Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy
F.lli Pietta · Revolver · In Production
Also known as: Pietta 1851 Reb Nord Navy, 1851 Rebel Confederate Navy, Pietta REB44
Overview
The Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy is an Italian-made cap-and-ball revolver reproducing the brass-framed .44 caliber percussion revolvers carried by Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Built by F.lli Pietta as a modern black-powder replica, it pairs a blued octagonal barrel and six-shot cylinder with a brass frame and trigger guard, echoing the Southern copies of the Colt 1851 Navy that used brass in place of scarce steel. It is loaded from the front of the cylinder with loose black powder, a lead ball, and a percussion cap on each nipple, and fired single-action.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1191 g (42.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 327 mm (12.87") |
| Barrel Length | 190 mm (7.48") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 270 m/s (886 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 340 J (251 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Rifled |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 cal, .454 round ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notch
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Brass Frame, Brass Trigger Guard, Loading Lever, Color Case Hammer
Production
Modern reproduction still in current F.lli Pietta production.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Notes
Marketed in .44 caliber with a brass frame, distinguishing it from the steel-framed .36 caliber Pietta 1851 Navy. Offered in several barrel lengths including a 5.5-inch Sheriff configuration.
Background
The original 1851 Navy revolver was a Colt design chambered in .36 caliber. During the American Civil War, Confederate makers such as Griswold & Gunnison produced brass-framed copies because the South lacked the steel of Northern arsenals. Pietta's .44 caliber 'Confederate Navy' honors those brass-frame Southern revolvers, and remains a popular choice among cowboy-action and black-powder shooters.