Cimarron Firearms Co120915358
Cimarron Firearms 1851 Richards-Mason .38 Special 7.5" Wild Bill Hickok Revolver$1,390.05
Availability: In Stock
The Cimarron Firearms 1851 Richards-Mason .38 Special 7.5" revolver brings Wild Bill-era gunfighting history into your hands. This is a faithful reproduction of the Richards-Mason conversion revolver—the hybrid design that bridged cap-and-ball percussion arms and modern self-contained cartridges. The original 1851 Navy models saw use by legendary figures like Doc Holliday, and Cimarron's version captures that same lean, elegant profile while delivering the practical reliability of metallic cartridge shooting. Whether you're loading rounds for Cowboy Action competition, a historical reenactment, or simply appreciate the aesthetics and pointability of a nineteenth-century six-gun, this .38 Special variant offers the best of both worlds: period authenticity and modern ammunition.
The 7.5" barrel strikes a balance between the standard 5.5" and longer 8" options, giving you the sight radius and velocity boost of a full-length cylinder gun without the bulk. In .38 Special, it's shootable, affordable compared to period cartridges, and well-suited to competition stages and casual range work. The Richards-Mason design itself is historically significant—patented in 1872 by Colt employees Charles B. Richards and William Mason, it represented a clever conversion method that kept existing percussion-gun parts in service while accepting fixed ammunition. Cimarron produces these as new-manufacture arms rather than conversions, ensuring modern metallurgy and reliability you can count on.
Finish and aesthetics matter on a gun like this. Cimarron's Richards-Mason revolvers wear authentic period finishes that make them look lived-in and honest—no tacticool plastic or unnecessary modern flourishes. It's the kind of gun that feels right in a leather holster and demands respect at the range. If you run Cowboy Action, collect historical replicas, or just want to shoot something with genuine character, this 1851 Navy-pattern .38 Special is worth serious consideration.
| Manufacturer | Cimarron Firearms Co |
| Model | 1851 Richards-Mason |
| Caliber | .38 Special/.38 Colt |
| Barrel Length | 7.5" |
| Type | Revolver (Richards-Mason conversion pattern) |
Yes. The Richards-Mason conversion revolver is a classic choice for Cowboy Action shooters. The 7.5" barrel and .38 Special caliber are both common in competition, and the handling characteristics—fast sight acquisition, smooth action, straightforward controls—make it competitive on stages.
This revolver is chambered for .38 Special/.38 Colt metallic cartridge ammunition. It uses modern self-contained rounds, not percussion caps and powder.
The Richards-Mason design converts a percussion revolver to accept fixed metallic cartridges by replacing the nipple-fitted cylinder with one bored and chambered for cartridges. The breechblock, hammer, and trigger mechanism were also adapted. It's a bridge between nineteenth-century cap-and-ball and modern cartridge firearms—historically significant and still mechanically sound.
Cimarron produces this as a new-manufacture Richards-Mason based on period originals, with finishes designed to look period-correct. It captures the authentic look and feel of the 1851 Navy conversion pattern that saw use in the Old West era.
SKU: 120920854 • Weight: 3.35oz
Availability: In Stock
The Cimarron Firearms 1851 Richards-Mason .38 Special 7.5" revolver brings Wild Bill-era gunfighting history into your hands. This is a faithful reproduction of the Richards-Mason conversion revolver—the hybrid design that bridged cap-and-ball percussion arms and modern self-contained cartridges. The original 1851 Navy models saw use by legendary figures like Doc Holliday, and Cimarron's version captures that same lean, elegant profile while delivering the practical reliability of metallic cartridge shooting. Whether you're loading rounds for Cowboy Action competition, a historical reenactment, or simply appreciate the aesthetics and pointability of a nineteenth-century six-gun, this .38 Special variant offers the best of both worlds: period authenticity and modern ammunition.
The 7.5" barrel strikes a balance between the standard 5.5" and longer 8" options, giving you the sight radius and velocity boost of a full-length cylinder gun without the bulk. In .38 Special, it's shootable, affordable compared to period cartridges, and well-suited to competition stages and casual range work. The Richards-Mason design itself is historically significant—patented in 1872 by Colt employees Charles B. Richards and William Mason, it represented a clever conversion method that kept existing percussion-gun parts in service while accepting fixed ammunition. Cimarron produces these as new-manufacture arms rather than conversions, ensuring modern metallurgy and reliability you can count on.
Finish and aesthetics matter on a gun like this. Cimarron's Richards-Mason revolvers wear authentic period finishes that make them look lived-in and honest—no tacticool plastic or unnecessary modern flourishes. It's the kind of gun that feels right in a leather holster and demands respect at the range. If you run Cowboy Action, collect historical replicas, or just want to shoot something with genuine character, this 1851 Navy-pattern .38 Special is worth serious consideration.
| Manufacturer | Cimarron Firearms Co |
| Model | 1851 Richards-Mason |
| Caliber | .38 Special/.38 Colt |
| Barrel Length | 7.5" |
| Type | Revolver (Richards-Mason conversion pattern) |
Yes. The Richards-Mason conversion revolver is a classic choice for Cowboy Action shooters. The 7.5" barrel and .38 Special caliber are both common in competition, and the handling characteristics—fast sight acquisition, smooth action, straightforward controls—make it competitive on stages.
This revolver is chambered for .38 Special/.38 Colt metallic cartridge ammunition. It uses modern self-contained rounds, not percussion caps and powder.
The Richards-Mason design converts a percussion revolver to accept fixed metallic cartridges by replacing the nipple-fitted cylinder with one bored and chambered for cartridges. The breechblock, hammer, and trigger mechanism were also adapted. It's a bridge between nineteenth-century cap-and-ball and modern cartridge firearms—historically significant and still mechanically sound.
Cimarron produces this as a new-manufacture Richards-Mason based on period originals, with finishes designed to look period-correct. It captures the authentic look and feel of the 1851 Navy conversion pattern that saw use in the Old West era.
SKU: 120920854 • Weight: 3.35oz