F.lli Pietta 1861 Navy Sheriff .36 Cal Cap-and-Ball Revolver, 5.5-Inch, Bright Plated – Made in Italy (1999)
This Italian-made F.lli Pietta 1861 Navy Sheriff is a .36 caliber, six-shot cap-and-ball revolver with a 5.5-inch short barrel and a bright plated mirror finish. Built in 1999, it follows the open-top Colt-pattern design with classic fixed sights and an unfluted cylinder with safety pins, offering a compact take on the 1861 Navy format.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Handling wear is evident throughout the pistol. The action is fully functional, but the four clicks may feel slightly gritty or mushy. There is noticeable cylinder play (wiggle) at full cock. The wedge may be tight or show signs of heavy tool use from disassembly.
What’s Included
- F.lli Pietta 1861 Navy Sheriff .36 caliber cap-and-ball revolver
Made in Italy by F.lli Pietta in 1999, this Sheriff-configuration reproduction of the 1861 Navy combines a compact 5.5-inch barrel with the traditional single-action percussion system. The revolver features a bright plated mirror finish over steel construction and smooth gray/black wood-laminate-style grips.
The open-top Colt-pattern frame uses a wedge-retained barrel assembly and an under-barrel loading lever with a front latch for seating balls. A capping cutout in the right recoil shield aids access to the nipples. The unfluted six-chamber cylinder includes safety pins, and the fixed sighting setup pairs a small front blade with a hammer-notch rear.
Markings include FAP F.LLI PIETTA MADE IN ITALY and BLACK POWDER ONLY 36 CAL, along with Italian proof marks: the PN black-powder proof, the Gardone proof-house crest, and a boxed two-letter Italian date code. These factory proofs and inscriptions document origin and configuration.
Key components are steel throughout, including the round-profile barrel, frame, receiver, and cylinder, all finished in a bright plated mirror surface. Capacity is six rounds of .36 caliber black powder, consistent with the 1861 Navy pattern in this Sheriff-length format.