Remington 1861

[Grendl]

Hey gang, what have I found and what would it take to get it shootin' again? I understand replacement cylinders are available but what about the other parts?

Here are the details which might not be obvious from the pictures; The inscription on top of the barrel appears to read, "Patented Dec.17 1861, Manufactured Remington Ilion, NY. The serial number under the barrel appears to be 6102. The trigger, hammer, and half-cock work properly.

Looks like someone altered the hammer by neutering the striking face and drilling a hole as if to mount a firing pin.

The PR stamp on the left side of the frame also appears adjacent on the hexagonal barrel.

There are gaps on the "shoulders" of each grip, i.e. the radius on the top of each grip fits nicely, but the wood does not meet the frame where the angle changes to 90 degrees.

There's a "P" on the underside of the brass trigger guard just aft of the screw.








Thanks for looking and for your anticipated responses!

[Marcus von W.]

Modern parts from reproduction guns generally do not work on originals, as they are made to different specifications and sizes.

I haven't looked at a copy of Shotgun News in years, but there used to be folks there who listed all kinds of parts for vintage firearms. Also search the web, all kind of things out there. Regularly peruse Gunbroker, Ebay, and some of the other auction sites too.

You might also be able to find a damaged or much lower grade gun with the parts you need.

I wonder if the hammer modification could be from a conversion from cap and ball to centerfire cartridge - a lot of guns were converted like that in the late 1860's through 1880's. I have a Civil War "Metropolitan Arms" copy of an 1851 Navy Colt that was converted to .38 S&W, and there were a number of Colts converted by various methods like the Mason, Thuer, etc. Has a hole also been drilled in the frame for a center-fire firing pin to go through?

Restoring this gun to original firing condition and configuration will be a daunting task, perhaps long and difficult (and maybe a little costly), but not an impossible one and you will have a very nice, collectable, and valuable piece of history when you are done.

I might also add DO NOT try to "shine up" this gun and make it look all new and pretty. Leave any remaining finish or old patina exactly as it is. DO NOT under any circumstance smear any of that vile, "cat pizz and rotten egg" smelling, toxic waste known as "cold blue" on it!

[Grendl]

Thanks Marcus. I'll take a closer look at the frame/hammer arrangement and report back. In the meantime, I should have noted that the rifling looks great.

Don't worry, I won't do anything to alter her present condition besides perhaps adding parts to make her complete. And I won't add anything requiring a permanent alteration :-)

[Geologyjohn]

If you can find them, you will need the loading lever assembly, the cylinder, cylinder pin, and unground (C&B) hammer. I'd wager that these original parts will cost you a grand. Again "If you can find them". As recently as 3 months ago, I saw a Remington New Model in its original configuration, in about the same cond. as your frame, for $700. at a Bay Area gun show. It was there for several shows before the guy stopped setting up there. It did not sell. Anyway, I guess that what I am saying is that I'd rather have an all-original, matching patina New Model for $700, or even $1000., than have a parts gun that took that much money to assemble, and would having a harder time getting your money back out of it when the time comes to sell it. How about just putting it on your history book shelf to dispaly, as is?

[Grendl]

How about just putting it on your history book shelf to dispaly, as is?

That's the wife's vote. But it's also a breakthrough because she HATES guns but said this one could hang on the wall :-D

So I did okay for $15?

[Marcus von W.]

Wanna double you money?

[Geologyjohn]

Grendl, you did great. And just to back up what I wrote in Post #4 above, I have a c.1860 Remington-Beals C&B pistol sitting on my shelf leaning against some of my Civil War books. It is missing the trigger and the trigger guard. And I have no intention of replacing them.

[plumbum]

Such an awesome find!

Personally, I would leave her as-is; beautiful bit of history.

[CSACANNONEER]

Hell, I was going to offer you $50 for it. I'll even throw in a couple hours of shooting some repro BP guns.

[AR22]

If you would decide to sell that I would be interested. I have one that has the cylinder and loading lever but I need a trigger guard,grips and some internal parts. Like others have said, parts are near impossible to find as I have found out first hand..Let me know if you decide to part with it.Yours is in better cosmetic shape than mine. I would use yours and put my parts on it...Thanks

Forgot, as someone already stated the hammer mod was probably done at one time to convert it to a cartridge gun.

[Grendl]

Thanks gang. If I do decide to sell I'll put some notice here since C&R stuff gets lost in the market place. We really ought to have our own so we don't have to sift through all the OLLs and black plastic.

Right now I'm leaning towards the display. Once it's been out awhile I can bring out the C96 (nearly as old right) and then the 1911. It's still a century right? "Honey, I thought you liked my antiques."

[AR22]

Forgot. Dixie Gun Works has some parts that are supposed to fit the original ones but if you go to their site make sure you go the original repro parts section not the new production section. They show a repop loading lever for the original for like 37.00 I bought a several small parts from them that are reproduced for the original ones and they are made pretty well and look pretty accurate.

Probably good enough till you were lucky enough to find a original. They also should have a cylinder that would work.

I bought a Lever recently on Ebay for cheap that is supposed to be original but I will see when it arrives. I and another guy were the only bidders..Give Dixie a call and see what they say. Atleast you could make it complete again.

[Grendl]

Excellent tip AR22! I can fill the void so it displays better :-)

[AR22]

Heres a update on my old New Model. Got it all functioning and together and I have shot it several times using light loads with a cream of wheat filler on top the Powder. I had to put a new hand, bolt cylinder stop, repro trigger guard that needed fitting. And did some overall tightening up of everything. Never messed with the finish at all and found a display case,meusure and flask for it...And of course some Caps and Balls..

Shoots great and will shoot it probably a few times a year. I bought it for what it is, a pretty rough condition finish antique Revolver, with pretty decent mechanics, that I am not afraid of shooting to ruin a collectors item. This would be at best a low level collector for someone just getting into the antique field.. I really like it though and it is alot fun to shoot ocaasionally..

Have very little in it money wise...Thanks

PS, if you decide to sell your project, please let me know..I really like projects..

[14delta]

Remington new model army

I noticed on Grendl's New Model that the rear of the barrel and part of the frame have been cut away more than likely to allow a longer cylinder to be used in a cartridge conversion.
Putting it back to original condition is going to be very difficult, The only other option might be to see if a R&D or Kirst conversion cylinder might fit.
If nothing else it's a nice conversation piece.

14delta