Pair of Belgian 1860 Army’s

[45D]

Here's my Whitneyville Dragoon with the same . . .

Mike

 

[springfield art]

Short arbors or deep holes. Seems the fix is to fill the hole with a spacer.

I think I've read where people put a washer in there. It's not my field, but there seems to be guys very knowledgeable about this. One of the many advantages of using this valuable site.

 

[45D]

an 1860 . . .

Mike

 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Yes, they were, SA.
Evidence by the harder Belgian steel used in their making.
Check www.1960nam.org.
Between fall of 1959 and early summer of 1973 a total of ca. 16,000 units was produced over 5 basic models but with > 50 sub-variations.
All the Centaure conversions I am aware of were made after 2007 by European and U.S. conversion artists.
I have not seen a Centaure C&B variant or a Centaure conversions with a spacer.
Seemingly not necessary.
Long Johns Wolf

 

[45D]

Ok, I'm talking about short arbors and you're about nothing but Centaures. Sorry to waste your time.

Mike

 

[45D]

My point in making my comment was that ALL reproduction Colt Open Top revolvers, Uberti, Pietta, ASM, ASP, Colts 2nd gen series, Sig. Colts, Centaures . . ALL of them except for the originals and Piettas of the last 12 or so years have short arbors. It seems that feature ( the most important feature in the design) has eluded all the reproduction offerings.

Mike

 

[Whughett]

Can’t argue, got four Colts set by the guy talking about short arbor, and two set up by another gentleman in Alaska, have two more , a 1st model Dragoon, a very recent purchase from these pages that haven’t been touched.
The Dragoon has a very tight wedge and if tapped in to far will bind the cylinder. Short arbor shallow hole what ever, I’ve learned how hard to tap the wedge to where the cylinder
rotates freely.
The second of those two a 5 1/2 in barreled 51 Navy in 44Cal seems fine.

Because of other features more than arbor I plan on shipping the two with no modifications to the gentleman in Alaska soon as I get settled in for the summer back home.
I especially like the action stop and the cap raker feature.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

I have shot one. I just picked up the second today.

What powder and amount are you shooting in the first one?

 

[Andrewmtnman]

For the fun of it I just took some pics of my arbor and hole. I don’t see any evidence of the arbor bottoming out but not sure. After taking a quick measurement, it definitely does not bottom out. Has at least 1/8” space. I did notice the peened area on the cylinder side of the wedge

 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Thanks for these informative pics, Andrewmtnman,
Would you let me have the serial number of your Centaure RNMA 2nd var./1st sub-var., please.
I would like to add the data to the Centaure website www.1960nma.org.
Long Johns Wolf

 

[45D]

Looks like at least 1 Centaure has a short arbor!! ( l'm sure they all are ). It's an easy but important fix.
I hadn't heard of the loose arbor problem these revolvers have but that's a symptom of short arbors. The barrel pulled tight against the arbor is the answer.
Just goes to show, they are made just like all the other reproductions.

Mike

 

[Whughett]

Looks like at least 1 Centaure has a short arbor!! ( l'm sure they all are ). It's an easy but important fix.
I hadn't heard of the loose arbor problem these revolvers have but that's a symptom of short arbors. The barrel pulled tight against the arbor is the answer.
Just goes to show, they are made just like all the other reproductions.

Mike

Wow Mike think you made your point. You’ve sure built short arbors into a lucrative trade. What’s the average turn around time now. Three years. !! Just asking.

 

[45D]

Ha!!! Same old Whughett !!
Depends on what's being done. Custom revolvers aren't an assembly type item. So, silly questions get silly answers.

Mike

 

[Whughett]

Ha!!! Same old Whughett !!
Depends on what's being done. Custom revolvers aren't an assembly type item. So, silly questions get silly answers.

Mike

Well there you have it folks. Post a question on Colts revolvers and the resident expert will give you an answer. But, no silly questions please.

 

[EDGE]

What powder and amount are you shooting in the first one?

30 grains FFFG

 

[Robby]

Ha!!! Same old Whughett !!
Depends on what's being done. Custom revolvers aren't an assembly type item. So, silly questions get silly answers.

Mike

Must be something going on I'm not hip to. I for one have learned a lot from 45D and have been motivated to seek further information as a result in an area which I am relatively new to, C&B revolvers. Nobody is born knowing this stuff and I appreciate hands on real world experience.
Keep em coming Mike!
Robby

 

[Whughett]

Post deleted.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

Looks like at least 1 Centaure has a short arbor!! ( l'm sure they all are ). It's an easy but important fix.
I hadn't heard of the loose arbor problem these revolvers have but that's a symptom of short arbors. The barrel pulled tight against the arbor is the answer.
Just goes to show, they are made just like all the other reproductions.

Mike

Thanks Mike, looks like I have some work to do . Where would I get the parts to complete the repair?

 

[Stantheman86]

I was shooting 2 brand new Piettas today and they apparently do not have short arbors......however the rest of my 10+ Ubertis do......

It's crazy that the only properly fitted open tops I own are the Pietta brass cheapies , go figure

 

[45D]

Stantheman86, crazy ain't it!!!! Lol

Thanks Mike, looks like I have some work to do . Where would I get the parts to complete the repair?

I use a #12 ss pan head sheet metal screw. Cut off the threaded shaft and file or sand the flat surface down until you get your endshake measurement with the wedge driven in tight.
I use a Philips head screwdriver bit in a drill motor and a 1" belt sander to hurry things along. As you can see in my photos above, the Philips slot can be seen all the way through (what you see in the photos is the flat side, that may give you an idea of why I use a belt sander!! Lol). The rounded part makes it "self centering" when placed against the cone shaped end of the arbor hole.
#12's work in belt pistols, #14's in horse pistols.

Mike