Colt 1851 cylinder question.

[legs748]

When the firearms department stop dragging their feet I'm to take delivery of a used pietta 1851. Being used it has a few dings in it including some missing bluing on the cylinder. If I have the cylinder reblued I would be very tempted to skim and polish the outside to get rid of the godawful ship engraving and return to a plain appearance. Would I need to have it reproofed afterwards?

[Steve E]

Yes you need to get it re-proofed as you have altered the cylinder dimensions from when it was originally proofed.

[DW58]

Could it be cheaper to buy a replacement cylinder?

[FredB]

You do realise that the roll engraving is there because original Colts had it?
Fred

[legs748]

You do realise that the roll engraving is there because original Colts had it?
Fred

Since when have Americans ever been blessed with taste? Original or not it looks really naff and would be much nicer plain, like the navy colts in the racks on HMS Warrior.

[legs748]

Could it be cheaper to buy a replacement cylinder?

Not sure how I would stand legally with that, with a cylinder containing chambers, would I not need an additional slot even though it's a spare part? At any rate, only the bluing gubbins would cost me any money, it wouldn't take me too long to lightly skim and polish the cylinder on the lathe.

[Steve E]

Skim and polish the cylinder and then cold blue. Do it all yourself with a cold bluing kit. All it will then cost is the proof. You can arrange with the proof houses to take the gun in and have it done while you wait. As rifle proof is in the region of £50 it is not going to break the bank is it.

Replacement cylinder is easy, just put in variation for an extra cylinder to go with the revolver. Many people who shoot B/P revolvers have several extras on ticket and plod is used to the idea.

[legs748]

Skim and polish the cylinder and then cold blue. Do it all yourself with a cold bluing kit. All it will then cost is the proof. You can arrange with the proof houses to take the gun in and have it done while you wait. As rifle proof is in the region of £50 it is not going to break the bank is it.

Replacement cylinder is easy, just put in variation for an extra cylinder to go with the revolver. Many people who shoot B/P revolvers have several extras on ticket and plod is used to the idea.

I'd rather not, this variation has taken six weeks, several phone calls including 20minutes with the head of department and still I don't have it in my hands. :cool2: So I'd rather leave it for a while tbh!

......All because I asked for a cannon....... :roll: