Custom nipples?

[kh54]

I acquired a 1st model Dragoon with a 1976 proof date but no manufacturer’s marks. I believe it to be an Armi San Marco, but perhaps Armi San Paolo - I just don’t know. Anyway, I never noticed before I was cleaning it the other day but the tops of the nipples are not flat but indented on about 2/3 of the surface. The caps go bang without fail and split cleanly but I haven’t yet fired this gun with powder to see if they blow apart from the blowback. I’ll do that in a few days but in the meantime I wonder if anyone knows anything about these nipples. Are/were they manufactured that way or customized? If anyone has fired them before how well do they work?

I bought a revolver that had Slixshot nipples already so I tried them out. Honestly I wasn’t too impressed. I didn’t think that they helped prevent cap jams anymore than the stock nipples.

Thoughts?

 

[hawkeye2]

I have never seen anything like that before. With uniform bluing they seem to have been manufactured that way but for no reason I can imagine. When installed in the cylinder do they all index the same way? Tit toward the outside of the cylinder or the inside or just randomly?

 

[Eutycus]

That's a new one on me as well. My guess is someone (previous owner maybe?) was doing some experimenting and was good at blueing.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Likely the nose of the hammer has hit them unevenly. Look at the hammer to see if it has an uneven mark as well. I don’t think they were made or altered that way.

 

[kh54]

All the nipples are identical. They don’t index the same way. The hammer is softer steel so it couldn’t have ”molded” the nipples. The hammer is marked a little bit from dry firing (not me).

Now I’m interested in firing this gun to see if it helps prevent cap jams.

 

[bang]

Look at hammer. If good then manufacturer error.

 

[Gee Dog]

... or a Bubba trying to open up a flash channel. +1 on checking hammer face. That'll narrow things down.

Them cones is messed up bad. If ignition system ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

 

[ZUG]

Weird --- Looks to me like a bad machining job

 

[No second place]

Notching nipples can help caps blow off properly. Former owner may have used this tuning trick...

 

[cynthialee]

Notching nipples can help caps blow off properly. Former owner may have used this tuning trick...

this was own thought
I don't this it is a mistake or damage

 

[No second place]

this was own thought
I don't this it is a mistake or damage

This works like the "Hot Shot" brand nipples . I use this trick if cap suck or sticking is a problem. Also reduces hammer blow back problems when notched on both sides or cut with a jewlers saw...c

 

[DuncNZ]

Also reduces hammer blow back problems when notched on both sides or cut with a jewlers saw...c

Hammer blowback is a fault and should not happen , it is often caused by the nipple hole being to large or a weak mainspring or both , It can break the sear , the hammer and the tumbler as well as the mainspring , if you have hammer blow back change the nipple , it is cheaper than changing the lock internals .

 

[William Lincoln]

That looks to be intentional machining. If they work fine in key respects ,then try them
for 50 rounds and report back.

 

[kh54]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I’m convinced these nipples were manufactured this way. They appear too uniform and too well done to be a homemade job. The “cut” face of the nipple doesn’t meet the flat at a perfect square notch, something that may be difficult to see in my photos. I do plan to try them at the range soon.

 

[No second place]

Hammer blowback is a fault and should not happen , it is often caused by the nipple hole being to large or a weak mainspring or both , It can break the sear , the hammer and the tumbler as well as the mainspring , if you have hammer blow back change the nipple , it is cheaper than changing the lock internals .

For your prefered tuning needs or just maybe a reliable heavy trigger type tune I agree. Some of my revolvers are NMLRA / NRA match tuned. A very light trigger ,about 10oz is used to win those matches. A light hammer spring and return spring is needed. Most Master class and High Master shooters use no more than about a 1 pd trigger. Hammer blow back can be an issue even with new nipples and light loads. Reliability in these matches is secondary. Your needs may differ...c