I'm not into the whole percussion cap and ball thing, but my grandfather is getting old and gave me two 1851 Navys. I know that they shoot .36 balls I believe, so I was wondering if it would be at all possible to rig it up to shoot .38's (or god willing .45's). It seems a shame to let two perfectly good revolvers sit and collect dust. From what I can tell they are in perfect shape, but of course I would have a gun smith check them out.

Are those colts or replicas?

Yes quite a few cap and ball revolvers were converted to cartridge guns.

I certainly wouldn't do it with any genuine antique.

I agree (as usual) with Mike. If it's an antique, forget it; they're much too valuable. If they're Piettas or Ubertis, R&D makes a conversion kit available thru Midway for $240.
That's all I really know. In another thread, someone indicated he thought the quality and strength of the Pietta wasn't nearly as good as the Uberti; this I don't know as I own neither. Neither do I know if these conversions are really "drop-in" or "drop-into-the-gunsmith's-shop-when-he's-done".
If it was me, I'd sing Grandpa's praises as I shot BP in them. Who knows, who might actually get to like the smell of brimstone! :)

-91

Gee Whiz!! I always thought that the Navy 36's actually shot a .375" ball. Guess my mind must be goin'. Well heck, I don't own any B/P arms so what do I know.
Pepe Ray

Gee Whiz!! I always thought that the Navy 36's actually shot a .375" ball. Guess my mind must be goin'. Well heck, I don't own any B/P arms so what do I know.
Pepe Ray

They do shoot a .375" ball...bores can be somewhat smaller, but still well over .38 diameter. Can (1) replace the barrel (2) rely on HB bullets to slug up to bore size under the thump of black powder (3) load heeled bullets.

Or best of all, leave them alone and shoot them as percussion guns.

If they are original Colts, under no circumstances modify them, and absolutly have them inspected and appraised.

Ribbonstone, I was only repeating what I was told by my grandfather. And that was they "shot .36" balls", I have yet to get to a gun smith and he may be able to say otherwise. One of the pistols is an original that was my great-grandfathers, so I'm assuming it might of been his side arm in the Civil War...need to find out.

Ribbonstone, I was only repeating what I was told by my grandfather. And that was they "shot .36" balls", I have yet to get to a gun smith and he may be able to say otherwise. One of the pistols is an original that was my great-grandfathers, so I'm assuming it might of been his side arm in the Civil War...need to find out.

OK..they did call them .36 caliber and the bore can be as small as .365" (but most are a bit bigger). The ball that was loaded into the CYLINDER was oversized, starting at .375" and being slightly swaged in the laosing process,,,usually measure .370 +/- .004 int eh reproductions.

BUT original Colts in "decent" shape (with about 30-50% of the blue and the markigns still readable, even if beat up) can be worth as little as $1100 to as much as $6500+ (depending on markings). Do the family research and try to pin the gun to the unit served and battles fought, and it can be worth about twice to triple the value of the gun itself. Who knows what unit your great-grandfather may have fought with, or what battles could be tied directly to that gun?
(and unless your family has children exceptionally late in life, or you are older than dirt, would guess that would be closer to great-great-grandfather).

Start cutting on them, or even "cleaning them up to look pretty", and the value goes way way down.

Who cares about monetary value! If you have possession of an arm an ancestor used in the "War of Northern Aggression" as they still call it in the Carolinas, take very, very good care of it. They never will be as valuable to someone else as they are to family!
Getteth thee to Brownells to buy a can of wax to help preserve it.

My grandpa was born in 1904. So all things considered it's not that unreasonable. It's kinda sad though, cause I know the reason he is giving me this stuff is because he is getting ready to die.

Im sorry to hear about your grandfather. just inquizitive (spelling?) but do you have pictures of these guns?

I don't have pictures of my own guns, but here is one that is a little bit ornamental than the original one...but pretty much the same as the Uberti (sp). I think they were the guns in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" if thats any help.