heavy tuff antiques ......

The 44 1/2 was a true falling block and plenty strong enough for any cartridge that would leave adequate walls on the barrel stub.

They were comparable to the Win High Wall. The new repros by CPA are scaled up a bit from the originals, to be able to use the larger size cartridges that the original could not (where the comparison to the Winchester doesn't look so much)

Stevens sold the model 44 in chamberings up to 32-40, but discontinued it in a hurry as the design is basically the larger version of a Favorite swinging block rifle. In the larger calibers it shot loose in a short time. They make a better rimfire than the Favorite.

Antique, affordable, and powerful, are not words often used to describe the same gun together.

Cheers
Trev
 
I wouldn't play any games with a Snider action. Even the late Mark III actions were terribly weak by modern standards. You don't even want to think about the earlier Marks, which were plain old brown iron.

Martini actions are a fish of a different feather or whatever, and some were built to handle the big African cartridges.... including the .577 3-inch Nitro.

@ MOONCOON: a fair number of Spencers were arsenal-converted to take the US .50-70 rifle cartridge. I have personally encountered 2, couldn't afford either one! Still, that was getting close to double the charge they were built to handle originally..... but they did take it. They actually sell, in the States, for a tad less than an original rimfire model..... and the centrefire conversion is already done. NO Spencers since about 1870, so they are ALL An-ti-quees. They are also a very interesting design.
 
If you have the cash and don't mind just two shots, howdah pistols are interesting. These can be had in various 577 calibres including the Snider cartridge. Also for those with deeper pockets the 2 and 4 barrel Lancaster in 450/455/476 are out there somewhere. Myself, I own a muzzleloading percussion side by side 65 calibre howdah pistol. Might as well forget about spare parts. A tiny advantage to persussion pistols is that the removeable locks can be worked on fairly easily or sent away for repair in a smaller package. The downside is that these have fairly rudimentary sights, because they are designed to peel something big and very angry off your elephant ride at bad breath range. ;)
 
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smellie said:
@ MOONCOON: a fair number of Spencers were arsenal-converted to take the US .50-70 rifle cartridge.to handle originally......... and the centrefire conversion is already done. NO Spencers since about 1870, so they are ALL An-ti-quees. They are also a very interesting design.
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A Spencer in 50-70 or any centerfire cartridge would not be an antique for the purposes of licenses because one of the rules is non magazine centerfire rifles only

cheers mooncoon
 
I don't think the OP asked what antique pistol could shoot modern ammo. He asked what antique was strong in terms of comparison to other antiques. The discussion of 357 and 44 mag is pointless in an antique forum, except to say it is generally a poor idea to use it in antiques. You can change the cylinder and barrel but that old frame is still the weak point.

Now to get back to the OP's question - which antiques had a reutation for being stronger.
IMO some opf the stronger ones were:
1873 French
German Reichsrevolver
Rem 1875
Colt SAA
M1892 French

Most people probably wouldn't think of the M1892 French Service pistol as being "stout", but it seems it was rated for 18,000 psi ammo. Most other contemporary revolvers were rated for 12,000-14,000 psi: 455 webley, 11mm German, 44 Russian, 45 colt, etc. The 8mm Revolver cartridge was one of the first cartridges designed for smokeless powder and one of the highest pressure pistol cartridges of it's time. The revolver itself is extremely well built from superior materials. It is better finished and better engineered than almost any other revolver of the time IMO, including colt, S&W, and webley. The French were at the forefront of weapons technology at the time and the 1873 and 1892 revolvers confirm it.
 
you know I don't even remember starting thread ...... looking at the date it coincides with a long 18 hour graveyard shift . ( I apologise for any confusion )

I do recall thinking about how sturdy the ruger super black hawk was , and wondering if there was a antique that came close to that .

what I was thinking about wasn't so much how much psi of chamber pressure it could handle , but rather how many times could it handle being cycled before needing to be tuned up again .

back to the ruger .... it seems like a trouble free design that never seems to wear out and could last several lifetimes before needing to be worked on and retimed ( assuming it was taken care of ) .

either way I think it turned into a great thread full of good information . you guys that posted here are what make this site great , thank you :)

btw I got 1875 Remington stuck on the brain now .......... sigh ......
 
If you think the 1875 sticks on your brain then wait until you see what it does to your wallet.

For longevity I'd still pick the 5 guns I picked earlier. Maybe add the S&W 3rd model SA.
 
wbaad said:
It would depend on if you are re using the original barrel, or completely re barreling it with modern steel. If a new barrel (as mine was) you should be ok... But that is my wild ass figuring
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I think that for the most part, the strength of your barrel is the least of your worries when dealing with antiques. The major concern is how strong the action is. For example, an 1874 Sharps has the area of the frame behind the breach block milled away. That creates a weak point compared to a highwall as an example, where the sides of the receiver come straight back. A model 73 Winchester is "held shut" by a pivoting pair of linkages where the model 86 through 94 have various forms of a vertical piece or pair of pieces braced against the back of the reciever to keep the breach from flying open. In the case of handguns you are looking at how much metal keeps the frame together, how is it configured and how much extra metal is there in the cylinder

cheers mooncoon
 
Musketfire said:
That is unless you say either Martini henry or snider enfield.
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Well, sorta.

The OP did start of taking about handguns, though, and I was of the impression that that was the direction he wanted to head.

In the long guns, Winchester High Wall 1885 rifles can be got for well under the low end (ha!) budget, in chamberings that will rattle his cage well enough for 'powerful' to apply.

Cheers
Trev
 
the German Reichs is a good buy if looking for a revolver, .44 Russian, can be had with a 7 inch barrel, around 1200.oo for a good one. And not as ugly as some. I haven't tried heavier loads, but they are well built.
 
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