Foolin' Around
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.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414043067efe6ee435df.jpg)
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.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414053667efe730443b9.jpg)
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.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414101067efe84295408.jpg)
After that, the only thing that bugged me was the trigger. It looked unfinished.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414113367efe895d5d49.jpg)
So I worked on it and finished it to what I felt was "more finished."
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414123567efe8d34f432.jpg)
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.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414141067efe93268f75.jpg)
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414143367efe949e2b06.jpg)
The "old" new 1851 is a shooter also!
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040414155067efe996e69b0.jpg)
Small amusements but they are fun.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025040415042167eff4f550eee.jpg)