The Navy style has a smaller grip, correct? I'm thinking I would prefer the 1860 grip.

Uberti or Cimarron-which company to go with? Anyone else to consider?

Probably going .38 spl for cost of ammo.

Any thoughts, comments, or pics would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't know much about them when I picked up my first one this past summer.  I've owned and shot a lot of cap and ball revolvers and SAA replicas, but I wanted the open top conversion.

I found a Cimmaron Arms 1860 Richard Mason conversion in .38 spl with a 5-1/2" barrel.  I've had a lot of fun with it so far with my cast bullet reloads.

Wish I could help you out more with the different models, but this is the only one I've shot.

I have owned my 1872 Open Tops since they were first introduced by Cimarron.
Both are in .44 Colt and will also shoot .44 Russian.
Both have the 1860 grip frames.

Because they were fairly new models, both had a few issues when purchased and during initial shooting.
The front sight was way too low on the first one and had to be replaced and the new sight dialed in.
The second one had a better front sight, more closely regulated.
Both broke the loading gate springs and have done so again. buy a few spares.
One gun broke the trigger/bolt spring, one broke the mainspring, get spares.
I replaced the trigger/bolt springs with Ed Brown music wire versions, no more broken springs here.
You might notice spare mainsprings and ejector rod springs are kept in the case, just in case.

.38 Special is a good choice but stick with very mild Cowboy loads or target wadcutter loads.
These guns WILL NOT stand up to any defense type loads, stay away from anything marked +P and most non +P European made .38 Special is actually too stout for these guns.
Jacket bullet ammo is also not recommended, stay with lead, the barrel steel is milder than what is used on modern double action guns and jacketed ammo will wear out the bore pretty quick, I would say within a couple thousand rounds.
The guns will loosen up very quickly and get out of time if you insist on using stout ammo.

Black Hills Ammunition and Ten-X out of California both produce a mild .38 Long Colt factory ammo that is about perfect for the guns, very mild and very accurate.
I feel these guns are best used with black powder or substitute black powder and lead bullets.
Kept clean and using the ammo the guns were originally designed for will allow them to outlast you.HTH

I have used a pair of the .38 Colt/.38 Spl, 4.75" Navy-gripped OTs in Cowboy Action Shooting for going on 6 years. As stated above, they DO have their weak points, springs and such, and one not mentioned - the firing pins. Mine started peening on the tips pretty quick, so I replaced them with aftermarket hardened pins. It took some reshaping of the firing pin channel on the frame, but worth the effort. Also polished bearing surfaces and tweaked the bolts for better timing.

I have only shot black powder loads through them, and found mine prefer .358 dia to .357 dead soft lead bullets. I have smallish hands and the combination of the short barrels and Navy grips balance so nicely for me. Seems to work, they helped me get 4 World Champ buckles in Ladies Frontier Cartridge Duelist Category!  

Me trying Gunfighter style!

So far my revolvers have not exhibited any firing pin issues.
Maybe the difference in the pressure curve or pressure level is a cause or maybe they use a different size and length of firing pin in the .38s, I dunno.

It goes without saying it, but I will anyway,,NEVER dry snap these guns!
Never, never, never.

THAT is badass. Congratulations

Thanks guys (and gal). Very helpful info.

Any feedback on Uberti vs. Cimarron?

Uberti makes the majority of the repros in use, with a sprinkling of Pedersoli, Pietta & Chiappa. Uberti guns are just made to different finish specs as requested by the different distributors.

So guns from distributors like Taylors & Cimarron (where I got all mine) are the same basic gun, with subtle treatments, finishes, roll marks, etc.

Ubertis are for the most part pretty good quality, Pietta has had issues in the past but seems to be better now. Pedersoli (mostly long guns) is also good quality. Chiappa is a relative newcomer in the game, having debuted models a couple years ago.