Taylor's 1858 Remington Conversion
Taylor's & Company · Revolver · In Production
Also known as: 1858 Remington Conversion, Taylor's & Company 1858 Remington Conversion
Overview
The Taylor's 1858 Remington Conversion is a single-action revolver chambered in .45 Colt that recreates the post-Civil War cartridge conversions of the Remington New Model Army 1858 cap-and-ball revolver. Built on the strong solid-frame Remington design with its distinctive top strap, the conversion replaces the original percussion cylinder with a cartridge cylinder fed through a hinged loading gate on the recoil shield. Loading and unloading follow the classic single-action sequence with the hammer drawn to half cock, while the front blade and notched rear sight give the shooter a usable sight picture at typical handgun ranges. Manufactured in Italy from modern steels with metallurgy far superior to the original field conversions, the revolver is popular with cowboy action shooters, historical reenactors, and collectors who want an authentic 19th-century cartridge revolver. It is also offered in .38 Special and .44-40 WCF with barrel lengths of 5.5, 7 3/8, and 8 inches in blued and nickel-plated finishes.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1276 g (45.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 340 mm (13.39") |
| Barrel Length | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Action Type | Single Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 265 m/s (869 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 569 J (420 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45 Colt · primary — also known as .45 Long Colt, .45 LC, 11.43x33mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Solid Top Strap, Loading Gate, Fixed Sights, Cartridge Conversion Cylinder, Exposed Hammer
Service history
Operators
- Civilian shooters and cowboy action competitors
Production
Modern reproduction; ongoing production for the sport-shooting and reenactment market
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Notes
Modern reproduction of the 1870s Remington cartridge conversion, produced in Italy (Pietta) for Taylor's & Company. Chambered in .45 Colt, .38 Special, and .44-40 WCF; commonly seen with 8-inch or 5.5-inch barrels.
Background
The original Remington New Model Army 1858 was prized for its solid-frame strength and was carried by figures such as Buffalo Bill Cody. After metallic cartridges arrived, gunsmiths converted many cap-and-ball Remingtons to fire cartridges for a few dollars, extending the working life of these revolvers into the cartridge era.