- Joined
- May 10, 2021
- Messages
- 48
- Reaction score
- 111
I have been wanting a Root revolver for quite a long time. They are very hard to come by and expensive when you do. A couple of weeks ago, I remembered that B P Arn had offered one for sale some time ago. So I inquired with him about it. By a strange turn of events and a little luck, he still had the revolver in question, and made me a very gracious offer that I couldn't refuse. Money changed hands, and the revolver was now mine!! Very exciting!!
Here is how the revolver arrived. It looks like a functioning gun, but it is far from it! B P Arn had put all the little parts in their respective positions, just so they wouldn't get lost. I appreciated that.
The gun was complete except for the loading lever latch, which I knew was missing. I figured I could locate one no problem. I soon found out just how wrong I was about finding parts for this little gem!
First thing I did was disassemble it to take stock in what I had. The guts of this thing look absolutely nothing like any other Colt.
I went online and looked for any helpful information I could find. I soon found out, there isn't any! I did manage to find an exploded view of the gun, and that helped a little. But for the most part, I was on my own. It's kind of like one of those Chinese jigsaw puzzles, where you think you know where the pieces go, until you try to put them in place. And then realize that this ain't gonna be easy! But after much fiddling and a lot of trial and error, I was able to get it back together and functioning. I was pretty proud of myself!
Now that it functioned, I needed a loading lever latch. Since I had already tried to source parts and came up empty handed, I knew I'd be making one. So I went to my junk drawer and found a latch that I had removed from a 51 Navy. Of course it was way too big in every dimension, so I set about whittling it down with files. I eventually got it down to size, and installed it. It looks just right and more importantly it functions as it should. Excellent result!
Now that it was a 100% functioning gun, I planned on taking it to the range and giving it a little workout. But fate wasn't having it! By now I had cocked and un-cocked this thing 100's of times, and it worked perfect. Then all of a sudden it wouldn't cock anymore. I noticed the trigger was loose in the slot too. So I grabbed it and it slid right out of the gun. Only thing was, it was in two pieces! It broke in half right at the bolt hole!
My best guess is, it was either worn out, or just a weak design. Not sure which. At any rate, I will have to fashion a new one as parts are unobtainium for this thing. I will update this thread once I have one made. Here it is as it sits today.
I'd really like to thank B P Arn for giving me such a deal on this pistol. Otherwise, I'd probably never have one. Thank you Sir!
Here is how the revolver arrived. It looks like a functioning gun, but it is far from it! B P Arn had put all the little parts in their respective positions, just so they wouldn't get lost. I appreciated that.
The gun was complete except for the loading lever latch, which I knew was missing. I figured I could locate one no problem. I soon found out just how wrong I was about finding parts for this little gem!
First thing I did was disassemble it to take stock in what I had. The guts of this thing look absolutely nothing like any other Colt.
I went online and looked for any helpful information I could find. I soon found out, there isn't any! I did manage to find an exploded view of the gun, and that helped a little. But for the most part, I was on my own. It's kind of like one of those Chinese jigsaw puzzles, where you think you know where the pieces go, until you try to put them in place. And then realize that this ain't gonna be easy! But after much fiddling and a lot of trial and error, I was able to get it back together and functioning. I was pretty proud of myself!
Now that it functioned, I needed a loading lever latch. Since I had already tried to source parts and came up empty handed, I knew I'd be making one. So I went to my junk drawer and found a latch that I had removed from a 51 Navy. Of course it was way too big in every dimension, so I set about whittling it down with files. I eventually got it down to size, and installed it. It looks just right and more importantly it functions as it should. Excellent result!
Now that it was a 100% functioning gun, I planned on taking it to the range and giving it a little workout. But fate wasn't having it! By now I had cocked and un-cocked this thing 100's of times, and it worked perfect. Then all of a sudden it wouldn't cock anymore. I noticed the trigger was loose in the slot too. So I grabbed it and it slid right out of the gun. Only thing was, it was in two pieces! It broke in half right at the bolt hole!
My best guess is, it was either worn out, or just a weak design. Not sure which. At any rate, I will have to fashion a new one as parts are unobtainium for this thing. I will update this thread once I have one made. Here it is as it sits today.
I'd really like to thank B P Arn for giving me such a deal on this pistol. Otherwise, I'd probably never have one. Thank you Sir!
