Lyman 1858 Navy Extra Cylinder

What are the chances I’ll be able to find an extra cylinder for my 1858 Lyman Navy? I’ve found several examples made by Pietta and Uberti, but I’d hate to buy a cylinder that won’t work. Should I just forget it and get a newer .44 pistol instead?

It is a problem and the original guns were fitted at the factory. This idea of spare cylinders- I think it has been way overstated. It is very rare to find any such reference in diaries written at the time. Frank James found a busted Navy 36 and kept the cylinder- the only reference I've ever found.
So TREAT yourself and buy a second Navy 36.

First you would have to know who made the revolver for Lyman and if I remember correctly they had more than one source over the years they offered them. Second even if it were made by a manufacturer still in business there is a very good chance there have been dimensional changes such that current cylinders won't work. Remember, L:yman sold those guns back in the 1970s and several of those manufacturers are long gone. Pietta is an example of a change, current cylinders won't work in a gun produced in the 90s. The odds of buying a used cylinder somewhere that might work are very slim, usually you end up with a pencil holder. Forget what Clint does, it just didn't happen that way in the west. Finally it takes just as long to load 2 cylinders as it does 1 twice.

hawkeye2 gave very good advice on the very slim chance of buying another cylinder that would work in your Lyman.

The early Lyman revolvers were made by Uberti. Later Lymans were made by Euroarms and marked under the barrel with DGG.

Your best option might be to see if you can find someone with a later manufacture Uberti or Pieta and try their cylinder to see if it fits and functions and then search for a spare cylinder.

I have an 1858 Lyman Navy. Made and marked by Uberti. It is unfired in its box so don't need a cylinder spare but if I did, I would start with an Uberti and fit it.

The same difficulty arrises when you try and obtain a spare cylinder for the Uberti 1873 Cattleman cap and ball revolver. Apparently the early versions were dimensionally a few thousandths difference and will NOT fit the later offerings. I now have TWO pencil-holders.

BE SURE to check every dimension, especially the lock up groove. I had a Lyman 1858 that was built in the early 70's by Uberti. I bought a couple of NOS cylinders off ebay to make shooting a little more expedient. Both of the cylinders I had to fit lengthwise, which I was expecting, but what I wasn't expecting was that the cylinder lockup groove was NARROWER on one of the cylinders, which did not provide a whole lot of meat to be doing the locking up. I think Pietta has a reputation for being on the small side with their arms. Since your pistol is a Uberti, I would make sure that it was a Uberti cylinder. Or at least measure the lockup notch on a prospective cylinder, as it is pretty important.

Meggadeath said:

The same difficulty arrises when you try and obtain a spare cylinder for the Uberti 1873 Cattleman cap and ball revolver. Apparently the early versions were dimensionally a few thousandths difference and will NOT fit the later offerings. I now have TWO pencil-holders.

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Were the cylinders too long to fit in the frame? Lots of parts must be fitted. Replacement parts are often a couple of thousandths oversize in some dimensions to make up for wear that might be on the other parts it interacts with. I never consider replacement gun parts as 'drop-in', and count myself lucky when they do.

It would be best, in this case, to find a gunsmith/company that specializes in them. Three are good folks out there. It's like doing dentistry on yourself... You can do it, but it ain't fun.

Dusty_Traveler said:

Were the cylinders too long to fit in the frame? Lots of parts must be fitted. Replacement parts are often a couple of thousandths oversize in some dimensions to make up for wear that might be on the other parts it interacts with. I never consider replacement gun parts as 'drop-in', and count myself lucky when they do.

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The "early" 1873 black powder Uberti Cattleman (pre-1999, I believe) were deliberately made longer (or the newer ones made shorter). Later versions are a drop-in fit but exceedingly difficult to find. I could have the early cylinders modified, but I would hate to negate the opportunity for someone who might need one. I have three of the later Cattleman pistols, but only two extra cylinders. Someday hoping to find a third. Tolerances are exact, as ALL of the cylinders (5) fit all of the pistols precisely. I have had the same "lucky" experience with the Ruger Old Armys.