Navy Arms 1851 cartridge conversion

[RCS]

A rather beat-up Navy Arms 1851 Colt in 36 cal was found at a gun show. I had a Legal Defender 38 S&W cylinder and recoil plate which I used in this conversion. I had to make the ejector housing, the steel plug under the barrel and the loading gate which I also quenched in oil to get that nice blue-black color. Also had to rebuild the action with a new hand and bolt plus a SA 1873 mainspring. The repro ivory grips came from Dixie Arms. A few years ago, I also converted a 1861 Colt repro to 38 cal too which is included in the photos. The 1851 conversion has an excellent balance and handling.

[tiriaq]

Thanks for posting. A cartridge conversion is one of the projects I would like to attempt. Have a set of plans, and a breech ring roughed out....

[Matt Wolff]

god wish I could do something like that to my repro 1860 army or navy... Prob illegal in this state though *sighs* lol nice looking pistols

[Capt Quahog]

Didn't Wild Bill Hickock carry the 1851 Navy converted revolver?

[RCS]

Doc Holliday, an American dentist and friend of Wyatt Earp, who also enjoyed a few games of cards, owned a Colt 1851 conversion and later a Colt 1872 factory conversion in 38 cal.

This photo came out of a 1967 issue of "GUNS" magazine where it states these are the pistols of Doc Holiday.

Hickock used Colt 1851 revolvers but I do not think they were conversions

[Matt Wolff]

hickock did use just reg cap and ball 51's. Read somewhere where awhile back on how he commented along the lines of how he didnt like or trust the newer cartridge pistols or conversions.

[dsmc1]

To Matt Wolff
I'm also from the same area you are; don't believe there is anything illegal about a conversion in Mass, but it WOULD then be considered a cartridge revolver if you carry it, or try to sell it. Have an original converted 1860 army: bought the cylinder and frame on Ebay (back when you COULD) had to make the back plate and mount a firing pin on a hammer. Used an Italian barrel and repro small parts, Sure is fun to shoot, and raises a LOT of interest at the range.

Hope you get to try making one, or buy the conversion kit online

BTW for firing it, you need 44 S&W cases, or 44 colt if you can find them, using black powder NO SMOKELESS! and I just hand press 451 roundball onto the case. Have ordered some heeled bullets. The 429 bullet a 44 S&W would normally use would rattle all the way down the barrel and come out sideways, and would be less accurate than throwing them.