repairing a replica 1860 "army" 44

[shermo]

I bought this pistol several decades ago, in a walnut box, with accoutrements. I don't think I ever shot it. Last month I decided that I don't want any guns around that are "not for shooting", and I took it out of the box. But something was wrong.

It would go to full cock about half the time, but never to half cock, and it failed to lock up at all. The bolt never rose out of its slot.

Yesterday I took it apart, with the help of a book about disassembling "antique" firearms, and eventually discovered that the trigger-bolt spring screw was not tight. By that time, however, I had taken the whole mechanism apart (surprisingly, it's pretty simple!). When I put it together again, and tightened the screw down,it worked. Sort of.

Now, the bolt functions as it is supposed to, and the gun indexes and locks up perfectly. It is useable. But half-cock is chancy. There is no spring pressure on the trigger to return it to its forward position, and as a result, I have to manually press the trigger forward before it will go to half-cock.

At this point, I am asking for help from anyone who knows this mechanism a lot better than I do. I THINK the problem is with the positioning of the split spring -- the trigger-bolt spring. Prior to the fix, it pressed on the trigger but not the bolt. Now, I guess it is pressing on the bolt, but not the trigger. I think I must have put it in wrong. But I have no idea of what is "right". The book and the pictures are silent on the precise three-dimensional relationship the parts should be in, in order to function correctly.

I hope somebody out there can guide me in getting it right.

Sherm

 

[Zonie]

The two legged spring that operates the cylinder lock bolt also returns the trigger to the unfired position.

It is very easy to install this flat spring upside down and if this is done it will cause the exact problem you mention.

Disassemble the gun down to the point that the trigger guard is removed, remove the spring screw and turn the spring over.
Reinstall the screw and and then test the gun to make sure the cylinder bolt and the trigger are functioning correctly.

If they are, finish reassembling the gun and your done.

 

[biliff]

Only thing I would add, make sure the leg of the spring is engaging the little shelf on the trigger.

 

[shermo]

Thank you. This was the major clue that I needed. It turned out that I had inserted the spring the right way up, but had not positioned the leg onto the little shelf. It had been UNDER the shelf!

NO PLACE in the instructions had this
"little" point been mentioned! And it was exactly what made all the difference,

Too bad nobody has written instructions which explained this kind of nitty-gritty stuff that a non-expert would need to get the job done right. At least, none that I am aware of. Do you know of someplace that has better instructions?

Thanks again. It now works perfectly.

Sherm

 

[crockett]

The Dixie Gun Works Catalog sells spare parts and has a diagram of how everything goes together. Probably something similar on the net.

 

[biliff]

Where should we send the bill? :grin:

 

[Musketeer]

VTI and Gun Parts Corp. both have exploded diagrams of most of the repro revolvers, but it's still impossible to tell all the subtleties of how they are assembled just from looking at these. That's what this forum is for. You came to the right place. :hatsoff:

 

[shermo]

Exactly. That's the point. The instructions and the exploded diagrams fail to mention "trivial" little points like the one which made all the difference to me.

I suppose this is why we have (or had) an apprenticeship system -- so that people could have a place to learn these details by being shown. And, in turn, eventually to show others.

But my local gunsmiths (both of them) say that they have no knowledge of how to fix blackpowder revolvers, and no interest in doing so. Can't blame them -- not much volume in that business, except maybe in big city.

Well, I learned to build a pennsylvania rifle by doing it, under guidance from someone who had done it before. And I learned to fix my 1860 army by doing it, under guidance from you folks here. And you can be sure that I will pass it on, if I ever get the chance.

Thank you.

Sherm

 

[Many Klatch]

Shermo, look up Dixie Guns parts list and get a trigger spring and a hand and spring now before you need them. Those two little parts can break easily and leave you with a small useless boat anchor.

Many Klatch