NEVER dry fire it with the frizzen back. You risk damaging the flintlock mechanism. It is ok to dry fire with the frizzen forward so the hammer has something to strike against. You can also put in a "wooden" flint if you want to dry fire but not make sparks and scratch the frizzen. Hope you fire them, tons of fun.
I was late and when I heard him ask "Im not sure if I should or should not dry fire a pistol" Luckily someone was real on top of that before me, in my flint wallet for my musket I always have my wooden training flint for that reason and most times have it fitted unless we are about to march out to do some shooting.
I would love to see you and Ian from Forgotten Weapons just geek out over the replicas in your collection and, hopefully, any originals of those replicas that he has access to. I don't expect a video like that to be shorter than 2 hours.
On black powder guns , a practice I use and other have recommended is actually marking the ram rod for "safe". After you are 100% sure the weapon is clear , you can insert the ramrod into the muzzle and mark the point at which the ram rod touches the back of the breech block. Once marked, if you stick the ram rod in , and the line is NOT level in the muzzle , then the weapon is loaded. I've done this on the muzzle loader I've made for my father and grandfather. Also , you can , look down the flash hole and see if you can spot your ram rod as you're poking about.
I’ve got my great great great grandfathers set he took them to Spain with him as part of his officers baggage he had them rifled to use in place of the standard British officers pistol. As he wanted to honour his enemy Unfortunately they don’t fire anymore due to rust in the pan but they are truly something special
Hey Adam! My father used to work for JP Morgan chase and one of the founders was actually Arron Bur. So the pistols that shot and killed Hamilton actually became owned by Arron Burs future company
Just looking at the thumbnail... finger outside the trigger guard, not pointing at anyone, and it's probably not even loaded? Perfect gun safety! Once again Adam sets a good example.
Mark Novak has a lot of videos on gunsmithing that I never find boring. Look him up, he has a video where he hand checkers a set of M-1911 wooden grip panels.
I loved this show snd tell! As you stated, Uberti makes really nice replicas. I have seen a number of them. ( I like them because their replicas can be shot in competitions, where you would not want to use the real antique guns…. ) I would like to suggest a one day build; the powder flask for those pistols. From my research the early Wogdon supplied powder flask were pretty simple. Just an ovaloid cylinder with the tippet nipple and what looks like a capped filler hole. Most look like they were made of brass.
Very nice replicas indeed. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the case hardening on the Colt - a detail so many would just skip over as too difficult for the money. 👍
If you can, you should collab with The Slow Mo Guys to film them being fired. I think that would be a lovely way to appreciate the craftmanship and the technical design of these beautiful pieces.
In 5 days I’ll be a truck loader for the advance as this year’s tour comes to town. The next day I’ll rollover to props for the in and the run. THANK you Adam for the O part of your OCD! 50 years as a prop guy, mostly for opera. And I started as an actor. AS an actor, the difference between holding something that LOOKS right and holding something that damn near IS right is impossible to describe. It’s the primary reason I became a props guy. I’ll be super stoked to see what they’re carrying on the tour!
You can dry-fire them, but close the battery (flip the longer leg of that L-shaped thing, that the flint rubs against when firing, into vertical position) before doing so in order to reduce the energy with which the cock hits its stop and be aware that this will cause the flint to generate sparks. That is basically the same what happens to the lock when firing them normally, just without the flash, smoke and "ouch" sound of an off screen voice. I am a member of a shooting club for muzzle loader and black powder weapons here in Germany, and personally own several percussion, flintlock and matchlock pistols and rifles which I frequently shoot. (Well, to be precise, I have one matchlock musket. Means it is not rifled.)
Adam nice buy on the pistols. My father had a black powder only gunshop for 30 years. I saw alot of Ubreti pistols and rifles go out the door to civil war reenactors. In college I majored in history and my colloquium paper was on dueling in the antebellum south. Dueling in the 1840s and 1850s much later than the famous Hamilton duel was very much a southern tradition. Dueling wasn't just pistols, one duel between two gentlemen in Kentucky the weapon of choice was shotguns at ten paces. You can imagine how that turned out...
Good for you buying such a historic pair of replicas. They look amazing, ive handled a few uberti guns over the years and i concur that there made to a fantastic standard that really has a hand made feel
One of my favorite pistols is by Cimarron (an Uberti competitor). It's called the "El Malo." Mine is chambered in .357MAG for convenience, 3.5" octagon barrel, and has a bird's head grip. These Italian companies are producing some of the finest fully functional replica firearms that are affordable!
I was very fortunate to have acquired one of these sets of cased Hamilton-Burr dueling pistols. They are of the highest quality as can be seen in this video. I added some accessories such as musket balls, flints, powder flask, and chained touch hole pick and cleaning whisk. I am very pleased to now own one of these beautiful sets of which only 1200 were made.
I own a Uberti SA revolver in 45LC. The exact model is the Smoke Wagon and I absolutely love it. the bluing and etching on the frame is beautiful and you can definitely tell they smoothed up the trigger and hammer action. I own many modern handguns but the smoke wagon is still me favorite.
Hi Adam, here a true shooter of blackpowder guns (italian champ 2022) from Italy. We use both originals and replicas. Uberti no longer makes black powder guns but we have another super known maker (and few artisans) actually producing molds and any kind of replacement part you may need. You sure have the right tools to measure the bore size and be aware to use a pure lead ball that fits the bore snugly without any effort (being able to come out too!) then use a cotton patch to reach the right pressure when actually using a powder charge (cotton patches are made in several thicknesses). You will find round ball molds in .531, .535, .540, .562 etc. If you need any contact with direct makers in Italy chime here. Best DB
You have a lot of great connections Adam. I bet you can get access to the originals and get the information you need. Of course you have to make a video.
Last I heard JPMorgan loaned them out, first to the NY Public Library and Historical Society, then the Smithsonian, so not sure they are in NYC any more. But pretty sure JPMorgan still owns them, so start there for connections.
pistols of the day were often sold in matched pairs but not necessarily for dueling. two pistols were carried since flintlocks are somewhat unreliable. the caliber, rifled barrels and brass fore ends (for pistol whipping?) plus actual sights make me think these were intended for an officer and are martial pistols. i believe that slider on the lock plate is called a dog lock and intended to make carrying a loaded pistol safer. "cocked and locked'.
It is probably mentioned below but the collector value of the set depends on keeping the original case and all accessories intact. That is not to say that you cannot fabricate a new case and accessories. Put the original/etc. in a safe place and knock yourself out on a new case. It is just that, at some point these will be back on the market (by you or your heirs) and the potential buyer will probably want it in its original condition. (They might also consider the Adam Savage case to be a bonus.)
Dry firing should be fine as long as you don't do it all day. And many modern pistols can be dry fired with no problems (check the user manual to be sure), but any firearm is safe to dry fire if you are using snap caps. I have found that snap caps and dry fire drills are excellent teaching/safety tools with new shooters.
You can see at 13:30 the hammer has been running into the lock plate and causing damage. (The stored energy is not going into producing sparks because the frizzen isn't being struck so it goes else were and does other things.)
You’re a lucky man. I remember reading an article in Guns And Ammo magazine about the Hamilton pistols and it included several photos and details about the duel. I really remember staring at those photos and drooling as a kid.
I read in Jonathon Gash's Judas Pair that dueling pistols wobble until they are level or at aiming point. Really curious to know if true and I bet there are a lot of myths around dueling pistols.
A tremendous share sir! Beautiful pair you procured and looking forward to seeing these in action. Maybe with that Mythbusters style. Is Buster still lounging around?
The third ramrod was likely a longer-length cleaning rod. After firing, BP guns need their bores to be cleaned for residue build-up. This is both so the bore is clear of any obstructions, and BP and the caps (if so equiped) leave behind corrosive residue that can rust or corrode the barrels and their bores. Some pistols and rifles require cleaning with soap and water, the running cotton patches up and brown the bores to wipe them thoroughly dry, then lightly oil.
Have to agree about Uberti. I had an Uberti replica of a Remington 1858 New Army (.44) revolver I used to compete at our local gun club with. To this day it's the only firearm I miss.
I would display them in a nice frame with a glass front, but set up such that the glass [or plexi or whatever] panel has a good quality locking mechanism involved, such that they can remain functional items, while being in a visible, accessible context, and still retaining some measure of safety.
a while ago i bought a really dirt cheap replica flintlock pistol, just as like a fidget toy to not get overly distracted when im doing certain things and they work great for that purpose :D
The 1851 Colt Navy that Clint Eastwood used in the film was a cartridge conversion, not the cap and ball version that you have. The conversion model is readily available online.
When Adam said Army colt he threw me. I thought Navy had the octagon barrel and Army had the round barrel. Your comment confirmed my first thought Thanks for posting!
Since you explained about your tattoo in a last video i have become obsessed with the thought of getting it myself. After watching this video I want get it as an homage to you Adam. You have brightened my life since I can remember. Thank you for providing hours of entertainment while also being able to teach people. There are not enough people like you man. Im gonna make my ruler a ' long
Hey Adam, was the borescope you used your Nidage scope you showed in a video years ago? I bought one after seeing yours and have used it for SO many things. Thanks for the tip!
Mr. Savage its a whole lot of fun watching you play with your toys :-) Personally I think you got a great deal on your pistols. Uberti guns are well made.
The decoration on the metal that Adam says was originally "etched" was in fact "engraved" (The replicas are indeed stamped). Engraving is achieved with a sharpened piece of hardened steel that is tapped with a small hammer and moved around to "draw" or "write" on the metal parts.
You can see at 13:30 the hammer has been running into the lock plate and causing damage. (The stored energy is not going into producing sparks because the frizzen isn't being struck so it goes else were and does other things.)
Wear a glove and safety glasses when you shoot it. Lot's of sparks. Uberti's are fun to own and fun to shoot. Clean with black powder cleaner (not modern gun cleaners) and/or hot soapy water. A good supply of paper clips for your flash hole is good to have on hand also.
Fun fact Hamilton is the father of the US Coast Guard, then known as the Revenue Cutter Service. We are the only continuous sea going service in the US est. 1790 (the navy was disbanded after the war for independence). We are the only branch of the military not in DOD, to allow for operations everywhere without a deceleration of war.
I'm so glad Mr. Wolfe spoke up to warn you about dry firing a flintlock. Watching the video I was yelling "ARRRGH...DON"T DO THAT...NOOOOO...ETC, ETC..." I was really upset at you. Still am... To reiterate, NEVER dry fire a flintlock with the frizzen open, only with it closed as you would when actually shooting the weapon. And, by the way, never dry fire a caplock gun because you'll ruin the nipples.
I've seen some very nice Uberti replica/reproduction rifles; the 1874 Sharps, the 1874 Sharps and a 1866 Yellow Boy, in a store in Fredericksburg, Texas. These are stunning firearms. What you paid was well worth the price and more.
Adam, if the reference about the accuracy of position (left or right) of the barrel key is based on a daguerreotype, daguerreotypes often recorded reversed (mirror) images (laterally changed), making the barrel key look as though it came from the other side.
So a little fun fact about Uberti’s parent company Beretta; they are the single oldest active firearms manufacturer. The first recorded order was for 185 arquebus barrels for the Republic of Venice, placed in October of 1526
Just a side note on the Eastwood gun. In the film it was a cartridge conversion of a Colt .38 Navy revolver. So you would need a replacement blank firing cylinder and a bit of machining around the cap port to make it match the screen used gun. Freeze the movie during the scene where he's cleaning the gun to see the difference. BTW The same wood & silver grips were used on a Colt 1873 .45 in the first two films that was converted to fire blanks.
Under a grand is a steal for such a beautiful set. I have a few Uberti pistols in my collection and they are great quality for the dollar. Might have to add this to my gunbroker saved searches.
Checkering tools are expensive, but do a beautiful thing, also alot of those old dueling pistols purposeful didn't have sights, there's old dueling rules from 1777, would go nice with these.
Uberti overall is amazing for their replicas. their charcoal blue finish is beautiful with the case hardened parts. [can't get outside custom order sadly] Except one feature on their colt 1873 SAA revolvers. what they did to those hammers is heresy. but the over complication and extra pins and springs they added inside the hammer is not their fault directly. its a certain law that should never have been passed that makes all imported firearms have a dis-connector so that when trigger is not pulled the firing pin doesn't touch the primers. those fine parts will break, but luckily they have a great warranty.
Proof marks and other markings on period firearms were typically stamped or engraved. Etching would be quite a bit less common. Also, it is worth noting that the machining techniques necessary to support parts interchangeability in small arms did not become commonplace until the 1840s. As a result, there can be enormous variation between individual firearms even within a common pattern as those muskets, rifles or pistols were often made in batches by many small shops across a given country in addition to whatever state-run arsenals were active. In all instances, the output of individual gunsmiths could be clearly distinct from one another.
The easiest way to tell original from replica is to look at the screws, machine made screws are a definite sign of a reproduction in an old gun of that era
Back in 86 during the filming of the George Washington story, I was an extra and worked with Jerry Gatlin, the stunt coordinator and learn to fire, brown Bess rifles. So much fun, but the long 16 hour days in the August heat in a full British uniform.
I read a book a few decades back that said that the hair trigger was the actual cause of Hamilton's death. Burr had no intention of killing Hamilton, but the pistol discharged before he actually intended it to. Apparently, the custom was that pistols would be discharged with no harm done and both parties, having seen their opponents face the fire once, would declare their honor satisfied and go home and eat their breakfasts. Sometimes duelists would meet with lethal intent, but it was not common at that time.
This might sound odd or too obvious to others, but there's something really weird about the combination of prehistoric ignition (the flint) and 16th-19th century mechanical technology in flintlock weapons. I feel the presence of our prehistoric ancestors, alive in those flintlock pistols. I'm not sure how to articulate this eloquently enough, but there's something really magical and beautiful about that combination, something beautifully impressive to look at. Like our ancient past manifested into physical form, in a piece of art, but in a modern mechanical form.
Adam if you remember the man with no name was cleaning his colt when he heard the spurs on the stairs outside hotel room in Santa Be, remember it "the colt" was a cartridge conversion.
sweet, i always wanted to get me a muzzle loading pistol. what i want though is a Howda pistol (double barreled muzzle loading pistols). there is a company that makes kits that you can order with everything you need to build your own.
You HAVE to dial someone with these!! (Jamie Hynamen would be great but unlikely. You could set up wooden cutouts, stand side by side and count down and safely shoot your opposing cutouts set up down range. Completely range safe and what a great time.
I assume this goes without saying, but I must not leave my thought unrelated: You absolutely should share a video of your building the more correct case for the pistols. I have done a bit of checkering, and it absolutely is an acquired skill. I believe no one is born with it. The density variations in any piece of wood are the utmost challenge in this extra special niche of woodwork.
When it comes to dry firing, there are some things you should never dry fire, a bow being one of them because you could damage the string a percussion, cap, black powder pistol never dry fire as you could damage the firing mechanism. A flint lock like that is OK to drive as long as both the hammer and the striking surface, not sure what it’s called, are both pulled to the rear. A rim fire pistol like a 22 long rifle caliber never dry fire you could damage the firing gun same thing with older revolvers with the firing pin on the hammer itself. Most centerfire firearms are perfectly fine a dry fire.
After seeing this and Adam enthusiasm about these dueling guns I remember the old but great British TV show Lovejoy with the great Ian Mcshane, there is a episode where he is hunting down the "Judas pair" dueling set that have been split and how he "entice" the fanatical collector how stole them and now have them...execpt a "key" piece of the matching set which Lovejoy found...quite a very interesting episode with a "twisted gun plot". Adam, you should also get another of Clint Eastwood Colts, the Colt Walker Revolver he used in Outlaw Josey Wales (Ubertti makes a beautiful one), is not only a beautiful and massive revolver, but have a quite interesting history behind its creation on request by Mr.Walker, a Texas Ranger to Colt, is funny "technically" Eastwood had his character in the old west carrying the equivalent of the S&W 44 Magnum of Dirty Harry fame!!😄😄
Rock Island Auction company recently sold a set owned by Hamilton. Also, the Italian replica black powder firearms are a blast to shoot, and are inexpensive. You can buy functional / safe to fire replicas from companies like Pietta for less than 300 dollars - and they are so much fun to shoot.
I guess I never really thought about the fact that flintlocks would have a delay between the trigger pull and the ball actually firing. And I assume that powder channel would let out some of the pressure from the powder ignition. Really curious what kind of muzzle velocity these get.
The percussion (AKA cap-and-ball) revolver in your collection is the excellent Uberti replica of the 1851 Colt Navy .36, the handgun that truly started the era of the "sixgun-toting" Western Frontiersman. Colt's official name for the .36 was "Revolving Belt Pistol, caliber .36". The naval battle scene engraved on the cylinder of Colt's .36 caliber Revolving Belt Pistol led to the public calling the revolver the "Navy Colt" and all 6-shot .36 caliber revolvers, regardless of manufacturer, would afterward be called "Navy revolvers". The octagon-barreled 6-shot .36 caliber Colt became the most popular handgun to carry on the Western Frontier up until the appearance of the metallic cartridge Colt Single Action Army in 1873. Even when metallic cartridge revolvers were widely available in the 1870's, the well balanced, superbly accurate, cap and ball Colt Navy .36 remained popular on the frontier well into the 1880's and beyond. The 1851 Navy Colt is truly THE handgun that appeared "center stage" in American history in the last half of the 19th Century. Your "square-back" trigger guard version duplicates the earliest production Colt Navy revolvers many of which first appeared on the Western Frontier in late 1850 in the California gold fields. The Navy Colt was on both sides of the law in the wild violent mining towns of California, and in the later wild violent mining towns in the Territories of Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and the Dakotas. In the Civil War, the Navy Colt in the hands of Confederate cavalry, and "Southern Bushwackers" was utterly devastating to Union cavalry during most of the Civil War. Although "Belt-sized" Army .44 revolvers like the Colt 1860 and Remington would begin to enter the scene in the 1860's, and other "Navy .36" revolvers from 1857 onward from Whitney, Remington, Manhattan and others would enter the scene, none could quite eclipse the popularity of the 1851. Even Colt's newer 1861 Navy, a handsome round, streamlined barrel update of the old 1851, could not overcome the high regard and reputation the octagon-barreled 1851 Navy enjoyed on the Frontier, in the U.S. / CSA military, and worldwide. Due to demand, Colt had to continue production of the 1851, in numbers much greater than the newer 1861 model, into the early 1870's. The 1851 Navy revolver's reputation for reliable, superb accuracy was not bogus. In firing tests conducted in 1857, British Ordnance officers were astounded by the .36 caliber revolver ability to land accurate, deadly hits at ranges over 200 yards when firing the 140 grain conical bullet. And in a well documented gunfight in July, 1865, [court transcripts still existing from the trial that followed 2 weeks later!], Wild Bill Hickok shot Davis Tutt through the heart at 75 Yards, using his 1851 Colt Navy, in the town square of Springfield, MO in front of nearly 100 witnesses. The Uberti replicas of the 1851 I've owned and fired, are also astoundingly accurate when properly loaded with either round ball or conical bullet, and will regularly embarrass modern auto pistols and revolvers at the range, when fired by a competent shooter!
I also have a set, and to me they end the argument over whether Hamilton intended to kill Burr. The norm for dueling sets was 50 caliber, but these are 54 caliber with set triggers and adjustable sights, throwing an extra-heavy ball designed to kill, not wound. They were Hamilton's choice, and owned by his brother-in-law John Church. Given Hamilton's history of 10 duels, they were NOT the choice of someone who intended no one get hurt.
NEVER dry fire it with the frizzen back. You risk damaging the flintlock mechanism. It is ok to dry fire with the frizzen forward so the hammer has something to strike against. You can also put in a "wooden" flint if you want to dry fire but not make sparks and scratch the frizzen. Hope you fire them, tons of fun.
There are always smart people and it's you!
Thank god you told me, I have an old timey duel at sunup
I came here to say the exact same thing, but you beat me to it. I was going to say to put that frizzen down!
I was late and when I heard him ask "Im not sure if I should or should not dry fire a pistol" Luckily someone was real on top of that before me, in my flint wallet for my musket I always have my wooden training flint for that reason and most times have it fitted unless we are about to march out to do some shooting.
I believe you that this is true and accurate, but being someone unfamiliar with this field it really seems like you just posted nonsense words
We have reached out to you on your email as an outlet for answers to any of your flintlock questions.
Outstanding!
The passion that Adam has for anything that he lays his hands on, is inspiring.
I would love to see you and Ian from Forgotten Weapons just geek out over the replicas in your collection and, hopefully, any originals of those replicas that he has access to. I don't expect a video like that to be shorter than 2 hours.
I've always thought Adam and gun-Jesus would get on well...
@@njones420 and Ian knows Mark Novak, a gunsmithing youtuber. what a collaboration that would be.
Adam doesn't strike me as a 'publish Neo-Nazi propaganda' type of person.
@@WhamBang What do neo nazis have to do with this comment?
Oh god yes.
On black powder guns , a practice I use and other have recommended is actually marking the ram rod for "safe".
After you are 100% sure the weapon is clear , you can insert the ramrod into the muzzle and mark the point at which the ram rod touches the back of the breech block.
Once marked, if you stick the ram rod in , and the line is NOT level in the muzzle , then the weapon is loaded.
I've done this on the muzzle loader I've made for my father and grandfather.
Also , you can , look down the flash hole and see if you can spot your ram rod as you're poking about.
I’ve got my great great great grandfathers set he took them to Spain with him as part of his officers baggage he had them rifled to use in place of the standard British officers pistol. As he wanted to honour his enemy
Unfortunately they don’t fire anymore due to rust in the pan but they are truly something special
Hey Adam! My father used to work for JP Morgan chase and one of the founders was actually Arron Bur. So the pistols that shot and killed Hamilton actually became owned by Arron Burs future company
Just looking at the thumbnail... finger outside the trigger guard, not pointing at anyone, and it's probably not even loaded? Perfect gun safety! Once again Adam sets a good example.
A Tested/Forgotten Weapons collaboration would be pretty cool to watch
Mark Novak has a lot of videos on gunsmithing that I never find boring. Look him up, he has a video where he hand checkers a set of M-1911 wooden grip panels.
The King of the Geeks, The Lord of the Nerds! Gotta love Adam
for sure an overgrown boychild
I loved this show snd tell! As you stated, Uberti makes really nice replicas. I have seen a number of them. ( I like them because their replicas can be shot in competitions, where you would not want to use the real antique guns…. ) I would like to suggest a one day build; the powder flask for those pistols. From my research the early Wogdon supplied powder flask were pretty simple. Just an ovaloid cylinder with the tippet nipple and what looks like a capped filler hole. Most look like they were made of brass.
Very nice replicas indeed. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the case hardening on the Colt - a detail so many would just skip over as too difficult for the money. 👍
If you can, you should collab with The Slow Mo Guys to film them being fired. I think that would be a lovely way to appreciate the craftmanship and the technical design of these beautiful pieces.
Definitely!
Jim Henson and now Hamilton? The tested content recently is being MADE FOR ME!
Beautiful pistols too
In 5 days I’ll be a truck loader for the advance as this year’s tour comes to town. The next day I’ll rollover to props for the in and the run.
THANK you Adam for the O part of your OCD! 50 years as a prop guy, mostly for opera. And I started as an actor.
AS an actor, the difference between holding something that LOOKS right and holding something that damn near IS right is impossible to describe. It’s the primary reason I became a props guy.
I’ll be super stoked to see what they’re carrying on the tour!
You can dry-fire them, but close the battery (flip the longer leg of that L-shaped thing, that the flint rubs against when firing, into vertical position) before doing so in order to reduce the energy with which the cock hits its stop and be aware that this will cause the flint to generate sparks. That is basically the same what happens to the lock when firing them normally, just without the flash, smoke and "ouch" sound of an off screen voice.
I am a member of a shooting club for muzzle loader and black powder weapons here in Germany, and personally own several percussion, flintlock and matchlock pistols and rifles which I frequently shoot. (Well, to be precise, I have one matchlock musket. Means it is not rifled.)
Having owned a couple Uberti pieces myself, I must agree. They make Amazing firearms. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Adam! Get in touch with Forgotten Weapons!!! It would be an absolute UA-cam event to have you both firing black powered weapons the range.
Loved the backstage videos about the set pieces and props, glad to see a resurgence!
Adam nice buy on the pistols. My father had a black powder only gunshop for 30 years. I saw alot of Ubreti pistols and rifles go out the door to civil war reenactors. In college I majored in history and my colloquium paper was on dueling in the antebellum south. Dueling in the 1840s and 1850s much later than the famous Hamilton duel was very much a southern tradition. Dueling wasn't just pistols, one duel between two gentlemen in Kentucky the weapon of choice was shotguns at ten paces. You can imagine how that turned out...
Good for you buying such a historic pair of replicas. They look amazing, ive handled a few uberti guns over the years and i concur that there made to a fantastic standard that really has a hand made feel
Can't wait for the display box build!
One of my favorite pistols is by Cimarron (an Uberti competitor). It's called the "El Malo." Mine is chambered in .357MAG for convenience, 3.5" octagon barrel, and has a bird's head grip.
These Italian companies are producing some of the finest fully functional replica firearms that are affordable!
Your Cimarron is probably made by Uberti. Cimarron's firearms are made to spec by either Uberti or Pedersoli!
I was very fortunate to have acquired one of these sets of cased Hamilton-Burr dueling pistols. They are of the highest quality as can be seen in this video. I added some accessories such as musket balls, flints, powder flask, and chained touch hole pick and cleaning whisk. I am very pleased to now own one of these beautiful sets of which only 1200 were made.
I laughed so hard at Adam's impression of the dueling pistol firing sequence 🤣🤣🤣
I own a Uberti SA revolver in 45LC. The exact model is the Smoke Wagon and I absolutely love it. the bluing and etching on the frame is beautiful and you can definitely tell they smoothed up the trigger and hammer action. I own many modern handguns but the smoke wagon is still me favorite.
Hi Adam, here a true shooter of blackpowder guns (italian champ 2022) from Italy. We use both originals and replicas. Uberti no longer makes black powder guns but we have another super known maker (and few artisans) actually producing molds and any kind of replacement part you may need. You sure have the right tools to measure the bore size and be aware to use a pure lead ball that fits the bore snugly without any effort (being able to come out too!) then use a cotton patch to reach the right pressure when actually using a powder charge (cotton patches are made in several thicknesses). You will find round ball molds in .531, .535, .540, .562 etc. If you need any contact with direct makers in Italy chime here. Best DB
Really looking forward to see the build on the new reproduction case
You have a lot of great connections Adam. I bet you can get access to the originals and get the information you need. Of course you have to make a video.
Last I heard JPMorgan loaned them out, first to the NY Public Library and Historical Society, then the Smithsonian, so not sure they are in NYC any more. But pretty sure JPMorgan still owns them, so start there for connections.
They have a safety’s as well . The little slide on the side behind the hammer locks it from moving 😊
pistols of the day were often sold in matched pairs but not necessarily for dueling. two pistols were carried since flintlocks are somewhat unreliable. the caliber, rifled barrels and brass fore ends (for pistol whipping?) plus actual sights make me think these were intended for an officer and are martial pistols. i believe that slider on the lock plate is called a dog lock and intended to make carrying a loaded pistol safer. "cocked and locked'.
Got milk? :P Hamilton and Burr always make me think of the old milk tv ad!
Best one of those ads.
It is probably mentioned below but the collector value of the set depends on keeping the original case and all accessories intact. That is not to say that you cannot fabricate a new case and accessories. Put the original/etc. in a safe place and knock yourself out on a new case. It is just that, at some point these will be back on the market (by you or your heirs) and the potential buyer will probably want it in its original condition. (They might also consider the Adam Savage case to be a bonus.)
Dry firing should be fine as long as you don't do it all day. And many modern pistols can be dry fired with no problems (check the user manual to be sure), but any firearm is safe to dry fire if you are using snap caps. I have found that snap caps and dry fire drills are excellent teaching/safety tools with new shooters.
You can see at 13:30 the hammer has been running into the lock plate and causing damage.
(The stored energy is not going into producing sparks because the frizzen isn't being struck so it goes else were and does other things.)
You’re a lucky man. I remember reading an article in Guns And Ammo magazine about the Hamilton pistols and it included several photos and details about the duel. I really remember staring at those photos and drooling as a kid.
I read in Jonathon Gash's Judas Pair that dueling pistols wobble until they are level or at aiming point. Really curious to know if true and I bet there are a lot of myths around dueling pistols.
Uberti makes some beautiful pieces. I’m currently looking for a Pietta made LeMat replica myself.
I just went to see Hamilton in Richmond, Va on Saturday. What perfect timing!!!
I’m a competitive cowboy action shooter, and a great many of us still use Uberti guns today. Masterfully built!
A tremendous share sir! Beautiful pair you procured and looking forward to seeing these in action. Maybe with that Mythbusters style. Is Buster still lounging around?
The third ramrod was likely a longer-length cleaning rod. After firing, BP guns need their bores to be cleaned for residue build-up. This is both so the bore is clear of any obstructions, and BP and the caps (if so equiped) leave behind corrosive residue that can rust or corrode the barrels and their bores. Some pistols and rifles require cleaning with soap and water, the running cotton patches up and brown the bores to wipe them thoroughly dry, then lightly oil.
Have to agree about Uberti. I had an Uberti replica of a Remington 1858 New Army (.44) revolver I used to compete at our local gun club with. To this day it's the only firearm I miss.
This takes the phrase "it's time to duel!" To a different level XD
I would display them in a nice frame with a glass front, but set up such that the glass [or plexi or whatever] panel has a good quality locking mechanism involved, such that they can remain functional items, while being in a visible, accessible context, and still retaining some measure of safety.
8:47 - "There was also this delay: fire,click, psss, boom" The best part by far
a while ago i bought a really dirt cheap replica flintlock pistol, just as like a fidget toy to not get overly distracted when im doing certain things and they work great for that purpose :D
I have a Uberti Winchester 1873. It's beautifully made and is my favorite to shoot!
Love the sound effect for the pan firing
Really cool presentation. Thanks, Adam.
Gorgeous, as black powder shooter and Rev war reenactor for 47 yes. Those are just amazing!!
Read an article in high school about the process and how they were made and it has become a life's quest of mine to get a pair!
The 1851 Colt Navy that Clint Eastwood used in the film was a cartridge conversion, not the cap and ball version that you have. The conversion model is readily available online.
When Adam said Army colt he threw me. I thought Navy had the octagon barrel and Army had the round barrel. Your comment confirmed my first thought Thanks for posting!
I would love to see the video after you've had them checked of you firing them it would be awesome
"Highlander" (1986) the Drunken Duel Scene, Bassett shoot Hodgkins in comedic frustration. Classic dueling pistols. Thanks Adam.
my friend, yours and blondie's gun is a navy version, and his has brass, although your 1851 is one of the best guns i've ever seen ever!
Since you explained about your tattoo in a last video i have become obsessed with the thought of getting it myself. After watching this video I want get it as an homage to you Adam. You have brightened my life since I can remember. Thank you for providing hours of entertainment while also being able to teach people. There are not enough people like you man. Im gonna make my ruler a ' long
Hey Adam, was the borescope you used your Nidage scope you showed in a video years ago?
I bought one after seeing yours and have used it for SO many things. Thanks for the tip!
Mr. Savage its a whole lot of fun watching you play with your toys :-) Personally I think you got a great deal on your pistols. Uberti guns are well made.
The decoration on the metal that Adam says was originally "etched" was in fact "engraved" (The replicas are indeed stamped). Engraving is achieved with a sharpened piece of hardened steel that is tapped with a small hammer and moved around to "draw" or "write" on the metal parts.
(*Adam building/working on something, or just generally hanging out in the cave*)
Me: I wanna be in the room where it happens...
This morning I saw a rerun of mythbusters. Mr Adam….. how much you were stunned and shook from the suction of the toilet was an absolute delight
The beauty of functionality. I believe is what you were describing. The elegance of pure use, not display in their form
You can see at 13:30 the hammer has been running into the lock plate and causing damage.
(The stored energy is not going into producing sparks because the frizzen isn't being struck so it goes else were and does other things.)
I'm so very glad for you. They are beautiful.
My favorite episode yet!
Wear a glove and safety glasses when you shoot it. Lot's of sparks. Uberti's are fun to own and fun to shoot. Clean with black powder cleaner (not modern gun cleaners) and/or hot soapy water. A good supply of paper clips for your flash hole is good to have on hand also.
Fun fact Hamilton is the father of the US Coast Guard, then known as the Revenue Cutter Service. We are the only continuous sea going service in the US est. 1790 (the navy was disbanded after the war for independence). We are the only branch of the military not in DOD, to allow for operations everywhere without a deceleration of war.
I'm so glad Mr. Wolfe spoke up to warn you about dry firing a flintlock. Watching the video I was yelling "ARRRGH...DON"T DO THAT...NOOOOO...ETC, ETC..." I was really upset at you. Still am...
To reiterate, NEVER dry fire a flintlock with the frizzen open, only with it closed as you would when actually shooting the weapon. And, by the way, never dry fire a caplock gun because you'll ruin the nipples.
I've seen some very nice Uberti replica/reproduction rifles; the 1874 Sharps, the 1874 Sharps and a 1866 Yellow Boy, in a store in Fredericksburg, Texas. These are stunning firearms. What you paid was well worth the price and more.
Adam, if the reference about the accuracy of position (left or right) of the barrel key is based on a daguerreotype, daguerreotypes often recorded reversed (mirror) images (laterally changed), making the barrel key look as though it came from the other side.
So a little fun fact about Uberti’s parent company Beretta; they are the single oldest active firearms manufacturer. The first recorded order was for 185 arquebus barrels for the Republic of Venice, placed in October of 1526
Just a side note on the Eastwood gun. In the film it was a cartridge conversion of a Colt .38 Navy revolver. So you would need a replacement blank firing cylinder and a bit of machining around the cap port to make it match the screen used gun. Freeze the movie during the scene where he's cleaning the gun to see the difference. BTW The same wood & silver grips were used on a Colt 1873 .45 in the first two films that was converted to fire blanks.
We definitely need the custom case build and pistol firing video asap.
Under a grand is a steal for such a beautiful set. I have a few Uberti pistols in my collection and they are great quality for the dollar. Might have to add this to my gunbroker saved searches.
Fun little full circle moment with the spaghetti western history! Super, super gorgeous replicas!
Checkering tools are expensive, but do a beautiful thing, also alot of those old dueling pistols purposeful didn't have sights, there's old dueling rules from 1777, would go nice with these.
For the materials, craftsmanship and accuracy they seam very reasonably priced
My grandfather was stationed in Trieste during WWII. He officed at Maximillian’s castle. Would love to go there and retrace his steps.
Uberti overall is amazing for their replicas. their charcoal blue finish is beautiful with the case hardened parts. [can't get outside custom order sadly] Except one feature on their colt 1873 SAA revolvers. what they did to those hammers is heresy. but the over complication and extra pins and springs they added inside the hammer is not their fault directly. its a certain law that should never have been passed that makes all imported firearms have a dis-connector so that when trigger is not pulled the firing pin doesn't touch the primers. those fine parts will break, but luckily they have a great warranty.
Proof marks and other markings on period firearms were typically stamped or engraved. Etching would be quite a bit less common. Also, it is worth noting that the machining techniques necessary to support parts interchangeability in small arms did not become commonplace until the 1840s. As a result, there can be enormous variation between individual firearms even within a common pattern as those muskets, rifles or pistols were often made in batches by many small shops across a given country in addition to whatever state-run arsenals were active. In all instances, the output of individual gunsmiths could be clearly distinct from one another.
The easiest way to tell original from replica is to look at the screws, machine made screws are a definite sign of a reproduction in an old gun of that era
‘Very exciting time’ is one of my favorite matrix lines
Back in 86 during the filming of the George Washington story, I was an extra and worked with Jerry Gatlin, the stunt coordinator and learn to fire, brown Bess rifles. So much fun, but the long 16 hour days in the August heat in a full British uniform.
I read a book a few decades back that said that the hair trigger was the actual cause of Hamilton's death. Burr had no intention of killing Hamilton, but the pistol discharged before he actually intended it to. Apparently, the custom was that pistols would be discharged with no harm done and both parties, having seen their opponents face the fire once, would declare their honor satisfied and go home and eat their breakfasts. Sometimes duelists would meet with lethal intent, but it was not common at that time.
Uberti makes fine shooting pieces. I keep an Uberti 1875 on me belt when I’m out working in the field.
It makes sense that they supplied the weapons to the films at that time since most westerns at that time were actually filmed in Italy.
This might sound odd or too obvious to others, but there's something really weird about the combination of prehistoric ignition (the flint) and 16th-19th century mechanical technology in flintlock weapons. I feel the presence of our prehistoric ancestors, alive in those flintlock pistols.
I'm not sure how to articulate this eloquently enough, but there's something really magical and beautiful about that combination, something beautifully impressive to look at. Like our ancient past manifested into physical form, in a piece of art, but in a modern mechanical form.
Adam if you remember the man with no name was cleaning his colt when he heard the spurs on the stairs outside hotel room in Santa Be, remember it "the colt" was a cartridge conversion.
sweet, i always wanted to get me a muzzle loading pistol. what i want though is a Howda pistol (double barreled muzzle loading pistols). there is a company that makes kits that you can order with everything you need to build your own.
That style of trigger is properly called a set trigger; hair trigger is just a description of a very light trigger, which a set trigger is, when set.
A good flintlock doesn't have nearly as much delay as most people think. (A .54 is stout, in either long rifle or pistol configuration.)
You HAVE to dial someone with these!! (Jamie Hynamen would be great but unlikely. You could set up wooden cutouts, stand side by side and count down and safely shoot your opposing cutouts set up down range. Completely range safe and what a great time.
I assume this goes without saying, but I must not leave my thought unrelated: You absolutely should share a video of your building the more correct case for the pistols. I have done a bit of checkering, and it absolutely is an acquired skill. I believe no one is born with it. The density variations in any piece of wood are the utmost challenge in this extra special niche of woodwork.
When it comes to dry firing, there are some things you should never dry fire, a bow being one of them because you could damage the string a percussion, cap, black powder pistol never dry fire as you could damage the firing mechanism. A flint lock like that is OK to drive as long as both the hammer and the striking surface, not sure what it’s called, are both pulled to the rear. A rim fire pistol like a 22 long rifle caliber never dry fire you could damage the firing gun same thing with older revolvers with the firing pin on the hammer itself. Most centerfire firearms are perfectly fine a dry fire.
After seeing this and Adam enthusiasm about these dueling guns I remember the old but great British TV show Lovejoy with the great Ian Mcshane, there is a episode where he is hunting down the "Judas pair" dueling set that have been split and how he "entice" the fanatical collector how stole them and now have them...execpt a "key" piece of the matching set which Lovejoy found...quite a very interesting episode with a "twisted gun plot". Adam, you should also get another of Clint Eastwood Colts, the Colt Walker Revolver he used in Outlaw Josey Wales (Ubertti makes a beautiful one), is not only a beautiful and massive revolver, but have a quite interesting history behind its creation on request by Mr.Walker, a Texas Ranger to Colt, is funny "technically" Eastwood had his character in the old west carrying the equivalent of the S&W 44 Magnum of Dirty Harry fame!!😄😄
This is the last place I expected a Lovejoy reference 🤣
Rock Island Auction company recently sold a set owned by Hamilton. Also, the Italian replica black powder firearms are a blast to shoot, and are inexpensive. You can buy functional / safe to fire replicas from companies like Pietta for less than 300 dollars - and they are so much fun to shoot.
Different set. Attributed to Hamilton's ownership, but not the dueling pistols; those are still owned by JPMorgan Chase as Adam mentioned.
I would love to see the follow up on the remade case and maybe a live fire.
I guess I never really thought about the fact that flintlocks would have a delay between the trigger pull and the ball actually firing. And I assume that powder channel would let out some of the pressure from the powder ignition. Really curious what kind of muzzle velocity these get.
So cool would love to see you fire them
The percussion (AKA cap-and-ball) revolver in your collection is the excellent Uberti replica of the 1851 Colt Navy .36, the handgun that truly started the era of the "sixgun-toting" Western Frontiersman. Colt's official name for the .36 was "Revolving Belt Pistol, caliber .36". The naval battle scene engraved on the cylinder of Colt's .36 caliber Revolving Belt Pistol led to the public calling the revolver the "Navy Colt" and all 6-shot .36 caliber revolvers, regardless of manufacturer, would afterward be called "Navy revolvers". The octagon-barreled 6-shot .36 caliber Colt became the most popular handgun to carry on the Western Frontier up until the appearance of the metallic cartridge Colt Single Action Army in 1873. Even when metallic cartridge revolvers were widely available in the 1870's, the well balanced, superbly accurate, cap and ball Colt Navy .36 remained popular on the frontier well into the 1880's and beyond.
The 1851 Navy Colt is truly THE handgun that appeared "center stage" in American history in the last half of the 19th Century. Your "square-back" trigger guard version duplicates the earliest production Colt Navy revolvers many of which first appeared on the Western Frontier in late 1850 in the California gold fields. The Navy Colt was on both sides of the law in the wild violent mining towns of California, and in the later wild violent mining towns in the Territories of Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and the Dakotas. In the Civil War, the Navy Colt in the hands of Confederate cavalry, and "Southern Bushwackers" was utterly devastating to Union cavalry during most of the Civil War.
Although "Belt-sized" Army .44 revolvers like the Colt 1860 and Remington would begin to enter the scene in the 1860's, and other "Navy .36" revolvers from 1857 onward from Whitney, Remington, Manhattan and others would enter the scene, none could quite eclipse the popularity of the 1851. Even Colt's newer 1861 Navy, a handsome round, streamlined barrel update of the old 1851, could not overcome the high regard and reputation the octagon-barreled 1851 Navy enjoyed on the Frontier, in the U.S. / CSA military, and worldwide. Due to demand, Colt had to continue production of the 1851, in numbers much greater than the newer 1861 model, into the early 1870's.
The 1851 Navy revolver's reputation for reliable, superb accuracy was not bogus. In firing tests conducted in 1857, British Ordnance officers were astounded by the .36 caliber revolver ability to land accurate, deadly hits at ranges over 200 yards when firing the 140 grain conical bullet. And in a well documented gunfight in July, 1865, [court transcripts still existing from the trial that followed 2 weeks later!], Wild Bill Hickok shot Davis Tutt through the heart at 75 Yards, using his 1851 Colt Navy, in the town square of Springfield, MO in front of nearly 100 witnesses. The Uberti replicas of the 1851 I've owned and fired, are also astoundingly accurate when properly loaded with either round ball or conical bullet, and will regularly embarrass modern auto pistols and revolvers at the range, when fired by a competent shooter!
I also have a set, and to me they end the argument over whether Hamilton intended to kill Burr. The norm for dueling sets was 50 caliber, but these are 54 caliber with set triggers and adjustable sights, throwing an extra-heavy ball designed to kill, not wound. They were Hamilton's choice, and owned by his brother-in-law John Church. Given Hamilton's history of 10 duels, they were NOT the choice of someone who intended no one get hurt.