Cimarron Richards-Mason Conversion revolver

[rodeo kid]

I have been looking at one of these on Guns Int for $429. Does anyone have one? How does it shoot, trigger pull? I read a review by Mr Taffin and he liked it, but I have yet to read anything he didn't like. I have a Colt 3rd gen SAA and a USFA Rodeo II and love them both. There is just something even more old-timey and cool about this open top design that appeals to me. Any info helpful as this thing keeps speaking to me and saying buy me, buy me!

[Ysabel Kid]

Mine is made by Uberti, though not imported/distributed by Cimarron. Probably not much of a difference though. I like it! It is a lot of fun to shoot, and works very reliably. What I have come to expect from Uberti-made arms.

[vancelw]

I've got an 1851 Cimarron in .38 Special. Finish is good. Fit leaves a little to be desired. Trigger pull and point of impact were pleasant surprises.

Over all, for the price, a really nice piece of recreated history.

[Leverluver]

I have one of the very early ones with the shorter cylinder and longer forcing cone. They changed that when they found that the long forcing cone was more succeptable to cracking. Mine has never cracked but the arbor (cylinder pin) did work loose in the first fifty shots of extremely wimpy loads. I had to have that repaired but even with all that, I do enjoy the piece and it is quite remarkable that it is very accurate (<2" @ 25yds) and the POI and POA are dead on. That is incredible when considering the design. I like the gun and it is one of my favorites. BTW it is 44 Colt.

[Doc Hudson]

I have a Mason-Richards Conversion that took me seven years to acquire.

According to Dan Staley, aka Ol' Dan or OD, the original owner gave it to him in disgust after the ejector rod flew off during the first cylinder of ammo heN fired.

Dan cut the barrel to 3" and it is a mighty handy little belly gun. Next to acquire it was Doug Kinnaman, aka Slow hand. Doug added a bead front sight, squared up the muzzzle and crowned it. When Doug got ready to sell it, I was too derned broke to pay attention so he sold it to Randy Evans.

A couple of years ago, Randy needed to thin the herd in advance of a new baby and I finally acquired it.

For first one reason and then ten or twelve more, I've had little opportunity to shoot it. But I'm quite satisfied with the accuracy and like all Colt Navys and SAA's the grip fits my hand perfectly and point shooting is very satisfactory. I even carry it from time to time as a CCW piece.

In spite of the ejector rod fiasco, I'd give the revolver good marks for fit and finish. The trigger pull is quite reasonable, and reasonably crisp. The sights don't suck quite as badly as a cap-and-ball M-1851 but they are nothing to brag about. Quite frankly that doesn't much bother me. With my failing eyesight, and the minuscule sights I consider this to be a point shooter to be employed at powderburn range anyway.

If you have a hankering for one of these six-guns, I suggest you go ahead and give in to temptation and quit torturing yourself.

I waited seven years to get mine and consider it to have been worth the wait.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

They are really neat guns from a unique period of firearms history. Because of the Rollin-White patent owned by S&W that prevented a company from making a bore through cylinder cartridge gun there were about 20 years of production of these conversions by various gunsmith and other back street maker. A good read on these guns and era is Colt Conversions and other percussion Revolvers by McDowell. It covers the Thuer conversions, the Richards and the Richards Masons even the legal Colt 1871-1872 open-tops.

I've had several reproductions over the years. Made by ASM in the mid 1990's these were loosely patterned after the Richards.


This one made by Uberti is loosely based on the 1851 Richards-Mason.


These two I converted myself. They are loosely based on the Thuer conversions. I like the look of the rammer still in place and the Thuer conversions because of the front loaded cartridge used the rammers. I hand eject with a brass rod from my belt.


I would caution not to use these for CAS unless you do plan on shooting duelist/onehanded style. For normal use they will do just fine but these guns don't hold up well shoot CAS speeds two-hand off hand cocking. Slamming the hammers back like that is really hard on them. Also, stick to mild lead loads. they will shoot loose if you don't. Think about this, if there were the be all end all Colt never would have made the SAA.

The conversions that work best for CAS are the Remington style revolvers with the top strap.
Here's a stainless 44 cal converted to 38 spec.

[rodeo kid]

Thanks for the kind words Nate and everyone else. I went ahead and picked one up today. Made the mistake of driving over to Oklahoma City to H&H Gun Range, a large dealer. He had about 50 Uberti's and Cimarron's combined. Candyland! No trigger locks like Bass Pro. I was able to compare the Uberti and Cimarron(made by Uberti). The Cimarron had a way better trigger and cocked easier. Finish maybe slightly nicer on Cimarron but the Uberti was close. The Cimarron also had an octagon barrel and the Uberti's was round. Chose the Cimarron because of the way better trigger and Octagon barrel even though it was $50 more. Took it home and fired five rounds out in the back pasture just to make sure it worked. I am a happy camper so far. it has a better trigger then my 3rd gen colt, but not as good as my USFA Rodeo II from Longhunter. My only problem now is I want a Uberti Bisley also. Is there a cure for this?

[vancelw]

..... Is there a cure for this?

Yes, buy them all and give them good homes. Invite your friends to help you babysit. It's the only way.

[Doc Hudson]

..... Is there a cure for this?

Yes, buy them all and give them good homes. Invite your friends to help you babysit. It's the only way.

Listen to the man! He knows whereof he speaks!!!

[revolvergeek]

Doc,

That's a cool story and sounds like a very interesting little gun. I would love to see a picture of it if you feel so inclined. When you a a gold bead front site, do you mean like a shotgun bead or a blade with a bead? I played with < 4" Vaquero at a recent gunshow that had a huge plain brass shotgun bead on the front and a trenched out rear sight, sort of like a retro version of XS Big Dot sights.

Regards,
Danny

[stretch]

I know that was sort of a weak, stopgap design, but they sure are
pretty. One in 38 Special with a case-hardened frame and 6" charcoal-blued
barrel, please.

Rodeo, let us know how you like it after an extended range session.

-Stretch

[Van Morgan]

I am looking at a couple of Taylor 8"ers in 45LC. Just how wimpy a load are we talking here? I am planning on shooting them with full load BP over a 250 gr bullet.
I don't care much for the look of the Remmie or the Navy myself and would prefer the longer grip of the Army.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I am looking at a couple of Taylor 8"ers in 45LC. Just how wimpy a load are we talking here? I am planning on shooting them with full load BP over a 250 gr bullet.
I don't care much for the look of the Remmie or the Navy myself and would prefer the longer grip of the Army.

Van,
The 45lc Uberti's aren't actual conversions. The cylinders and receivers are slightly scaled up to allow 6 chambers. This also allows them to handle any standard factory loading. Your 250gr over BP shouldn't be a problem.

[Van Morgan]

I am slower than sin so I don't need anything race ready. Beyond that do the Taylor's need any work? I am looking for something for my tired old eyes. I line up my rifle and shotgun fine, but my pistol sights are just too close together at 5 1/2".

[tman]

They are really neat guns from a unique period of firearms history. Because of the Rollin-White patent owned by S&W that prevented a company from making a bore through cylinder cartridge gun there were about 20 years of production of these conversions by various gunsmith and other back street maker. A good read on these guns and era is Colt Conversions and other percussion Revolvers by McDowell. It covers the Thuer conversions, the Richards and the Richards Masons even the legal Colt 1871-1872 open-tops.

I've had several reproductions over the years. Made by ASM in the mid 1990's these were loosely patterned after the Richards.


This one made by Uberti is loosely based on the 1851 Richards-Mason.


These two I converted myself. They are loosely based on the Thuer conversions. I like the look of the rammer still in place and the Thuer conversions because of the front loaded cartridge used the rammers. I hand eject with a brass rod from my belt.


I would caution not to use these for CAS unless you do plan on shooting duelist/onehanded style. For normal use they will do just fine but these guns don't hold up well shoot CAS speeds two-hand off hand cocking. Slamming the hammers back like that is really hard on them. Also, stick to mild lead loads. they will shoot loose if you don't. Think about this, if there were the be all end all Colt never would have made the SAA.

The conversions that work best for CAS are the Remington style revolvers with the top strap.
Here's a stainless 44 cal converted to 38 spec.

those 1860's with the colt grips are way cool. just when i thought i had enough guns, you dangle those 2 in front of me

[Van Morgan]

Is there much functionality difference between the 1860 Richard Mason's Converion and the Cimarron Transitions model the so called Conversion II?