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Colt Opentop replica
 Moderated by: bea175  

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Charley
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 12:56 PM

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Wandered into Sportsman's Warehouse Friday, and saw a really nice looking Opentop from Cimmaron. Have no use for it. Not really a hunting gun, not a defense gun, just a toy.

 

Sure want it. Not bad on the price, $449.



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armoredman
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 01:46 PM

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An 1860 or 1851 replica? Had an 1851 Sheriff model with 5 1/2 inch barrel some years ago, great revolver. That price you quote is awfully high for a BP revolver, I'd look for something about $200 cheaper. Cabelas offers some, http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat20817&navAction=jump&navCount=1&cmCat=MainCatcat602007&parentType=category&parentId=cat602007

as does Cheaper Than Dirt, http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat20817&navAction=jump&navCount=1&cmCat=MainCatcat602007&parentType=category&parentId=cat602007

and a few more. Great thing about BP, they can ship it right to your front door. I remember seeing a blister pack setup somewhere, of a couple differant BP revolvers in a plastic blister pac with capper, balls, wads, flask, etc, all hanging up like a toy pack.

 

Would love another 1851, great old sidearm.



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Dirtkicker
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 01:58 PM

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I think he's talking about a cartridge conversion model.

Charley
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 03:18 PM

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Sorry, didn't make it clear, cartridge "conversion". It was based on an 1860, so I suppose it is similar to a Richards conversion.  .45 Colt.



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Dirtkicker
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 05:16 PM

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If you are not already familiar with the 1860 grip frame, better play with it a bit before buying. I have an original 1860 and I HATE the grip frame. Fortunately, they based the Model P on the Navy frame.

72coupe
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 Posted: 26 February 2008 06:23 PM

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I like those. I have never owned one though. I like the 1860 and the Dragoons.



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Charley
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 Posted: 27 February 2008 02:53 AM

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Dirtkicker wrote: If you are not already familiar with the 1860 grip frame, better play with it a bit before buying. I have an original 1860 and I HATE the grip frame. Fortunately, they based the Model P on the Navy frame.
Actually, I like the feel of the 1860 better than the 1851 and Model P. Then again, I''m strange.



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armoredman
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 Posted: 27 February 2008 03:09 PM

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Sorry, didn't catch that.:sad:



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SCSlim
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 Posted: 28 June 2008 10:59 PM

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I'm more than a bit late seeing this topic, but had to comment none the less.

The Cimarron Open Top is a replica of the 1872 Colt pistol that was a transitional model between the 1860's Army/Navy models (the Open Top replicas can be had with either Army or Navy grip frames) and the 1873 Model P, which we know as the Single Action Army. The Open Top sort of incorporated the Richards/Mason conversions, which had been fairly popular upgrades applied to cap n' ball Colts up until then, as part of the manufacturing process, rather than an after-market add-on, but they retained the break apart frame and wedge that held the two halves together. The 1873 model incorporated the one-piece "O" style cylinder frame/recoil shield and did away with the wedge.

I got ahold of one of the Navy grip-framed Cimarron Open Tops in .45 Smith and Wesson Schofield caliber. The Cimarron Open Tops give the distinctive 4-click cocking cycle that some say spells "C-O-L-T", but on my sample at least, the 4th click is almost merged with the 3rd. Modern factory loads in .45 Schofield are sorely lacking in power and accuracy, at least in my experience. The good news is that with judicious experimentation, lots of fun can be had, whilst making an erstwhile improvement in the Schofield's ballistics and accuracy.

The Cast Performance 265gr LFPGC bullet, backed by 5.2 grains of 231 is an excellent performer in my Open Top, and brings the point of impact right up to the point of aim. I haven't chronographed it yet, but I'm thinking it makes somewhere around 700fps. Oregon Trail's 250gr LFP over 4.8 grains of Tite Group is also a decent load in my Open Top. Pyrodex's 30 grain equivalent pellets, topped by a vegetable wad and a 200 grain LFP bullet are quite accurate and give a good, nostalgic "boom!", BP-like recoil, all accompanied by an appropriate and pleasing amount of smoke. Haven't tried authentic BP yet - I only have about half a pound of it, so I'm being kind of judicious about what I might us it for. Nobody around here seems to carry it anymore, so one pretty much has to get it by mail order.

I think the Open Top would be a decent trail gun. I've practiced enough with mine to know I could hit the boiler room of a mule deer at 25 yards with it anytime the oppotunity presented itself, but I have more appropriate guns for deer. I might take a rabbit with it or a forest grouse, or maybe a coyote at close range. Watermelons, cantaloupes, 2-liter pop bottles or soda cans full of water - they're all in big trouble if they challenge my Open Top.



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