dime_novel_hero | Single Action Army M1873

It had been my intention for some time that my next firearm purchase would be a Navy M1851, probably the Pietta replica from Cabella's. For one, I would like to shoot more blackpowder. Second, it's a nice big gun but in .36 caliber and blackpowder it would not have an inordinately large recoil. Third, it is convertible to cartridge. Fourth, it's not very expensive and lastly, I have a trio of Denix non-firing replicas already and having a real one would be a step up.

But at the gun show this weekend I saw that someone had a Charles Daily M1873 Peacemaker for $385. I have a Tanaka softair replica and getting an actual Single Action Army of the same model was going to be a future purchase.

The dealer said that "cash was king" and he was ready to deal a little bit but not too much because he was selling it on consignment. The previous owner had won it in a gun raffle, fired a box of ammo through it and then put it on a shelf.

I was sorely tempted but walked away to think about it.

At home, my Google-Fu turned up that Charles Daly was a Harrisburg brand that typically brought in foreign manufactured guns for sale in the US. This particular gun was also from F.LLI Pietta and Cabella's had them for $400. I was able to find them listed used at other sites used for a low as $200 but most new or almost new guns were in the $300-plus range. If I wanted to purchase from them I would need to go through the process of having them shipped to an FFL dealer and recovering it from there. At the gun show I could fill out the paperwork, wait for an instant background check and walk out with it. Plus I had actually held it in my hands, saw the fit and finish and felt the action. It means a lot to feel it rather than buying sight unseen. Worth paying a little more sometimes.

I decided to get it so I went back on Sunday.

I told the dealer, "You said cash is king but the bank thinks otherwise and would only let me take $300 out of the ATM. With the cash in my pocket I have $383. If you can bring it in under that with all the taxes and fees included you have a deal."

We had a deal.

The dealer's card had "God and Guns" on it. I wonder how he would have reacted if he had seen that I had Sharpied over "In God We Trust" on every bill.

At another dealer I bought some Cowboy Action low-recoil .45 Long Colt ammo (they took credit) and went to the range. Unfortunately my electronic key wouldn't work (all have to call someone about that) so I couldn't set up a target. I put about ten rounds through the gun anyway.

When they say they minimize recoil they mean it. I jerked the first round really badly, expecting a lot more punch. Not quite like firing a .22LR but not by much. Even after the first cylinder I still wasn't quite used to the light recoil. At some point I'll have to get some full power ammo as well as trying some blackpowder cartridges to get the full period effect.

I also think I will need to get the trigger worked on. The bottom of the trigger has crisp edges that I think a target shooter would appreciate but I also want to be able to spin the gun and those sharp edges really dig into my finger. A little bit of light filing should take care of that. I'll also need to polish up the brass a bit.

And if I'm going to be spinning it then I'll need to get another holster. Maybe I'll go to Tandy and price out the leather to make one rather than buying off the shelf.

In a few weeks I'll be going to Old Bedford Village for their recreation of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The guys there will have all the answers to any questions I could have.