They really don't get any prettier than this! In my opinion one of the handsomest revolvers ever made. Some like the Remington revolvers but the Colts are just beautiful.


With all the hype about AR's and AK's flying off the shelves nationwide, I decided to take a step in the opposite direction. I stopped in one of my local sporting goods/gun shops and while looking around at what they had, noticed two AR's in the rack......last time I was in there a year ago they had like, 20.

Thinking I was going to ask to see a Glock, an AR, or ask for 9mm or .223 ammo, the guy behind the counter came over "want to see anything" thinking I would ask to see a handgun or something. I said, "No, I just need a pound of Pyrodex P and some #10 percussion caps". It was just fun to say "percussion caps" in a room full of tactical gear and a rack full of various semi-autos and poly-stamp shotguns. The guy dug around in the back for a while and produced what I asked for. The guy said "we don't sell much Pyrodex P, usually sell the stuff for the rifles for muzzleloader season." I told him I needed it for a percussion revolver, and he seemed kind of impressed and intrigued.

I got home and fired a cylinder full through my .36 Pietta Colt 1861 Navy. It has been almost 5 years since I fired a BP revolver, and forgot how fun it is. The sun was setting, so weather permitting in the next few days I plan to take it out back again and put a few more through it. I had so much fun with it I came inside and ordered a Uberti 1851 "London" Navy and also a Pietta Spiller & Burr unfinished kit, the kit being kind of an impulse buy. With enough supplies for about 90 more rounds of .36 I hope to have some fun with all 3 of the revolvers soon. A loaded and capped 61 Navy is a handsome sight, even though it's a repro in my mind I was not at my little backyard shooting range in 2008 but in the old PA countryside in 1863, shooting the way it was done when cartridges were just gaining popularity.

These guns are neat, a really nice change from shooting poly 9mm wonder guns and my various bolt rifles. This is why I love shooting and collecting so much, there's always something you haven't tried yet. Today it was a .36 hogleg. The nostalgia and simplicity of these old weapons really brings you back to a simpler time, when everyday folks relied on these guns for protection or as sidearms in combat. I won't be the guy who says that these are just as good as a cartridge gun (I've heard it) but they do perform. On paper you couldn't tell the groups from my S&W 67-1 .38. I even heard of a guy around here, my local gun shop owner mentioned him a year or so ago. who uses a real (not repro) Colt .31 percussion revolver as an everyday carry piece. Either he is ALL about keeping it old school, or he's just WAY too cheap to buy a new gun! If the rounds don't get him at least the smoke will hide his escape!