Reproduction 1861 Eli Whitney Revolver, Navy in 36 caliber

[Midmichigun]

Folks,
Greetings from Michigan!

I stopped at a gunshow this weekend, and parked by a table full of stuff. In a plastic bag, were some parts. The fella accepted my $$ and I ran off with this:

The label id's it as a Reproduction 1861 Eli Whitney Navy in 36 caliber, "in firing condition needs final timing".
Well, the seller said that he found it in a box at an estate sale. He included an "extra cylinder"... but that is for an 1851 Navy in 36cal (I have a virtual duplicate on a working revolver). He also included a hammer, but I am not sure if the hammer is correct.


The cylinder has a number on it. Not sure what it means:

The top strap has some machining done on it, but I don't know if anything is "missing".... or if this was a clean up operation.

The trigger guard hasn't been polished or cleaned up:

What I need help with, are the individual parts that are missing. Basically EVERY screw and pin is GONE. Along with the trigger and revolver actuation parts.


I went to Numrich and also Dixie Gunworks (the name on the barrel).... what parts will cross reference? They only list two parts as for the Eli Whitney. But numereous parts are listed for other revolvers. I suspect many will crossreference.
I have a mill and lathe and welder, so modification isn't a problem. But I think I really need a parts breakdown.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Midmichigun]

Well folks, I stopped off at Dixie Gunworks. I did a check, and it appears that the Spiller and Burr revolver was a close match. Here are the part number via Dixie, and the price. This should get me real close to a firing revolver!

MP1545 Cylinder Stop for Repro Colt 1851 Navy, 60 Army, 61 Navy, original Colt 51, 60, 61, & Whitney .36 Navy, $7.50
MP1702 Loading Lever Latch Pin for Remington Revolver & Spiller & Burr $3.50
MP1725 Hand and Spring for Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr, and Whitney $5.95
SP1715 Triggerguard Screw for Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr $3.50
SP1721 Trigger and Stop Screw for the Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr $3.50
SP1730 Hand Screw for the Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr $3.50
YP1817 Trigger for Repro. Colt 1851 Navy, Colt 1860 Army,1861 Navy, Original Colt 1851, 1860, 1861 & Conv. and Repro. .36/.44, $7.50
TP1714 Trigger and Stop Spring Screw for the Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr $3.50
TP1667 Loading Lever Latch Spring $3.50
SP1720 Hammer Screw for Remington Revolver, Spiller & Burr $3.50
TP1716 Mainspring for the Remington Revolver & Whitney .36 Navy , Spiller & Burr $4.00
NP1355 Nipple - 6mm X .75 Steel (Metric Size - #11 Cap Size) $3.50

I grabbed a spare nipple as a "just in case" I need one.

As a side note, I might fit the revolver with Lace Wood grips... this will definitely offset the looks on it!

[Midmichigun]

Gents,
I did get my parts from DGW, and many will fit, from my above post.

However, I just got done rolling through another gunshow. Low and behold as I was heading for the door, I noticed another "steel frame" parts pistol. I almost instantly recognized it for what it was... another 1861 Eli Whitney repop. This one had a finished grip, a hammer spring, a trigger and trigger spring. Along with a barrel. What is different about this one, is that it is a "Richland Arms Co." pistol as compared to "Dixie Gun Works" version. The Richland Arms has much better fit and finish on all existing components. However, it has more abuse and rust. Combining the two together, I get this:



I also noticed that the barrel is LONGER on the Dixie Gun Works version!



When I opened up the Richland, I found that the lock and trigger spring was broken. I though that I had purchased a spare, but unfortunately I did not!



My timing was off by a substancial margin. Cleaning up the advance mechanism was a snap!



Filing of this advancing mechanism brought all my chambers into alignment. Left to do is get my cylinder stop spring in place.

My big beef as of right now, is the missing cross pin/ mechanism/ bolt. Any words of wisdom on this part?



Here are some random shot of the Eli Whitney as a Richland Arms frame.




As I get smarter, and find more parts for these Eli Whitneys, I will dress out the second frame. I am curious on laws for making this into a carbine and or going centerfire...

Hope you folks enjoyed the progress and the photos. As was mentioned, the Eli Whitney is relatively obscure, and a little more rare than the Navy and Army repops. To run across 2 in close gunshows demonstrates that either I got lucky, or they aren't that rare!

[jmoore]

Those cylinder locks/"bolts" do seem to break with some regularity. I had a Spiller & Burr replica that ate two of them over the years. As far as what parts can be made to interchange with other models, it seems that getting drop in parts for the exact model is no easy task at times! Your missing cross pin can probably be fabricated from scratch on your lathe well enough to be servicable.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I have this feeling of dejá vu already... Someone else had a similar problem recently. What you have is an Italian replica (now replicas). If you look very closely at the sides of the barrel, where it say "BLACK POWDER" you should find an Italian proof mark, date code, and a manufacturer's stamp. It could be on the other side, of course...

Post photos or a detailed description of what you find, and I may be able to tell you who made it and when. That would increase your chances of finding the correct parts. If you start mixing parts from various makers and models, you could spend a lot of time fettling them until they fit and function properly.

---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 PM ----------

I am curious on laws for making this into a carbine and or going centerfire...

Your life insurance company will confirm what I am writing: Do NOT, repeat NOT try to convert a percussion revolver into a cartridge revolver, even if you swear only to use black powder. The cylinder is just not strong enough, and is considerably weakened by boring out the nipple seats to take the cartridge cases.

And if you even have the slightest notion of firing nitro-charged cartridges - that would be suicidal.

[gsimmons]

Patrick there is a company that makes centre fire cylinders for black powder revolvers. But yes I feel the same way you do about it.

[WhitneySwede]

@Midmichigun
It might be this part you're looking for: Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.
/Matt

[Patrick Chadwick]

The revolver is an Italian replica. So if you need to make any replacement screws, expect them to be a metric thread, quite possibly a fine metric thread. Ditto for nipples. Go carefully, and do not try to force in US threads, just because the original was a US revolver!

[Midmichigun]

Thanks guys!
@ WhitneySwede... that is the exact part that I need. Somehow I searched DGW and didn't find that part!
Here is a completed photo sans the cross pin

It does say something about the part not being in, for the requested ordered amount. I will see what happens...
I am considering tracing out the hammer and milling a new one out for the extra frame. Then I would be missing the cylinder and loading mechanism...
Still... just glad to have 1 nearly done!

[Salt Flat]

Midmich, Good project -- They would look good in a presentation case with compartments for moulds and assceories. I'm trying to think where else you might find a hammer and cylinder. Maybe EBAY if you are patient. Salt Flat