1851 Navy Colt Cartridge Conversion ( Taylor's & Company)

Published on December 18, 2013
Duration: 23:22

This review explores the Taylor's & Company 1851 Navy Cartridge Conversion, a Richards-Mason style firearm that allows a historical frame to fire modern .38 Special cartridges. The video highlights the significant advantage in reloading speed over original percussion revolvers and discusses the historical context of post-Civil War cartridge conversions, explaining why they persisted despite the introduction of the Colt Single Action Army.

Quick Summary

The Taylor's & Company 1851 Navy Cartridge Conversion is a Richards-Mason style firearm that allows historical Colt frames to fire modern .38 Special cartridges. This conversion offers a significant advantage in reloading speed compared to original percussion revolvers and filled a market niche for affordable cartridge firearms post-Civil War.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: 1851 Navy & 1860 Army Percussion Revolvers
  2. 01:52Taylor's & Co. 1851 Navy Cartridge Conversion (Richards-Mason)
  3. 03:58Shooting Demonstration & Reloading Speed
  4. 05:19Historical Context: Post-Civil War Conversions
  5. 07:22Technical Evolution: Richards vs. Richards-Mason
  6. 09:00Why Conversions Persisted Over SAA
  7. 11:18Comparison & Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Taylor's & Company 1851 Navy Cartridge Conversion?

It's a modern reproduction of a historical firearm modification, specifically a Richards-Mason style conversion of the 1851 Navy Colt frame. This allows the revolver to fire modern centerfire cartridges like .38 Special, offering a significant upgrade in convenience over original percussion models.

How does a cartridge conversion improve on a percussion revolver?

The primary advantage is significantly faster and simpler reloading. Instead of meticulously loading powder, ball, and percussion caps for each chamber, you can quickly insert modern cartridges, making the firearm much more practical for modern use.

Why were cartridge conversions popular after the Civil War?

Many gunsmiths and factories converted surplus percussion revolvers to use cartridges because there was a growing demand for more convenient firearms. This was especially true for civilians who couldn't afford or access the newer, more expensive Colt Single Action Army revolvers.

What's the difference between Richards and Richards-Mason conversions?

The Richards conversion typically used a breech plate with a floating firing pin. The later Richards-Mason conversion improved upon this by placing the firing pin directly on the hammer and often incorporated a more robust ejector rod system.

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