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Author Topic: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'  (Read 1212 times)

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Offline gcrank1

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Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« on: November 03, 2012, 04:36:36 PM »
Its a new Uberti 'late model open top' in 38 Long Colt or S&W Spl. and proofed for modern factory loads but Im using Cowboy Action equiv. handloads in it. The 1872 was not a conversion of a C&B Colt but the first cartridge specific model before intro of the 1873 Mdl. P. The military would not accept it, they wanted a topstrap revolver and only about 7000 originals were made. Even after the '73 came out most went to military contracts, so the '72 would live on for quite some years in civilian hands. BTW, those originals were chambered in the 44 RF.
I went to a local gun show and ended up trading into it. It is the Army grip frame and 7 1/2" barrel, case colored frame and purty handsum. Shoots where its looking at 30ish yd. too, even with my bad eyes and those tiny sights  ;D .

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/images/1871_72_open_top7half_lg.jpg
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Offline Hairy Chest

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2012, 06:20:36 PM »
I think it looks pretty awesome.  Good luck with it.   :D
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Offline Duke0313

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2012, 09:50:31 PM »
It is a purdy thang! It's on my wishlist. Happy shooting!
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2012, 04:39:41 AM »
It looks even better than than stock photo; has nice case colors on the frame and (I think what they call) carbonna blue.
Ive been trying to shoot it one handed a little each day and it really is hitting great; 15-20yds it is flippin' leaves right where its looking and on out at 30ish it hits or comes close, maybe a tad low, but Im the weak link. It sure seems a natural pointer, typical of the C&B Colts and the trigger is pretty sweet.
The downside is it isnt a Ruger, you dont just flip open the gate to load and have the cylinder rotate, nor is it like my Mdl. P clone with two clicks hammer back frees the cylinder. It is a little hit & miss on one click back to do so but all in all not too futzy as long as the bad guys arent closin' in. The other issue is when the cylinder is in position to eject the empty the ejector rod doesnt quite line up to make the hole at the front. I dont know how this compares to originals, but I have learned a feel & visual for it and it isnt perhaps as frustrating as it sounds. I also think this may be because mine is in .38 rather than .44 cal. so the hole isnt as big for the rod to go into.
You want to keep smokeless loads on the soft end in spite of it being approved and proofed for factory loads and made of better steels than orig. C&B era revolvers; it is, after all, an 'open top' design.
Just wanted you to know and be aware of these points to maybe save some disappointment. As for me, and FWIW, I give it a thumbs up.
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline greenrivers

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2012, 04:55:16 AM »
Congrats on the new open top! They really are a great and nostalgic revolver to shoot.
I was in a large LGS this past week and saw several in the used case, and even though I have the one, I had to force myself to move on. Something special about them.
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Offline wganz

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2012, 09:22:29 AM »
I've got a serious scratch for a brace of 1872's in .45 Colt with 5½" barrels but prefer the Navy grip.
Which is fortunate since only the barrel length is 7½"with the Army grip.
Yeah, that ought to get me back in the CASS game.
 ;D
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Offline .22-5-40

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2012, 07:52:29 PM »
Hello, gcrank1.   I  sent a Colt 1980's era .44 Army percussion  to Ravens Roost for conversion to 1st. model Richards conversion.  They even inletted hardened steel disk in hammer face for wear resistance against firing pin.  I know what you mean with ejection issues..Cyl. needs a bit of turning to line up rod..and loading gate. cut out is just barely wide enough for rims to clear.  But in retrospect..It must have been a great improvement over the percussion models!  I had along a Colt S.A.A. 7 1/2" in .45 Colt.  I never would have thought of this model as being "modern"..but after using the Richards..the later Model P seemed in a class by itself!  rounds fed in and out flawlessly..cyl. clicked right into proper position for ejector rod line-up.
     One thing the Richards didn't give up to the later Colt was in accuracy dept..both were shooting ragged one hole groupings with start loads of Tightgroup at 15yds.
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Colt's 1872 'Open Top'
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2012, 05:02:46 AM »
Right on about the conversions over the prec. models and Mdl. P improvements being way more 'user friendly'. BTW, Im being careful not to overtighten that barrel wedge and screw!

BTW, this may as well get in this thread too. If anybody wants to know about tuning up an open top check this out, it is good stuff:
www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?topic=7988.0

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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974
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