conversions" such as the Richards & Mason - which was a conversion of the standard 1851 Colt Navy. You then have the 1871/72 "open top".

The 1851 Richards & Mason were originally converted to cartridge - the 38 Colt Short (parent of the 38 Colt Long which was parent of the 38 Sspecial) was developed for these conversions. The 38 Colt Short would have been ballistically very similar to the modern 380 ACP cartridge. Because their bores were first bored to .360l and then rifled, the cartridge required a "heeled bullet" in order to grip the rifling on the way out.

The 1871/72 Colt "open top" was designed as a "cartridge gun" - utilizing some 51 Navy parts Colt still had in stock. The revolver was chambered in 44 Henry Rimfire - which would work great if you had a 1866 Winchester chambered in the same cartridge. However, lWinchester came out with a new model - the 1873 - which was chambered in other calibers. The Army was looking for new models as well . . long story short . . the birth of the 1873 Colt . . which made the 1871/72 "open tops" pretty much obsolete.

If you look at the photos of those Uberti revolvers - the 1851 Conversion and the 1871/72 open top - you'll see a difference in the loading gate. The '51 conversion had the loading lever removed and an injector installed, etc. The conversion still utilized the rear sight notch in the hammer - the 71/72 had the sight affixed at the rear of the barrel - in front of the cylinder.

Today's reproductions are not always 100% "authentic" - they are available in different calibers, etc. If you buy a Uberti 1851 "conversion" or a 71/72 "open top" - the barrels will be bored and rifled to standard 38 special specs. - i.e. you can use today's .358 molds - today's 38 Colt Short, Long, Special (or whatever the revolver is chambered for). I load a lot of 38 Colt Short & Long - I like the history of both cartridges.

The repos are made to shoot today's standard ammo which meet SAAMI specs. I believe they should be shot with lead bullets though. Some may argue that the "open top" revolver ('51, 71/72) are "weaker" than say a 1873 or a Remington with a top strap. Let 'em talk . . there is nothing wrong with the open tops and they will shoot just fine.

I have one on my "to buy" list - just haven't decided which model yet. As you will see . . . some are made with Navy grip frames, some Army - some Navy octagon barrel . . some the Army smooth rounded ('61 type) barrel. I shoot a '51 C & B Uberti and have a preference for "navies". I'm leaning towards the Richards & Mason conversion with the full length barrel.

Study the photos and the descriptions. If you have any questions . . . give the places a call (Ubeti, Taylor, Cimarron) and they'll be happy to answer your questions. Good luck and have fun!

Fingers McGee · July 12, 2015, 10:40 PM

I have a pair of the Man with No Name Conversions - without the snakes - that I use in CAS competition when I'm not shooting C&Bs. I like the 1851 Navy look with the loading lever rather than the SAA style ejector rod of the other conversions and Open Tops. I rarely have to use the loading lever half to punch out fired cases using 18 grains of fffg BP.

Bishop Creek · July 13, 2015, 12:22 AM

I have an 1851 Navy conversion similar to Fingers pistols made by Dave Anderson at American Frontier Firearms in the late 1990s.

napg19 · July 13, 2015, 10:43 AM

Thanks guys. This helps tremendously. Will be looking into these models closer now.
Thanks again, Richard.

July 12, 2015, 01:40 PM	#1
napg19 Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 431	Uberti 1851 navy Interested in getting a 1851 navy in .38spl man with no name replica from Uberti. only thing is they sell a open top and a conversion model with different prices. what is the difference between open top and conversion besides the sights and one barrel is smooth vs a hexgonal barrel. Also the ejector rod is modern style compared to the Cimerron Arms 1851 Navy converion (made by Uberti) which you have to pull down a rod and pull out a internal rod to push out spent cartridges. I think the Cimerron Arms model looks more like the correct gun for the period of conversion due to the ejection rod on the first mentioned navy looks like it would really be alot of conversion work for its time. But I'm used to being wrong. All info would help. I'm looking at the 7 1/2" barrel model. Thanks, Richard.

July 12, 2015, 09:21 PM	#3
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I think that what your are referring to is possibly the "conversions" such as the Richards & Mason - which was a conversion of the standard 1851 Colt Navy. You then have the 1871/72 "open top". The 1851 Richards & Mason were originally converted to cartridge - the 38 Colt Short (parent of the 38 Colt Long which was parent of the 38 Sspecial) was developed for these conversions. The 38 Colt Short would have been ballistically very similar to the modern 380 ACP cartridge. Because their bores were first bored to .360l and then rifled, the cartridge required a "heeled bullet" in order to grip the rifling on the way out. The 1871/72 Colt "open top" was designed as a "cartridge gun" - utilizing some 51 Navy parts Colt still had in stock. The revolver was chambered in 44 Henry Rimfire - which would work great if you had a 1866 Winchester chambered in the same cartridge. However, lWinchester came out with a new model - the 1873 - which was chambered in other calibers. The Army was looking for new models as well . . long story short . . the birth of the 1873 Colt . . which made the 1871/72 "open tops" pretty much obsolete. If you look at the photos of those Uberti revolvers - the 1851 Conversion and the 1871/72 open top - you'll see a difference in the loading gate. The '51 conversion had the loading lever removed and an injector installed, etc. The conversion still utilized the rear sight notch in the hammer - the 71/72 had the sight affixed at the rear of the barrel - in front of the cylinder. Today's reproductions are not always 100% "authentic" - they are available in different calibers, etc. If you buy a Uberti 1851 "conversion" or a 71/72 "open top" - the barrels will be bored and rifled to standard 38 special specs. - i.e. you can use today's .358 molds - today's 38 Colt Short, Long, Special (or whatever the revolver is chambered for). I load a lot of 38 Colt Short & Long - I like the history of both cartridges. The repos are made to shoot today's standard ammo which meet SAAMI specs. I believe they should be shot with lead bullets though. Some may argue that the "open top" revolver ('51, 71/72) are "weaker" than say a 1873 or a Remington with a top strap. Let 'em talk . . there is nothing wrong with the open tops and they will shoot just fine. I have one on my "to buy" list - just haven't decided which model yet. As you will see . . . some are made with Navy grip frames, some Army - some Navy octagon barrel . . some the Army smooth rounded ('61 type) barrel. I shoot a '51 C & B Uberti and have a preference for "navies". I'm leaning towards the Richards & Mason conversion with the full length barrel. Study the photos and the descriptions. If you have any questions . . . give the places a call (Ubeti, Taylor, Cimarron) and they'll be happy to answer your questions. Good luck and have fun! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

July 12, 2015, 10:40 PM	#4
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	I have a pair of the Man with No Name Conversions - without the snakes - that I use in CAS competition when I'm not shooting C&Bs. I like the 1851 Navy look with the loading lever rather than the SAA style ejector rod of the other conversions and Open Tops. I rarely have to use the loading lever half to punch out fired cases using 18 grains of fffg BP. __________________ Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce

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July 12, 2015, 03:22 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	The man with no name is a 51 navy conversion, the round barrel navy is a 62 Colt. Conversion models are just that, conversions. The original conversions didn't usually have an ejector rod. The open tops don't have the hole for the ram.

July 13, 2015, 12:22 AM	#5
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	I have an 1851 Navy conversion similar to Fingers pistols made by Dave Anderson at American Frontier Firearms in the late 1990s.

July 13, 2015, 10:43 AM	#6
napg19 Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 431	Thanks guys. This helps tremendously. Will be looking into these models closer now. Thanks again, Richard.