longhunter49
Pilgrim
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2007
- Messages
- 57
- Reaction score
- 75
I've always liked tinkering with old guns and felt the need to occupy some time recently so I'm at it again. Bought an old brass frame 1849 FIE Colt copy. As per his description, it had been purchased as a college age project, had gotten wet and been stored since. Sounded perfect so I paid a minimal fee and he promptly sent it.
Now, the cylinder was rusted in place and there was scattered deep rust on the barrel and loading lever. First task was soaking it a vigorously applying multiple raps with a nylon mallet. Once it was loose I disassembled the rest.
Surprisingly the barrel was relatively clean. Not shiny, but shootable. Cylinders were also not bad and nipples straight. The trigger screw was a , well.... backwoods gunsmith replacement " with a small nut on the outside, but it worked. The mainspring felt like it came off a bear trap and the small hand spring was rusted off. Other than that everything else cleaned up well.
New springs have been ordered from VTI and the rest of the gun cleaned.
I refinished the barrel and rammer with Plum Brown and will rub those back to an aged look in a few days. The brass frame was soaked in some brass aging solution. The grips will eventually have the varnish removed and stained.
Ultimately I plan to convert it to .22 lr but for now, with new springs installed, she'll be a nice little shooter.
Pics are before and after....
Now, the cylinder was rusted in place and there was scattered deep rust on the barrel and loading lever. First task was soaking it a vigorously applying multiple raps with a nylon mallet. Once it was loose I disassembled the rest.
Surprisingly the barrel was relatively clean. Not shiny, but shootable. Cylinders were also not bad and nipples straight. The trigger screw was a , well.... backwoods gunsmith replacement " with a small nut on the outside, but it worked. The mainspring felt like it came off a bear trap and the small hand spring was rusted off. Other than that everything else cleaned up well.
New springs have been ordered from VTI and the rest of the gun cleaned.
I refinished the barrel and rammer with Plum Brown and will rub those back to an aged look in a few days. The brass frame was soaked in some brass aging solution. The grips will eventually have the varnish removed and stained.
Ultimately I plan to convert it to .22 lr but for now, with new springs installed, she'll be a nice little shooter.
Pics are before and after....
