Frame for an 1851 Navy?

[T&G]

Recently bought a box of parts from a fellow CGN member. When I was through inventory I found that I had most of the parts for another Navy pistol - I was just buying bits and pieces as spares for the Uberti that I have. These parts include a cylinder that does fit on the Uberti, and a Navy Arms 5inch barrel (half round) that almost fits, trigger plate/guard, and most of the action works. Now the question, keep the parts as spares, sell off the barrel and other bits- definitely keeping the cylinder - or is it possible to find a frame? Looked at Numrich, everything except the frame is available, and I've seen a few frames, both steel and brass on US auction sites. Naturally different up here as it is a registered part. So....... any chance of finding one and building a complete pistol, or do I just have some spares? Info would be appreciated as my background is bullseye not BP shooting.

dr Jim

 

[sail32]

You might try reading the following web sites;
http://www.cascity.com/
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/
http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/
They all have information on cap and ball revolvers and working on them and their related problems.
The short answer is that your best chance of mixing parts is that the parts are from the same manufacturer and names of the pistol manufactures change over time.

 

[T&G]

Well that was interesting, but these US sites were singularly uninformative. If it weren't for the registration requirement, I'd just have a friend down south grab a frame off one of the auctions and ship it to me. Anyone know of a broken pistol with a usable frame? I'll buy it, the fitting is no problem- I have been building match pistols for three decades, so I don't see any great problems with an 1851, certainly not after the plumber's nightmare of the modern Colt DA pistols - they are in the "never again" category!

Dr Jim

 

[sunray]

"...the plumber's nightmare of the modern Colt DA pistols..." Isn't just the modern ones. Had an early 20th Century Police Positive rust bucket given to me. Got me on paper, for free, long ago. Thought I would make it work. Still have nightmares about it. It lives in an old cleaning kit case with the H&A that came with it.
Oh, and try Dixie Gunworks. They don't/can't ship to Canada, but at least you'll get an idea of what's available.

 

[Turf]

Taylorsfirearms.com and vtigunparts.com will most likely have what you want but like Dixie won't ship to Canada direct. You'd have to through irunguns or one of the other importers.

edit: come to think of it, I believe Epps is a Taylor distributor.