Contents
Authentic or Replica Revolver (Part 1 Firearm)
Lets examine the possibility of owning a real authentic revolver; its not impossible and the cost would prove to be a very
serious concern but lets assume you have a huge spare wad of money.
First you have to join a gun club in the UK and in some parts, the
travel distance can be substantial. You also have to consider that the
only place you will be allowed (Under the Part 1 Firearms Act) to fire
the weapon will be at the gun club. You will require to be a member of
the gun club for around 6 months and show regular attendance before they
will assist you in gaining a Part 1 Fire Arm Certificate. Lets assume
you then purchase an authentic or a replica of a 1872 Colt (.45
Cartridge) Single Action Army Peacemaker and foolishly decide to fire
your revolver on private land, even your own
land - you could find yourself a guest of HM Prisons. How about a
(Black Powder Cap & Ball) 1858 Remington Model Army Percussion
Revolver and the same rules apply along with an additional Certificate to own and
store black powder. It is even harder to find a gun club for those guns,
or any similar weapon, that has its own firing range, which means you
have to travel to allotted third party ranges, perhaps only a few times
a year as arranged by your gun club. If you walk around in the UK with
the gun in
public view, especially with the revolver in a holster, you
may find yourself a guest of HM Prisons?
UK Suppliers -
Gunstar -
Guntrader -
Henry Krank
Check out Hickok 45's review on firing and loading the 1848 Colt Dragoon Percussion
Revolver -
A video of a 1858 (1860-1862) Remington .44 Cap & Ball Percussion 8" Barrel Revolver -
Check out Hickok 45's review on firing and loading the 1870 Smith & Wesson Schofield Cartridge Revolver -
Check out Hickok 45's review on firing and loading the 1872 Colt Single Action Army Cartridge Revolver -
Replica Revolver (Non Firing)
Lets look at a 'non firing' replica of a western style revolver, which
will look great on the wall or in a display cabinet as part of a
collection, especially if you have researched the real gun to compare
against your replica for true realism of its build and mechanics. Its
great to take it out and share the appeal and handling with your guests;
even use it with a holster and enjoy the feel of a fast draw which
although great fun, it mimics the movies not the real west. No licence
is required for the gun with it being be sent to your home via special
courier. If you walk
around in the UK with the gun in
public view, especially with the revolver
in a holster, you may find yourself a guest of HM Prisons - unless of
course you are a participant in a fully insured re-enactment show of the
wild west.
UK Supplier -
Denix
Check out Historic Replica Guns review on the
Denix 1860 'Non Firing' Army Revolver -
Replica Revolver (Blank Firing)
Another alternative is perhaps a 'blank firing' replica revolver
which fires blank cartridges with the explosive gases being released
through side or top vents rather than through it's barrel, which in any
case, is blocked off. No licence is required for the gun or the blanks
with both being be sent to your home via special courier. It takes the
'non firing' replica up to the next level but if you walk around in the
UK with the gun in
public view, especially with the revolver in a holster,
you may find yourself a guest of HM Prisons - unless of course you are a
participant in a fully insured re-enactment show of the wild west.
Pietta manufacture a wide range of blank firing western revolvers and
probably the most realistic for build, handling, loading and firing are
the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Peacemakers because the blank is loaded
into the replica the same way as you would load live cartridges into the
real gun -
However, I really like the 1858 Remington Percussion Steel Frame
Revolver. The Pietta Remington blank firing replica looks the part, but instead of
placing a percussion cap on a nipple of a chamber (via the cut out at
the back of the cylinder) you load a blank cartridge into an open chamber
and once you have loaded the 6 chambers of the cylinder and it is set for
firing, the cartridges cannot fall back out of the loading cut out, due
to the cylinder being offset. To eject the spent blanks (after firing) you
have to turn a chamber inline and with a metal rod inserted into
the chamber from the front, push the spent blank out of
the rear loading cut out. Same operation as shown in the two videos
below of a replica 1851 Colt Percussion 'Blank Firing' Revolver.
An image of the Pietta 1858 Remington Percussion 'Blank Firing' Steel
Frame Revolver -
Another revolver, which I like is the Pietta 1851 Navy Colt Percussion 'Blank Firing' Deluxe Brass Engraved Revolver, which has the same loading and firing mechanisms as the Pietta 1858 Remington -
UK
Supplier -
Pietta 1858 Remington
-
Pietta 1851 Navy Colt -
.380 9mm Blank Cartridges for both
guns.
Henry Krank's range of
Pietta Blank Firing Revolvers
McAvoy's range of
Pietta Blank Firing Revolvers.
Check out Great Aardvark's review on the Pietta Colt 1851
'Blank Firing' Percussion Revolver -
Check out this video on loading and firing a 1851 Colt 'Blank Firing' Percussion Revolver -
Check out Great Aardvark's 'Mock Gunfight' review on the Pietta Colt 1851 'Blank Firing' Revolver -
Replica Air Revolver (CO2 .177 Air Pellet)
The are a few brands of CO2 .177 air pellet revolvers and ones that fire
BBs and Airsoft pellets. However, I opted to explore the .177 pellet
variants.
Umarex are a leading brand for Colt CO2 .177 pellet revolvers which
offer exceptional realism in loading, handling and firing - but without
the clouds of smoke and the loud explosive bang as the pellet leaves the
barrel - you cannot have it all but Umarex is the nearest you will get
to the real thing.
Having stated that, in Scotland you will require an Air Weapon
Certificate to own and handle such a weapon and there will be strict
conditions with regards to its use. Such an air weapon can be purchased
online but must be uplifted in person from the gun supplier along with
proof of identification and if you live in Scotland you will have to
take along your Air Weapon Certificate. However, it can be ordered
online and sent to an official firearms supplier of your own choice who
will agree to hold it for you. You order online, email the online
supplier a copy of your ID or Air Weapon Certificate (if you live in
Scotland) and later uplift the gun from your selected firearm supplier
by producing your ID or Air Weapon Certificate (if you live in
Scotland). The pellets and cleaning accessories can be ordered online
without any restrictions.
Some online suppliers -
Drapers -
Pellpax -
Livelines Tackle & Guns
Check out this video on the Umarex 1872 Colt SAA
'Peacemaker' CO2 .177 Pellet Revolver -
For more information about my Umarex 1872 Colt SAA 7.5" Barrel
'Peacemaker' CO2 .177 Pellet Revolver, the accessories, the firing
limitations and much more - check out my
Umarex 1872 Colt SAA Revolver Review.
Pistol Leather UK - Holsters
Check out John's Beattie's holsters at
Pistol Leather UK and I have
included images of some of his holsters below -
The Wild Bill
Hickok vs Davis Tutt Gunfight
Check out a video on an overview of the real gunfight -
Revolvers Worth Consideration
It does not have a rifled barrel but the
Action Sports Games (ASG) Smith & Wesson Schofield Model 3 CO2 .177
Pellet Revolver is a beautiful gun with great loading and
firing action as well as being very accurate -
Ideal for a gambler sitting in a saloon with the Umarex Colt Single Action 5.5" Nickel Plated Peacemaker CO2 .177 Pellet Revolver fitted snugly in a richly engraved black holster. Its neat 5.5" barrel ideal for the quick draw from the right hip or a right cross draw, like Doc Holiday from the left side of the waist. Now where are those 'Wild West' re-enactment shows?
The
Umarex Colt Single Action 5.5" Antique Finish
Peacemaker CO2 .177
Pellet Revolver
fitted snugly in a period
'aged leather' low slung holster is perfect for the gunslinger.
Its neat 5.5" barrel
is ideal
for the quick draw from the right hip.
The Pietta 1851 Navy Colt Percussion 'Blank Firing' Deluxe Brass Engraved Revolver is a perfect addition for any revolver collection. Its a beautiful gun and the engraving is awesome (more images on the link). It would look great on a wall and because its a blank firer - on the odd occasion, it could be taken down and fired -
UK Supplier link for the blank .380 9mm Blank Cartridges for the gun.