Another Colt 1860 disassembly question

[jonathan butcher]

Is it better to have the gun at half cock when removing the mainspring from a Colt 1860 revolver ? Or should it be at hammer-down ?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

The spring will be under less tension with the hammer down.

 

[jonathan butcher]

The lip of the frame where the mainspring makes contact is preventing it from coming out smoothly. I've loosened the mainspring screw but I'm wondering if I should simply remove the mainspring screw instead to remove the mainspring ?

The spring will be under less tension with the hammer down.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Or depress the tip with your thumb and move it out from under the hammer. Look here at about 4:50 minutes.

 

[jonathan butcher]

Thanks Tom, for the life of me I couldn't slide it out, I used a brass tap and lightly tapped it out. Now as to reassembly and getting that mainsrping underneath the hammer again..
I really like what he did to round the top of that mainspring ( @ 12:53), makes me think it's time to buy a Dremmel tool. Do you have one Tom, if so what do you recommend ?

Or depress the tip with your thumb and move it out from under the hammer. Look here at about 4:50 minutes.

 

[Nutnfancy]

Got a quetion about black powder guns? Ask Mike!

 

[jonathan butcher]

Mike ? Where are you hiding ?

Got a quetion about black powder guns? Ask Mike!

 

[jonathan butcher]

I want to soften the edges slightly of my mainspring like the guy did in the video did, unfortunately he didn't show exactly how.

 

[Bad Karma]

A,file s useful here, followed by a block with wet and dry sandpaper. Get every edge smoooth or stress risers can cause the spring to fail.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I want to soften the edges slightly of my mainspring like the guy did in the video did, unfortunately he didn't show exactly how.

If I wanted to make that alteration I think I would use a disc or belt sander. However I have not had a problem managing the main spring.

 

[jonathan butcher]

I think I'm going to invest a nice file set.

A,file s useful here, followed by a block with wet and dry sandpaper. Get every edge smoooth or stress risers can cause the spring to fail.

 

[wb78963]

Beware the dreaded Dremel tool. It is too easy to remove too much and mainsprings are not cheap.
File and emery grit or sand paper and LOT of checking.
Mine slide under with the screw almost out. Careful that is a $15 (out of stock) part.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Sometimes the springs are a bit too long to seat properly without removing the screw. I have trimmed them down a tad and rounded and smoothed the edges. That way it slips under the frame.

Be careful and don’t remove too much or the mainspring will be too short and when you cook the gun the spring will snap off the roller and seize everything.

 

[jonathan butcher]

Woodnbow, can you recommend a good C&B pistol gunsmith with a decent turn around time for an action job ?

A,file s useful here, followed by a block with wet and dry sandpaper. Get every edge smoooth or stress risers can cause the spring to fail.

 

[MO_E_W]

JB
Here is a link to Goons gun works. Mite be able to help you out.
Looks like he knows what to do. May be a little pricey. Worth a check.
Services — Goons Gun Works
Maurice

 

[jonathan butcher]

Thanks Guys, looks like I'll be giving them a try.

 

[MO_E_W]

Link to U tube vid of Goons guns.


Maurice

 

[wb78963]

before you start to take a gun apart get a good set of GUNSMITH screwdrivers.
The slot in gun screws are parallel sided and need a hollow ground blade.
Brownell's Magnatip blades #180-3, 240-2, and 300-1 will work best on the screws in Italian made guns. Those screws are soft and first disassembly can be hard, so be careful.
Don't bugger the screws on an expensive gun for the want of $20 worth of lifetime tools.
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

 

[wb78963]

Link to U tube vid of Goons guns.


Maurice

I have 5 guns done by Mike and they are scary reliable. The only thing I changed was a lighter mainspring and slixshot nipples.
He does good work but it takes a while.
How does an 1860 Army with 300+ rounds with out a cap jam sound?
Bunk

 

[jonathan butcher]

That sounds pretty good to me Bunk. Looking at the vid it's easy to understand why it 'takes a while'. One man shop, one man operation, so many hours in a given day where sleep, food and maybe a full time job are part of the calculation.

How does an 1860 Army with 300+ rounds with out a cap jam sound?
Bunk