It's been some time since I had a blackpowder revolver in my safe. I used to compete with an Traditions (Pietta) 1860 Colt Army reproduction and I loved shooting it. With my budget being tight (almost non-existent in fact) I have to pick and choose what I want so I threw a bunch of stuff on Ebay and got the funds together for this one since I had sold the last 1860 to help pay bills. This is also a Pietta gun, I got it from EMF firearms. I took this picture a week or so back, I have since refinished the grips by taking some of the red hue out of them and getting them to a more natural color. Haven't shot it yet, I might not for some time with hunting season coming on. But these are fun to play with and despite what some say, a .44 roundball is just as formidable today as it was in 1860.
I think my next gun will be a copy of the Colt SAA (I would have to win the lottery to afford one of those) in .357 Magnum since I have a ton of ammo for one here and no gun to shoot it out of, not sure when that will be with Christmas and cold weather coming.

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Vaya con Dios

Like you Dave, I have found my interest in Black Powder revolvers re-kindled since retiring. I'm currently on the hunt for a Colt Army, or Colt Navy in good enough condition to shoot. I collect the Colt SAAs, and shoot them all except a Sheriffs Model that is unfired.-Steve

I used to collect and shoot the Colt Signature Series of pistols my favorite was the 1860 Army.

That is a beauty of a pistol, and I agree with toning down the red hue some on the grips.

I picked up a new and unfired Pietta 1860 .44 about 4 years ago at a gun show for $100, in a Cabela's box. I had to do a little filing and stoning work to get the barrel wedge to fit right, but that didn't take long. I probably have fired it only maybe 200 rounds, but it shoots very well. I use my standard mix of Pyrodex with a little BP in it to get sure-fire performance. My only problem with BP revolvers is tearing them down and boiling everything after shooting to remove the grunge.

Back in the '90s I bought a Pietta 1860 clone. I like the ones with a fluted cylinder. I put a couple hundred rounds through it and it and have not fired it since. It is sitting on a bookshelf beside me in a holster wrapped with a belt right now.

I bought one of these last month (EMF has had them "on sale" for a while now). I'm pretty impressed with the quality of this revolver as compared to some Piettas I saw years ago. The timing was good with a usable trigger pull. The only problem I had with mine was that the arbor fit too tightly in the barrel and needed a lot of encouragement to take the barrel off the frame. A little prussian blue and polishing fixed that. I've shot mine and was happy to find that the point of aim and point of impact coincided at 25 yards.

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15-20 years ago the Signature series guns were pretty cheap. I had a Walker, 51, 61 and an 1860 army. When the prices went up I took them to a gun show. Bought some S&W revolvers. I like them but don't miss them.

I really like the case coloring on that gun. Very handsome revolver.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I think everyone should have at least one good C&B revolver. Just in case.