Author Topic: Horse Pistols  (Read 1622 times)

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Offline ironball

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Horse Pistols
« on: January 01, 2012, 03:25:24 PM »
About 15 years ago I traded my Walker replica that I bought back in the 70's from Herter's to my little brother for something unmentionable on this forum. I satisfy my inner pistolero with Remington 1858 replicas. Inside 100 yards, they actually hit what I aim them at. But the lure of the horse pistol is hard to deny. I have a .62 flintlock smoothbore that is a blast, and sorely in need of a partner, but I also want a powerfull BP revolver again. Walker replicas are easy to find, but Colt's Third Model Dragoon is a much better design and only slightly less powerfull. Anyone know where there is a good deal on new ones?
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2012, 09:10:04 AM »
Colt's Third Model Dragoon is a much better design and only slightly less powerfull. Anyone know where there is a good deal on new ones?

I bought mine here on GBO... but I haven't seen any lately.   :-\
 
But I got mine and I LOVE it!   ;D
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Offline El Gringo

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2012, 10:26:50 AM »
Dixie Gun works has Uberti 3rd models.

Offline Pat/Rick

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2012, 07:17:50 AM »
Cabela's is listing them in their shooters catalog. (Uberti's)  My only Colt's pattern pistols are in .36 so far, it would be fun to add a big ol horse pitol to the mix sometime.
 
 
I always like the way Rooster Cogburn exclaims "that's a Colt's Dragoon!! in True Grit, when Mattie pulls the pistol out of her tote sack.
 


Offline Gatofeo

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2012, 05:54:56 AM »

I always like the way Rooster Cogburn exclaims "that's a Colt's Dragoon!! in True Grit, when Mattie pulls the pistol out of her tote sack.
Note the use of "Colt's." This is how it was expressed by the company and many of those that used them.
Colt's, not Colt.
From what I can tell by company advertising, and contemporary accounts, it became Colt (no possessive form) in the late 19th century. Yet,  within the past 10 years I've seen the company make a note in its website that Colt's is more proper.
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2012, 12:58:14 PM »
I noticed the "Colt's" when I was looking for examples of the covers of combustible cartridge packs to copy.   
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Offline powderman

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2012, 02:27:11 PM »
I always wanted an 1847 Walker colts. I read many years ago that until the 357 mag was born the old walker was the most powerful handgun in the world. Reportedly a man on horseback could  fire into a big buffalo, riding alongside it,  and the ball would shoot completely through. I may have read that in one  of Elmer Keiths books, not sure. ANYWAY, anybody gets tired of their old walker colts I'll send ya my address, I'll even pay shipping. I'd even swap an 1858 back to ya. POWDERMAN.  ;D ;D
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Offline ironball

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2012, 07:28:30 AM »
Yes, those old Walkers were so powerfull, they even blew themselves up every so often.  :o
 
The loading lever drops under recoil and ties the gun up. The modern reproductions do the same. (drop the lever, not blow up.) That's why I want a Dragoon.
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Offline Pat/Rick

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2012, 07:53:41 AM »
IIRC even the Eley's cap tins for the cased sets had Colt's  revolvers on them, I'll have to check that to be certain. Was always told that "Colt's" was the correct way to refer to Samuel's revolvers.

Offline timothy

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2012, 08:17:52 AM »
I got bad news, the loading lever drops on my 3rd model dragoon too. I think it'll stay up with 30gr F but any more and she drops. For the period however its still quite an improvement over the single shot. Just raise the lever and shoot again? Wow!

Offline ironball

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2012, 06:42:59 PM »
I got bad news, the loading lever drops on my 3rd model dragoon too. I think it'll stay up with 30gr F but any more and she drops. For the period however its still quite an improvement over the single shot. Just raise the lever and shoot again? Wow!
The catch that holds your lever can be repaired fairly easily. Not so with the spring affair on the Walker.
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Offline Pat/Rick

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2012, 12:13:48 PM »
Best of The Backwoodsman Volume III  Has an article in it titled "Colting". It has a section telling how to overcome the loading lever problem on Walkers. No way I can articulate that here. They can be ordered from The Backwoodsman website. Good article(s) in those magazines!

Offline buckoff

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2012, 11:30:26 AM »
About 15 years ago I traded my Walker replica that I bought back in the 70's from Herter's to my little brother for something unmentionable on this forum. I satisfy my inner pistolero with Remington 1858 replicas. Inside 100 yards, they actually hit what I aim them at. But the lure of the horse pistol is hard to deny. I have a .62 flintlock smoothbore that is a blast, and sorely in need of a partner, but I also want a powerfull BP revolver again. Walker replicas are easy to find, but Colt's Third Model Dragoon is a much better design and only slightly less powerfull. Anyone know where there is a good deal on new ones?

I do a mod for customers on request where I fit a Walker cylinder in their Dragoon.....
Best of noth worlds!
 
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Offline StrawHat

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2012, 01:07:50 AM »
A little file work will cure the dropping loading lever problem.  So will this.
 
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Offline StrawHat

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #15 on: February 19, 2012, 01:12:06 AM »
Not a Third Dragoon but still a Colts Dragoon, with two of the rebated models for size comparison.
 
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Offline Pulp

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Re: Horse Pistols
« Reply #16 on: February 19, 2012, 04:04:04 AM »
There is an extremely simple way to keep the loading lever from dropping under recoil.  I read it on another forum.  Never would have thought of something this simple in a million years.
 
Take the dang thing off after loading!  Heck, it's only one screw.
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