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By: R.E.

This little piece started out as a replica 1851 Richards – Mason Cartridge Conversion in 38 Special by Cimarron Firearms Co.  I am reported to be its fourth owner and the third of the Sixshooter Community to own it.  Ole’ Dan got it from the original owner who is unknown to me.  Dan takes credit for the cutting job of lopping the barrel back to 3 inches. The ejector rod housing has been completely done away with.  It then moved on to Slow Hand who soldered a front sight in place and if I remember Dan’s statement correctly Slow Hand also cleaned up his hacksaw work a bit.  I purchased it from Slow Hand at a fair price and it is a welcome addition to my stable.

I have been a long time fan of the 1851 Colt Navy with its octagonal barrel, nice compact frame size, and fine grip but never a fan of cleaning up after black powder shooting.  Cimarron rates these as safe for standard pressure smokeless 38 special loads and I could not be happier with that.  The Cimarron rep. I spoke with made it very clear that 38 special +P ammo was not to be fired in their open top 1851 conversions.

The original bluing job was nicely done by the factory and the case coloring is beautiful to my eye.  Dan’s cutting job has left the muzzle in the raw. The exposed metal has apparently been kept well oiled as no rust is visible to the eye.  The crown appears hand cut but seems to serve its intended purpose adequately.  The soldering of the front sight has left a small area around it where the bluing is gone.  A few slight vise dimples are visible at the base of the barrel (I guess Dan doesn’t own vise jaw protectors :-p).  There are several unsightly machine marks from the factory at the breach end of the cylinder.  The cylinder is roll stamped with the naval battle scene on all ’51 replicas I have laid eyes on.  The grip frame is nickeled and well fitted.  The grip/stock is one piece plain oiled walnut and together with the nickel grip frame looks just about perfect to me.   The action is smooth and the trigger pull much lighter than I expected at a guesstimated 3.5 – 4 lbs. with zero creep.

Shooting for the article was done at 15yds with several brands of cheap-o factory ammo.  The first group fired with it on the day I received it was done at 10 stepped off yards at an old box.  At the time the shooting was done I had just moved into a new home and had no reloading facilities set up.  All of the current reloads I had at the time were considered +p by factory specs so none of it was fired in the ’51.  The 10yd group with American Ammunition’s 158gr LRN turned in 1  7/8 inch performance from a revolver I had never fired before.  At 15yds Ultramax 158gr LSWC and Winchester ’s 150gr LRN both turned in very similar 2 ¾ inch groupings.  The one jacketed ammo attempt was Winchester ’s 125gr JSP.  Its grouping consistently turned out groups of 4+ inches.  For some reason on the day the 15yd shooting was performed the American Ammunition 158gr LRN that turned in the nice group #1 at 10yds would barely keep all 5 shots on the 8.5” x 11.0” test targets.   With its more preferred loads it is producing acceptable accuracy in my book, considering the arm at hand. These groups at 15yds were the second time the gun had been out so hopefully with a little more familiarity with the piece they will shrink a bit.  Once I get a chance to get the re-loader lever cranking again I will be anxious to see how it performs with 170 – 180 gr class bullets.

In the mean time my woods walking loads will be the Ultramax LSWC or the Winchester LRN.  The compactness of the little ’51 seems to lend it being grabbed more frequently as I run out to do quick chores around the property.  Small furry vermin and copperheads are about the biggest worry I have around the homestead and the standard pressure 38 loads would handle them a plenty as long as I place my shot.  In any case Dan appropriately dubbed this little popper the ’51 belly gun and I find it there and in my hip pocket more and more these days. I think it will hang around a while.

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The 3” ’51 Belly Gun – Love that case coloring with the nickel grip frame

Mish getting ready to do damage with the little popper

Me at the trigger

 First group fired – American Ammunition 158gr LRN, 10yds

Winchester 150gr LRN – 15yds 2 ¾”

Ultramax 158gr LSWC – 15yds 2 ¾”  

Photos by: the amazing Mish, Bob-o, and the author

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