Fantasy Black Powder Revolvers: Watch This Before You Buy!

[@GunsOfTheWest]

Check out the Guns of the West store here: gunsoftheweststore.com

[@chickensandwich1589]

One good reason to get a 51 navy in .44 could be to share caliber with an 1860 Army, if you had that already. I have a 60 Army, 51 Navy, and 49 Pocket in their three calibers with the three different bullet molds, and it adds to the pile of equipment fast.

[@noapologizes2018]

I took two fantasy guns and combined them to create a very nice well balanced pistol. I took an 1860 snub nose with the parrots head grip and the 7.5 in. barrel of a .44 cal. 1851 to create one of the best feeling cap and ball gun I own. It is very well balanced and for a person with small hands, it can't be beat.

[@timberinternational2377]

Got a real tuco over here, eh?

[@greghardy9476]

I’ve got several fantasy models in my collection. You can do any safe mods to them and still be cool. There were a lot of counterfeit Colts back in the day, so ‘fantasy’ could be replaced with ‘counterfeit’ and voila, it is now historically correct! LOL!

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

Love the fantasy ones. Great stuff.

[@GunsOfTheWest]

They’re lots of fun!

[@Ace_of_Spades-oe2yv]

My take: “dare to be different.” My wife bought me a 1851 steel frame in .44 caliber for our 1st wedding anniversary. It’s my favorite black powder revolver and overall gun that I own because of the sentimental value and gesture behind it. (It’s also the one featured in my profile picture). The brass engraved.44 1851 you have Dustin, I purchased for my father in law for a Father’s Day gift.

[@josephhaack5711]

Totally agree, 1851 .44 Pietta Nickel Engraved with a laminate black grip is beautiful!!!!

[@Pantechnicon]

I inherited a fantasy BP from my dad - an Armi San Marco 1851 Navy .44, which I swapped out parts for to make into a .36 solely on the basis of zealous “historically accurate” thinking. However, my position eventually softened on this. I gave that one to my brother and then built a purely fantasy 1862 Colt Sheriff .36 from the frame up, which has since gone on to become the favorite BP in my collection.

[@13bravoredleg18]

I’m building my own fantasy revolver. Pietta 1851 steel frame .44 with a 5” Sheriff’s barrel. Fluted cylinder and Thunderer grip frame. I also want the brass square back trigger guard… This will be a shoulder holster special!😎

[@Pantechnicon]

That sounds very similar to my own fantasy Sheriff: Pietta 1862 Sheriff .36 with fluted cylinder, 5” hex barrel, and Slix Shot nipples. Fires like a dream…because it is one. I named it “Tuco” in reference to the gun shop scene from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

[@johnoconnor-h4k]

I have a 1851 Navy Brass .44 7 1/2 'and love it

[@theodorebranin1365]

I had a local gunsmith put a terrific trigger job on my 5" Pietta Remington. He was a wizard with a Dremel set. My point is how much work must one do with emery cloth, stones, files, and stones to get a beautiful smooth trigger job? My gunsmith - a friend - passed away with Covid. I love your positive attitude and down-to-earth approach to these instruments.

[@paulkopacz5051]

Of all the black powder revolvers I own, I think the 1851 is the best handling revolver there is. It just feels right in the hand.

[@blueduck9409]

I feel that way about the 1860 Army, but the 58 Remington is a very close second.

[@PhantomObserver]

I suspect most shooters who get into CAS / SASS via their love of Hollywood Westerns don’t really care that much about historicity as they do about looks; it does have to be said that brass catches the eye more readily than blued steel. I would also have to think that cost would be a factor; if the fantasy gun is significantly cheaper (say, by 20 percent or better) than the authentic one, then such a purchase makes even more sense.

[@k0alaAssasin]

I just realized you shoot without blinking. That is both impressive and terrifying

[@BuildProne]

Ive got 2 fantasy revolvers. One is a stianless steel 12" 1858 Remington and its my favorite bp gun i own

[@danielcurtis1434]

If you get a brass frame, consider getting a shorter barrel like 5.5”. The thing is with the limited barrel length there’s no point going beyond 30 grains and 25 is really optimum. So if you ever feel bummed out not shooting full 40 grain charges, remember it wouldn’t help you much anyways.

[@joemortimer1763]

Another great episode. I also have a fantasy Pietta 1851 .44 cal revolver and a Pietta 1851 .36 cal revolver. They are both fun to shoot and just as accurate. Sometimes it is practical to have when supplies of .36 cal ammo available is limited in my area. Also sometimes it is easier just to have the same ammo when at the range with alot of people most using .44 cal Colts, Dragoons, and Remingtons. Your paper cartridge formers and cappers I purchased are excellent and save much time reloading on the range with limited time constraints.

[@ronrobertson59]

For me my rifles revolvers leather and gear has to be as historically correct as I can get. One reason I buy Uberti they don't have the Gettysburg address on the barrel and are closer to the Colts than Pietta.

[@whskywolf]

Always like the cap and ball revolvers, I purchased a 1861 Navy Colt kit by CVA back years ago, had to assemble it all and even finish the grip sand blue the whole thing, never did finish it they did not send the inset screw for the ram rod handle, that may not be the right name, but it would not push the plunger in to seat the ball. Maybe one day get a factory built one to play with.

[@johnmine5609]

I bought a 51 navy in .44 as it can develop the recomended 200 footponds of recomended knockdown power. The only thing I have that don't meet that is a 22cal break barrel air rifle but that is for small game/target shooting as 500pellets is $10.

[@thejollygoodrodger8465]

These revolvers would be awesome for a Steampunk setting!

[@vehdynam]

Nice revolvers , in any case. Thanks for the video.

[@RobertReynolds-mg9bb]

You actually have the mannerisms of a gunslinger doen pact. Smooth

[@deanfranklin6870]

I've got a CVA .36 revolver, I think it's the Navy Version, I purchased several years ago from a friend. It was still in the box and didn't appear to have ever been fired. I love it, especially since I'm a smaller person and it fits my hand and doesn't rock me with recoil. Unfortunately, CVA now won't even attempt to give me any information and I've been very cautious because of that. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for making them

[@TUCOtheratt]

Great video! I'd get into cap and ball more if I could find caps. Are you still able to to buy them?

[@GunsOfTheWest]

I find CCI #11’s once in a while, but I haven’t found Remington #10’s in a long time. I sure hope they come back soon though because my stash is dwindling.

[@TUCOtheratt]

@@GunsOfTheWest Are Remington #10 the best?

[@GunsOfTheWest]

@@TUCOtheratt They are, at least for the stock nipples that come on revolvers.

[@manyrounds5468]

Nice desert. Fun for sure, in 200 years it will certainly be historical, but we got to live it.

[@roblynch2809]

Each to their own, whatever blows your hair back, let’s just stick together and enjoy our recreation

[@usnchief1339]

I have one and love it! I did make some nice figured walnut grips for it.

[@SmallCaliberArmsReview]

Fancy fantasy!

[@johnbailey1428]

Have fun, shoot, and enjoy. I enjoy historical but if a fantasy revolver caught my eye i would buy. The closest thing i have now is an 1860 Colt Army that i put 1851 navy grips on changing the mainspring, trigger and backstrap.

[@johnbailey1428]

Update i do not like plastic grips. Worth the $40 upgrade but still fun.

[@blueduck9409]

More like frankenstein pistols. Thanks for another great video!

[@SilntObsvr]

I'm surprised you didn't mention pieces like the Pietta pepperbox derived from a Remington New Model Army, or the Remington-based revolving carbine (AFAIK, Colt made revolving carbines, but Remington did not -- I might be wrong, though). Snubbies in cap and ball are mostly fantasy, too.

[@CJRoberts8812]

"Snubbies in cap and ball are mostly fantasy, too." Not necessarily. Marshall Dallas Stoudenmire of El Paso carried a pair of, I believe 1860 Colts, one with the standard barrel, the other cut down to about 3 inches. The Mormon Avenging Angels also carried 1860s with 3 inch barrels.

[@raysheppard8040]

I have to disagree...Now hang with me. I will sum up. I took a .44 Pietta Sheriff in on Trade. As Fellow wanted a rifle I had, he offered 3 black powder rifles I declined, and then he added the sheriff to the lot. A fantasy gun thus spurred my interest in the historical 😅😂❤ Now awesome video, none the less. We ended up in Accord traded thus feeding my interest in historical black powder

[@bobconnor1210]

.44 Lite! Great idea.

[@danielcurtis1434]

My issue with the .44 1851 is it’s like an extra heavy 1860? I don’t see how it’s desirable? I mean a .44 in a .36 frame is nice but by removing that I don’t see why you want it scaled up? Ive heard they use a single frame size for both .36 and .44 repros??? In any case it who cares what others think??? I got a brass frame new model army (1858) 5.5”. I immediately regretted not getting steel thinking I’d want the longevity, I thought I should have gotten 8” barrel for velocity. Ultimately I have come to understand I got the perfect gun for the time. The brass frame makes it look awesome(I think brass 1858s are beautiful). I got a 5.5” so I have a cha de at carrying it around with me. I think the $.06 a round for essentially .45 ACP or I got a single shot rated for 150 grains. As a pistol you get energy easily on par with .44 magnum and .454 cassul levels are possible. Hell I got some special 60 grain savor rounds for my single shot .50 that should be going 2,500 to 2,600 FPS.

[@josephhaack5711]

Doesn’t load a Kerr bullet or other conical easily?

[@greenbroccolistudios1275]

There aint no town big enough for the revolvers of three of us

[@Real11BangBang]

So as far as historical accuracy goes no the gun is not historically accurate. But boy do I like the look of that gun and sometimes that's just enough to get something like this. It just looks cool and it functions and it looks fun to shoot and if it wasn't for guns that weren't 100% historically accurate, I would have never have gotten into black powder because they're generally a little more affordable.

[@GunsOfTheWest]

Amen! It’s not my favorite, but people need to know these guns are about having fun and this one is plenty good for that.

[@barlscharkley5411]

If these fantasy revolvers aren't replicas of antique firearms, are they not covered by the ATF exclusion of replicas as firearms?

[@alicjakostecka3012]

Z fantazyjnych rewolwerów koniecznie musisz sobie kupić pietta pepperbox rewolwer i przetestować na tym gangu owocowych napojów 😂. Z mojej strony łapka w górę i pozdrawiam 😊.

[@doranmaxwell1755]

Also? One piece grips of walnut or ivory or whatever not only are historic but they really look great. how much is that worth? opinions vary. plus? I want to be able to shoot the same load out of any like caliber BP revolver.

[@overthehill1958]

I don't use mine for conceal carry anymore. Caps fall off in pocket.

[@josephhaack5711]

Just replace the grip with wood and it’s perfect!

[@dorzak975]

Do they use traditional brass, or modern brass like alloys that are actually quite strong? I have heard lots of complaints that brass revolvers but all seem to focus on older production. Is there any chance they are using modern brass alloys in current production?

[@russbilzing5348]

For hundreds of years, there was a product known as "gun bronze". It was used for making cannons. As bronze is part copper and part tin, sometimes other metals and elements were added, such as phosphorus which will give you phosphor bronze, a very sturdy alloy which would do very well at replacing the brass. Henry has some proprietary brass(?) that it uses for some of it's rifles.

[@dorzak975]

I have a Henry. On the .22 LR "Golden Boy" it is a plating. On the 30-30 I have it is a steel alloy that looks like brass. If the newer BP revolvers are using something like that it wouldn't be a problem. @@russbilzing5348

[@JaguarPriest]

Any idea where to buy a double action BP Pistol? I can't seem to find one. Would love your insight! Thank you!

[@timroot4207]

Thank you !

[@marioburris7664]

Percussion Caps #1075 Who has them

[@daleparker4207]

Very cool

[@akswrkzvyuu7jhd]

Dustin, now that you have a brass framed revolver, perhaps you might consider a "core meltdown" video a la Eric at iv8888? We have always heard about brass framed revolvers deforming after heavy use, but how quickly does it happen? Would re-cutting the forcing cone help? Science needs to know.

[@silverjohn6037]

The trick is managing heavy use in a cap and ball revolver that takes several minutes to load;). Unless you got several cylinders and quickly took apart the gun and swapped in a loaded cylinder on the reassembly it probably wouldn't heat up enough to affect a brass frame (yes a Remington revolver had a faster cylinder swap system but I don't believe any of those ever had brass frames). Even if you did manage to get the brass to the point it was hot enough to deform it would not be safe for the shooters as there would be a significant risk of a cook off which, in a revolver, is going to be more than one stray round.

[@akswrkzvyuu7jhd]

@@silverjohn6037 I probably need to be a little more serious. I think the problem with brass framed black powder revolvers is force on the barrel which tries to pull the arbor out of the frame (brass threads being weaker than steel). If Dustin were to measure the cylinder gap with feeler gauges, it could give incite to the speed of stretching.

[@silverjohn6037]

@@akswrkzvyuu7jhd Well, admittedly not a metallurgist here. And I suppose if people tried overloading the chambers, especially with modern black powder substitute powders, that could be a problem. But the chamber size for period pieces was supposedly made deliberately small (after the issues that had come up with the Walker's at least) and genuine black powder might not produce the pressures needed. People may also be underestimating brass. While softer than steel it's still pretty strong and elastic (ie returning to shape after being given a shock). It's one of the reasons that brass is still the best choice for casings as it can expand for a split second to create a gas tight seal but contract to cycle through a gun's action.

[@lessage760]

thank you sir that is a beauty enjoy

[@taylorharbin3948]

Heck, I just wish I had the money to afford stuff.

[@HoboForHire]

I started my hobby gunsmithing with buying a set of army and navy pistols and i decided to practice all the stuff I would otherwise be afraid to do on a "real" gun, but I was not afraid to ruin a few hundred dollars worth of reproduction.

[@RickDelmonico]

Brass frame 44?

[@johnmcdonald587]

Exactly. The term 'Navy' itself denotes the caliber. 'Pocket' + .31 caliber. 'Navy' + .36 caliber, and 'Army' is .44 caliber.

[@usnchief1339]

Ahhhh, it's a fantasy gun

[@texasjasper]

Dustin that looks like BLM land in the San Luis valley in the intro background?

[@GunsOfTheWest]

It’s a valley in Tooele County, Utah.

[@oolooo]

They are Fantasy , no limit to the changes that can be made ... so why not make them actually pretty ? .

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👍👍👍👍

[@sixshootertexan]

👍🤠🇺🇲👉💨