Need parts for Tower pistol

[cavalier5351]

I need a tumbler for a Japanese Tower pistol. Does anyone know of any sources (Italian or CVA should work too) or can suggest other makes of tumbler that might work?


Thank you much.

 

[Many Klatch]

I had a pair of them at one time. Both needed some serious reworking. There are no parts for these things. I went through my junk drawer and found an old Siler lock that had the missing parts that I needed. I replaced the Frizzen and the Main Spring on one of them. Neither the Frizzen or the Main Spring would fit but I used a Dremel tool to make the Frizzen fit and I drilled a new hole or two so the main spring would work. I only paid $25 for the gun so I wasn't too worried about damaging the gun. It wouldn't work so I wasn't out anything if I had to use it as a boat anchor.

You could "carve" a new tumbler with hack saw, files and Dremel tool that would be at least as good as the original. Most Jap Tower pistols that I have seen did not have hardened parts in the locks. So if you carve one out of soft steel and then use Kasenite, it will be better than the original one.

I got both of them to fire somewhat reliably. They were reasonably accurate with buckshot out to 12 yards. I sold both of them to Pyrate reenactors that needed them as an accessory to their costumes and never intended to shoot them. Arrrgh :haha: .

Many Klatch

 

[matt denison]

You'll probably have to repair what you have. The ones that I have seen and worked on were not worth the trouble or expense, very poor geometry, soft parts etc. The frizzens pretty much universally need to be soled to spark. Springs break, tumblers and sears wear out, holes wallowed out etc. etc. No parts available either. Fix or repair what you have or hang it on the wall.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Back in the 1970's the sporting goods store I worked at sold the crap out of those things. There are always three or four of them on the big on line auction, but at unbelievable prices. I have rarely seen Japanese locks on flea bay. Maybe once every two or three months.

Even if you found a lock, they were pretty much junk then and haven't gotten better with age. (There were some sold that had hexagon or octagon breaches and a few inches ahead had a round barrel threaded in. Most of such guns had noticeable gaps or lips in the bore where the two pieces were joined together. Those guns should never be fired.