Dragoon Loading Lever Catch

[Cleburne]

Just got my first Dragoon revolver. Its loading lever catch is configured differently than my Remington or an 1860 Colt Army. It seems to be stuck. How do I operate a verticle catch as opposed to the others' horizontal catch? :idunno:

Cleburne

 

[Norinco]

I think you push the latch forward to pivot it?

 

[Stophel]

No, it goes straight back. It looks like a lever, but it isn't.

 

[Norinco]

So could his have an issue with it binding?

 

[Stophel]

Yeah, it SHOULD push back pretty easily. He might have a burr in it or some other blockage.

 

[Stophel]

I'll have to try on mine when I get home to see, but you should be able to take the screws out of the lever and drop it off, getting it away from the latch so you can see what the problem might be. Once the rod is off the gun, the pin could be driven out (be mindful of the spring, which will shoot out!) and any burrs or foreign objects (which is what "bad" wrestlers used to take into the ring...) can be removed.

 

[Zonie]

IMO, if this is a first or second model Dragoon the loading lever latch design was rather poor.

Colt redesigned it a few times before coming up with the style which projects from both sides like the later Colts and Remingtons. This one sided catch used on the earlier styles tended to "load" the insides against the side opposite the projecting tab causing it to bind.

Your gun may have a problem but before taking anything apart, get a small wooden block and use it to push the tab back towards the cylinder. That should retract it and allow it to release the loading lever.

After the loading lever is released you can study the release latch to see if there are any burrs that may be causing it to be difficult to work.
You might also try forcing some grease (or Vaseline) into the insides to lubricate it better. If all fails you can remove the pin that holds the latch into the loading lever and remove the coil spring that is in there. Clipping off about 1 coil will reduce the pressure making the release easier to work.

 

[Cleburne]

Thank you all for the information. I felt rather silly posting a question about something so small, that should be simple to understand and operate. But, pushing it toward the muzzle or back toward the cylinder doesn't drop the lever, only indents my thumb :shocked2: . The darn thing just doesn't want to cooperate. I'll try a hardwood block before any disassembly.

BTW, FWIW, it's a 3rd Model.

Thanks again,

Cleburne

 

[Cleburne]

Pushing with a hardwood stick worked. I'm relieved to know there's nothing functionally wrong with the catch. I'll clean it and lube it real well. If necessary, will clip one ring from its spring. I bought the gun used, so it may just be a build up of fouling and crud that's built up around it. :thumbsup:

Thanks again,

Cleburne

 

[CaptainKirk]

Owning both a '51 Navy and a '60 Army, I was initially befuddled by the latch on my Dragoon, as the entire assembly needs to be pushed rearward, not "levered" back like the later models. I confess it took a few minutes to figure out it didn't operate the same, but once I convinced my brain of that, it moved quite easily. :hmm:

 

[Stophel]

You all made me have to go out and shoot mine! It's been sitting for about a year and I hadn't ever shot it!

Shoots centered but rather high. I'll have to put a taller front sight on it.

 

[Cleburne]

Stophel, if starting this thread got you to shoot your Dragoon, it was well worth posting. :grin:

Cleburne