My Griswold and Gunnison Revolver Replica
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- This is the full-length version of my Griswold and Gunnison revolver story. The G&G revolver was one of the guns that came out of the Confederate States attempts to jump start a homegrown arms program during the Civil War. The Griswold was essentially a copy of the Colt 1851 Navy revolver, though it had some important differences like a brass frame and a Dragoon-style barrel configuration.
For this video I created my own version of the Griswold. I started with a .44 caliber, brass-framed Colt 1851 Navy replica, and changed barrel assemblies. Then I made it so it could be easily converted to look like the pseudo-Griswold that Cullen Bohannon's character carried during the first season of the television series, "Hell on Wheels".
I love CS guns! Great video!
***** We all come here, mainly for a good laugh.
I have recently found both of your channels from watching basically all of Forgotten Weapons videos with Ian. Along with Hickok45 all four of yall have become a new obsession of mine and definitely inspired me to start saving up for my first replicas of the old west cap n’ ball revolvers. Y’all are so friggin’ knowledgeable , professional, and make the science and history of the old west extremely interesting and cool. Never stop what your doing!
C.J. Daily 🤓
I know it`s 4 years later, but I like how you tuned this one to function as intended 160 years ago, with the caps falling into the bevel in the frame, out the side, when the cylinder is rotated.
Awesome shooting Mike, you truely are a “deadly pistoleer “ ! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I'm a big fan of Hell on wheels aswell, Really the only reason i'm interested in purchasing a Griswold Replica.
Thanks for the video, Looking forward to getting a Griswold soon.
Brandon James : Exactly, the same pistols Bohannon used!! I was waiting for someone to mention Hell on Wheels lol, good call man.
@@taylorrhodes1895 he used a brass framed 1860 colt army but the show called it a griswold
Just finished making my own Griswold & Gunnison replica and it's a dang pleasure to shoot, definetly a head turner at the range.
When I saw your title it made me think of the first season if Hell on Wheels. Good stuff.
Well thanks to you and this video, I now own a Griswold and Gunnison (pietta) and I could not be happier, going to shoot it for the first time this weekend cant wait! Yes I'm a Hell on Wheels fan too. They really should have used this gun instead of that 1860 brass frame army. Thanks again!
This is really Awesome! I was a fan of Hell On Wheels too! Everyone on the show did a great job! Cullen would probably like your Griswold much better than his!
Love your videos dude. I'm one of the dead rabbits on Hell On Wheels, and have been a fan of your videos for a long time. Fellow hunter and shooter. I'm from Canada, and have shot my fair share of pistols and done a lot of blackpowder rifle shooting and hunting, but for us, BP handguns are treated like regular handguns and so they aren't rally worth the hassle to keep around and play with. But I married a California girl and live in the US now, so I can finally buy and play with these great guns freely. And all the more reasons to frequent your videos as I scratch that itch! Thanks for all your work sir!
Love your vids Mike! Just picked up a G&G from Cabelas. Just started shooting BP a couple of months ago and I'm happy to say, 'I'm addicted!'
Interesting revolver.
No surprise that Hollyweird got it wrong. They almost always get everything wrong.
Yeah in the new show "World Wars" almost everybody carries a Lee Enfield, even the Germans!
TBH, I have more problems with Hell on Wheels than a little firearm inaccuracy... But I will say that firearms are actually more accurate in movies these days than ever before. There are exceptions of course, like the World Wars example (that has to do with a very limited production budget, rather than lack of knowledge though)
The real reason is movie audiences are more knowledgeable these days. If this show was made 50 years ago, it would be a fairly common occurrence to give him a SAA. Now-a-days people know thats wrong, and they can more easily complain to the studios. I have a friend who works in the industry, so its easy to go off on a tangent sorry about that haha!
sergeantbigmac If it's to do with budget issues why did they choose Lee Enfields? They aren't really cheap, and they could get Yugo Mausers for the Germans at about $160 a pop.(FFL pricing)
MrAgentd It has to do with film armorer companies. Production studios will 'rent them out' so to speak and obviously will try to get the cheapest bid. A channel like History doesn't have a lot of money to play around with, so sometimes they cut corners. The armorers might not have exactly what is needed, but as long as its 'close enough' in the producers eyes it is OK-ed. Its not always about what a specific gun costs, but what they have on hand and what they charge as a whole. They dont expect many of their viewers to be firearm enthusiasts/collectors/experts like you or I.
Shows, on the whole, are still more accurate about firearms now-a-days then they used to be.
Now obviously I would like TV/Movies to be accurate, and these kinds of things stick out like a sore thumb to me. But the reality is shows are on very strict budgets and sometimes things have to get cut, or for example, they have to make do with inaccurate guns so they can afford to hire X actor. Thats show business.
MrAgentd Probably a wonder that they didn`t have the actors trying to sight down the side of the barrel. :)
Mike, years ago when I was in high school, I bought my first revolver. It was Italian, a copy of the 1851 Navy in .44 cal. with a brass frame. Back then, (early 70's) there was very little information about guns. I would load the cylinder with 40 grains of 3F, seat a ball, and cover with Crisco. The revolver was a blast to shoot, I really shot it a lot. After a few years of this kind of abuse, the barrel started to stretch away from the frame. I used this revolver for as long as I could, but I finally had to take it to a gunsmith. He took a look and told me my revolver was no longer fixable, he said it was now a hanger, not a banger!
Recently I found another brass framed 1851 Navy, this one in .36 cal., in a local gun store. I am really considering picking it up, I don't want to waste my money but I am hoping if I stick with proper loads of 20-25 grains of powder, the revolver might just last. Mike, I would sure like to get your take on the brass framed revolvers. I really liked the one in the shop that was for sale, but I am concerned I am just taking a trip down memory lane.
Darn, i should have just read the other comments before I posted!
Sidewindin' bushwhackers! You are the greatest Mike! Great video!
So THAT'S what I have! I was at my favorite lgs several months ago and he had just gotten in an Uberti version of your revolver. Until today I thought it was a poor copy of a Dance Brother's gun, I'm much happier to know it is a fairly accurate copy of a GG. Mine was imported by Navy Arms but has the Uberti cartouche. Thank-you for the very informative videos you produce!
i have a "old" Navy Arms 1851 Griswold and Gunnison manufactured in the late 1950's.in a .36 cal
it doesn't have the stepped cylinder and with out the naval seen.
I have had it for 30 years now i have to say it is one of the funnest revolvers i have ever shot
I was giving some thought to purchasing a replica Griswold and Gunnison from EMF, but knew nothing about them. However after watching this video, I can now say that I'm going to go for it. Thanks Mike.
Cullen had a Griswold, but he ended up switching it for awhile.
I picked up my second one of these today. It's missing the nipples and wedge, front sight post too, but I paid what the Rebs were paying, $40.
Nice piece you put together. Hell on wheels is a great show
Nice shooting there, and an interesting gun. I have what is labelled as a Colt Navy air pistol that some viewers have said looks more like Griswold and Gunnison.
Very cool weapon and excellent video. I always love the history aspect that you provide. But I think I would have just bought the existing Pietta Griswold and Gunnison Replica from Cabelas for $220. :) It's .36 caliber, brass framed, and already has the correct barrel assembly. Then again, sometimes it is more fun to "do it yourself".
Damn that's powerful 👏 congrats 👏
Mike: Just heard the news. Sincere condolences on the loss of Mary Pat's dad. Hope you guys are doing ok.
Thanks. we're doing OK.
I order one some time ago through Cabela's for $99. On closeout. I have not fired it yet but I had bad experience with cap and ball revolvers in the pass. Other than the horror of stuck caps I had a chain fire. I was even using those felt Wonder Wads! I was not sure what the hell happen there. Overall I'm so fascinated with those revolvers.
Mike thank you so much for your suggestions. I really appreciate you taking the time to view and comment on the video. You are right I kind of thought that the pictures spoke for themselves. I'm not a good story teller but will try to incorporatea narrative to help the video. I am a big fan of your magazine articles and videos. I've even tried the modification to one of my Pietta navy's as per your video. It didn't come out as good as yours but I had fun doing it and isn't that what it's all about?Well thank you again Mike and I'll be working on your suggestions.
What a great idea -- looks like it works well, too! Thanks for yet another terrific video.
I really like your videos, I just bought my first Cap and Ball Revolver, it's a Pietta 1851 Colt Navy Yank in .36 Caliber, can't wait to take it to the range. Keep up the Cool Vids.
I just got this in 36 caliber. I'm kicking myself for not getting into BP years ago. I ordered aftermarket nipples because Pietta doesn't believe in consistency regarding the diameter of the holes. Two were undersized and contributed to misfires and delayed fires. An excellent addition to me collection since I live 30 minutes away from Griswaldville.
i just recently watched hell on wheels seasons 1-5 on netflix. I have been a huge fan of WWI-vietnam era firearms as well as guns of choice by some of my other favorite movie and tv show characters. HOW made me interested in not only black powder guns but in finding the perfect replica (even if i have to build it) of Bohanon's gun. thank you for this video! it's just the start I need to get into black powder and in the right direction of where to start on this new project gun.
that is a very stylish looking gun.
that's a sharp lookin pistol Mike....you do good work.
I'm new to your channel, but I'm really enjoying your videos. Very informative, especially the historic stuff, which I'm hoping to get into shortly myself. Thanks for your efforts.
This was very informative and EXTREMELY hilarious. Thank you! I just bought my pietta model, but unfortunately it will probably harder to find parts to modify it with in California. Thank you very much for sharing! Liked and subscribed.
Cabelas used to sell that exact revolver (round barrel , brass frame .44) called the "Reb Navy ". I had one in about 2001 or so.
I found a Navy Arms brass framed 36 manufactured by Uberti with a Griswold and Gunnison barrel.
Great video Mike, thanks for uploading! They talk about Bohannon's 'Griswold' in the Season 1 DVD featurettes. Basically, it was what they had available and then they stuck with it for continuity's sake. At least they admitted it was wrong haha
I love it. I’m not a gun expert with vintage pistols but I love Hell On Wheels. I’m still not done watching it and I’m on season four. I always wanted a colt single action army and then I started wondering about the Griswold and I found this video. Fascinating gun but it looks like it might take half a day to load. I think I might still go with a Colt single action army with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. When I win the lottery anyways. I always enjoy your videos. Especially looking down the barrel from Evil Roy’s point of view.
Hmmm... I do believe that back around 1980 something, I bought a replica that meets the configuration of the Griswold and Gunnison revolver, but it's in .44 cal. I've been searching for revolvers that have round, not octagonal, barrels attached to brass frames. I was beginning to believe my replica was just a slapped together gun from odds and ends parts. Hmmm...
Built a kit one in late 70s. I love shooting it.
Great video. Until 40m before I seen this video I'd never before heard of the G&G revolver.
Thoroughly entertaining, as always . Thank you!
Caps are still easily available here in Ohio. My local Gander Mountain has about 6 pegs worth of the Remington #10's as well as a couple of full cardboard boxes on the bottom shelf with no room to put them up. I grabbed 5 packages last time I was in.
Great review Mike!
Mike, I ❤ ALL of these cap & ball revolver, and muzzleloader rifles, muskets, and Fowlers ! Have you ever shot a Confederate Leech & Rigdon revolver? Thank you!
Mircea, I can't reply on your question, for some reason. But, this was state of the art in 1860. To speed reloading some people carried spare loaded cylinders.
or maybe they were using the rifle and the saber more ? and the revolver was secondary weapon , or they could have 2 of them , right ?
i just got a nonfiring replica gunison , and i want to know her history :D , btw nice videos !
"Non-firing"?
A cap gun?
Robert Neson
no , just for collection , for my wall !
I was going to ask if you could just change out cylinders. There is a particular scene in Hell on wheels between two confederates where one is trying to change cylinders. I'm not even a revolver buff, maybe i watch too much hell on wheels, but that revolver is a thing of beauty to me. Going to have to get one.
Sir, before asking a question i would like to inform you that iam new in this kind of stuff . Was it taking so much time to load back then ? was it the same procedure as you show in the video ? And finally were they firing balls as you do here , or bullets ? Because i saw them loading bullets on Hell on Wheels . (thanks in advance )
I have always heard that a brass framed gun will shoot loose after a while . Just how many rounds do you think that would take ?
Or a few hundred or a few thousand ? Yours are my favorite you tube videos by far !!
I had wondered at all the brass framed colt replicas.
Good looking piece
Very creative Mike! I like the 1860 with the high front sight, may you could do a test video with that High Front Sight Barrel. Those "Carpet Baggers Paid in Red for their Transgressions, LOL".
Remington replicas (true to history ) had higher sights, as the U.S.Army in the 1860s to 1870s wanted revolvers that shot at 60-100 yards. So in close gunfights, they shoot pretty high. Aim for the groin to hit the torso, aim for center chest to hit the head. Aim for the head, your shot will go OVER the head to hit someone 50-75 yards behind your target !
Back in the day, the military thinking was capability to make hits out to 100yds on enemy cavalryman/ mounted indian . Yes , the horse too .
@@filianablanxart8305
Yes such was started with the Walker.
The 44 caliber idea was to be able put down the Horse and Rider Eventually the effective range decreased.
The 36 caliber revolvers were made with the ability of Anti Personnel in mind.
very educational, been wanting my own griswold for a while.
Mike;
I like your video, they are very educational on loading cap and ball Revolvers.
I to only load five just like you.
I am 64, I have been shooting single action sents I was 15 years old.
I now own A.Uberti New Army chamber in 45 Long Colt.
I really like it. I saw this on you video you did some time back.
Keep up the good work and let's keep History alive.
My old say is this.
If we don't protect our past, there can be no future.
One can not exist without the other. For that we are doomed to repeat it.
Mike, Several years ago I bought a Pietta revolver which I still have called the Rebel Confederate in .44 it looks very similar to your creation are there many differences between mine and the Griswold and Gunnison? Love your videos BTW!! 👍
I can't say without seeing your gun, but I'd guess that they are the same
Timber Creek, I have a Pietta Griswold & Gunnison in .36. I also have a Pietta Rebel Confederate in .44, that I call a Griswold & Gunnison Army. The only difference I see is the cylinder & barrel, because of calibre difference. I ❤ them both!
That thing shoots pretty good!!
I was surprised you used 30gns of powder. I have basically the same brass framed revolver 44 Pietta and I load 20gns and that has a nice kick. I was told not to strain a brass framed gun with heavy loads as the frame might stretch or even crack. The powder I use is made in Switzerland which I understand is good quality. I would be interested to hear your views.
Another winner! I so enjoy your videos.
You may have found the barrel in your parts drawer, but the CL code on your frame indicates the Italians made it in 2013.
I've seen either in GOOW or maybe in a featurette on the DVD that the reason they went with the 1860 as a faux Griswold is because that was the only gun the armorer could come up with in time for the shooting schedule. By the time Season 2 came around, the armorer had more time to acquire weapons -- which is why the guns used in S2 are more authentic than those used in S1. Of course, that may just be the excuse the producers came up with to explain sloppy research on the Griswold.
Ken, I'm not sure what you're getting at. I said I just bought the brass framed 1851 Navy base gun, so it isn't surprising that the frame is 2013 vintage. The steel frame that is visible with the steel 1860 frame has a date code of BI, which from 1997. I don't know exactly how old the barrel is, but I know that it is older than that 17 year old frame.
I'm not buying the can't get one excuse. If that was the case a brass framed 1851 would have been better. In fact they could have bought a half dozen brass 1851s and had a gunsmith machine the barrels round to pass for a G&G on camera for very little budget. Just about every revolver in the first season had a brass frame...even the Remingtons. That leads me to believe that they were going for a certain look that included lots of brass...maybe thinking that looked more old fashioned. It was a bad choice though.
duelist1954
In retrospect, I agree with your impression. After I posted my comments about what I remembered reading from the armorer, I watched an AMC video about the guns on the show. The armorer didn't say anything about having trouble getting an authentic G&G. In fact, he seemed to go out of his way patting himself on the back for having such authentic guns on the show. He held up the 1860 Army G&G and spoke as if it were a close copy of an original. It looks to me like he thinks he knows more about historic firearms than he really does. At least they seem to be getting closer in succeeding seasons.
duelist1954
Mike, what I was getting at has a lot to do with my having missed where you said you just bought the base 1851 Navy gun. But in my defense, it was something like 3AM when I watched your video and I didn't turn down the volume on my TV until a couple of minutes into the video so there was competition for my listening at the start. I really enjoyed the video. Especially the part where your first shot at the paper targets knocked the second paper loose from the frame.
Even a good ol' rebel brass frame pistol is still a good carpet-bagger bagger!
Would my brass frame 1851 Navy also be considered a "Schneider and Glassick" replica? Because I think the S&G had a brass frame and an Octagonal barrel!
Yes...pretty much. If you had a real one, you could retire. The S&G is about the most rare Confederate revolver out there.
Thank you for introducing me to the Schneider & Glassick revolver!
The factory in Griswoldville and the historic marker names Griswold as owning the factory, previously a cottin mill. All was burned to the ground by the Union Army. Samuel Griswold was my cousin.
I love these old guns !!!!!
I had a Griswold replica in 36. I wish I had kept it. That was the most deadly poa gun i've had.
Great black powder knowledge. As are many people, I have a new/renewed interest in black powder weaponry. Maybe you could do a time line for your subscribers, showing the main black powder models and technology throughout history, to the present day. Sorry if asking too much, I enjoy your vids.
That is a great shooting revolver! You too!!
Hell on wheels is the best! Great video!
You know you're the man I really enjoyed your content very knowledgeable very cool I wish you were my uncle. Or at least my friend
Bohanon had a Griswold in the first episode of the series but switched to a 1860 navy, presumably to take the heat off of him after helping kill the foreman
Good point!
1860 Army**
He uses it again during the train robbery
Great shooting!!
Nice Job on the Gun Mike
5:30 So, it isn't just a thing with mine... Since the Pietta G&G and the Uberti L&R are simply their respective 1851s with a barrel that got turned round on a lathe, the barrels on these guns are slightly (but markedly) thinner than the Colt 1851. Everything else, _including the loading lever_ was dimensioned with the thicker 1851 barrel in mind. The lever catch in front sits higher than normal because it's dovetailed into a barrel whose underside sits higher than usual. In the image seen here, the lever holds fast at a slightly upwards angle and there's a noticeable gap between lever and barrel nearer the back end.
On my Uberti Leech & Rigdon, the fit of the loading lever is dealt with in a different way: the loading lever on my gun is _bent!_ They deliberately imparted a slight upward bow in the middle of the lever so the front latches straight into the catch in front, but this results in a noticeable close in the gap between barrel and lever (they almost touch halfway down the length).
I am 6 years late but the armorer for Hell on Wheels intentionally chose incorrect firearms in favour of cheaper ones. He figured the audience wouldn't know the difference. I got this information from a gent who used to work on the show. He wasn't happy about it as he was one of us who can tell the difference.
How do these guys not realize that their core audience is made up of gun nerds like us?
That was thoroughly entertaining and informative! When did revolvers evolve from using powder and balls to using rounds like we're all familiar with today?
It started before the Civil War, but here in America the Rollin White patent on bored through cylinders was owned by Smith & Wesson, and it held back the growth of metallic cartridge revolvers until the patent expired in the late1860s.
Very cool! I love Hell On Wheels too.
I'm also a fan of "Hell on Wheels," but you're right about them getting a lot wrong. Bohannon also uses a scoped repeating rifle that is about twenty years before it's time. They also show all of the cavalrymen with repeaters as standard issue when they would have still been using single shot rolling block.
IanCaine4728 At least they are using Winchester 1866s, and thus seem somewhat period correct.
IanCaine4728 it's "entertainment', not accurate history, which is why they get twelve to twenty shots off without ever having to reload, duh!
I guess the real question is, Were the Griswold and Gunnison revolvers .44 cal or mostly .36 cal? I will most likely buy a .36 cal as I really enjoy shooting my .44 version..thanks for your reply..
that is the show the got me into griswolds
30grs in a brasser? I to like to live life dangerously lol
Chris Collins k
too*
He is using a .44. Original griswold is a 36 cal. 17 gr. With c.s.a. Richmond bullet. Lee makes the mould. Sold thru erasgone. Limited production. Buy quick unless you want to shoot bluebelly ammo.😋
You think that's dangerous? The original Griswold and Gunnison revolvers had barrels and cylinders made of iron. It was made of iron because the southrons were literally too stupid to make steel.
@@MrSloika Yeah... But we built submarines. Fucktard.
Very interestimg Mike, looking through piettas lineup can get confusing with all the clones and copies.
I got a little confused with this video, and I read an article on the armorers of "Hell On Wheels," who said in some scenes you'd see what "looked" like A Griswold and Gunnison, but were (obviously) made up of other Colt or Colt replica pieces, and showed up with different parts in different scenes of the show (which I wish would start its next season!). I have a few questions/comments:
1. Excuse me for being dense, but did the Griswold and Gunnison generally have an octagonal Navy barrel, or a round Army barrel.
2. I have a Pietta replica 1851 Navy .44 caliber, 7-1/2" barrel. I'm getting back into black powder shooting after a 40-year absence. I may be timid, or just superstitious, but I've always had some reservations about a .44 caliber gun with a brass frame with no top strap. I used to shoot a replica 1851 Navy .36, and a replica Remington Army with steel frame and top-strap .44. Never a problem. Would it be possible to fit a Pietta case hardened frame to a .44 Navy, or am I just overcautious?
3. Thanks for the video on ameliorating the grip and grip frame on the Pietta Navy -- I have big hands, and I find the bottom rear edge of the grip and frame dig into my palm a bit -- now I know how to fix it.
4. Is "Guns of the Old West" Magazine still in business?
Thanks for the great videos!
Bart Brown
Good job.
Colt originally sold his revolver at around $25 and only started selling his revolvers at around $12 when news got out it only costs him less than that to make each one. With threats of Congressional investigation for war profiteering looming, he lowering the price.
Nice group on evil Roy.,,, that mutt gun shoots better than some factor guns I love mutt guns or homebrew or what ever you can them I have a para frame 45 Brazilan slide colt barrel and a Nowegian slide stop
Good review.
helluva group on Ole Roy. won't get much better (if at all) with any modern pistol.
Love it.
great video
He'll on wheels was a great show
Well done video... Thanks
J'aime beaucoup votre vidéo merci
Arrg! Thanks you you I had to have one of these!
My local blackpowder gun store(umm, 50 miles away) had one of these!(Deer Creek in Marietta GA)
My obsession is all your fault!! :D
Disregard my comment and question, I read all previous post and understand why you load 30.
Great video
That was a really nice grouping! What type of hold was it though? 6 o'clock? Point-of-aim, point-of-impact?
I aimed for Evil Roy's crotch...LOL
Good shootin there Tex. :)
Very cool!
Hey mike, during the cap and ball era, how would soldiers store their revolver ammunition?
They uses paper cartridges that were packaged, with caps. a belt pouch held two, 6-shot cartridge packages.
Hey Mike, been a while since this video was produced. I was just curious as to how well that Griswold was holding up to shooting? If it had shot loose yet or if it was still solid?
It is fine, but I rarely shoot it. It is more of an example Gun.
Hey Mike. I was thinking about taking a Uberti 1851 navy 38spl conversion (cartridge converted just for convenience) and just sorta brass plating the frame, that way I can have the brass look like the Griswold but the reliability of steel underneath. Do you think this is a good idea? I know it won't be a perfect replica of a converted Griswold but i think it would be close. What's your opinion?
Sounds neat.
I like the sound of that, Sir!
Will Evil Roy ever change his evil ways?
Not sure but think Hell on Wheels ' gun is converted for cartridges. I have an old kit Griswold which is really good especially for 75 bucks .lol. Thanks.
I've watched this one before. It's good to watch again. Get them durn carpet baggers.
cool parts gun just ordered a 1860 army from cabelas and I hope it ships cause I live in NY state so they may not send it. The army I pick for the same reason as having a very closely resemblance to the gun he uses. I also noticed the 1860 barrel on a brass frame so I automatically knew it was a completely fabricated gun. But during hte series I have noticed him using just about every gun of the time but mostly the 1860 army looks the closest to his gun. I wasn't willing to settle for a weaker frame so I will be happy with the steel frame.