Jim Taylor
Foolin' Around
Friday, April 04, 2025, 07:16

A few years back John Taffin got me re-interested in Black Powder guns. He posted some photos of his and the Colt 1862 Police .36 really called me. A very kind Misfit here sent me one that I have enjoyed ever since. It's a beautiful pistol and shoots well.

I removed the little bitty bead and put a front sight on it and then opened up the notch in the hammer. That really helped my old eyes.

Well .. that 1862 caused me to end up with an 1851 Navy. I was able to get one direct from EMF for a decent price. Made by Pietta, I was impressed with how clean the machining was on the inside! They actually finished this gun pretty well.

After shooting it some I decided I wanted to "antique" it because I like the looks of the older guns. So I de-blued it. After that I removed the markings off the barrel. You know .. the warnings to always use black powder and the Italian proof marks. The warnings on guns irritate me.

After that, the only thing that bugged me was the trigger. It looked unfinished.

So I worked on it and finished it to what I felt was "more finished."

Oh, I put a front sight on this one also. I saw photos of Bill Hickok's 1851 in the Cody Museum and it had a neat front sight installed on it. Mine is "somewhat" of a copy of his.

The "old" new 1851 is a shooter also!

Small amusements but they are fun.