Tuning & Repairing BP Revolvers, How To....

[45D]

Mike the original Gen1 Single actions and USFA guns spell "COLT" when cocked. The repops do not.
Respectfully
Bunk

Yessir, the SAA and copies should but all the previous S.A.'s are just "3 clickers". It's the presence of a safety notch that gives you 4 clicks.

Mike

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Just don't "tune" a perfectly functional gun

Aint seen a perfectly functional firearm yet.
The Pietta I was given was far from fictional, its almost perfect now.

 

[45D]

Aint seen a perfectly functional firearm yet.
The Pietta I was given was far from fictional, its almost perfect now.

Why don't you tell us what you did to it?

Mike

 

[ernbar]

Mike the original Gen1 Single actions and USFA guns spell "COLT" when cocked. The repops do not.
Respectfully
Bunk

My Uberti 1873 SAA unmentionable has 4 clicks. The old stile frame with the retaining screw has 4 clicks. The ones with the side pin and added hammer safety have 3 clicks.

 

[45D]

Yap, the old safety notch was the location for a rod in the hammer that deployed a steel block between the hammer and the frame. I think it was the best "safety" mechanism ever put in a S.A. You could safely load six with hammer down on a chunk of steel between it and the frame.
The "new" retractable firing pin is a nice safety and allows hammer down on a live round . . . without a transfer bar that calls for a non-traditional profile hammer.
Some cowboy shooters have a tough time transitioning to the new setup because the trigger has to stay in the "fired" position until the hammer fully drops . . . otherwise, a ftf will probably occur.

Mike

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

I've watched Blackie's entire series on percussion revolvers (probably 150+ videos) and in fact it's what got me into black powder so I credit him for that. It's fun to hear him talk about these old guns and I like his southern accent. Maybe not everything he says is 100% accurate but he does know a lot. Most importantly, he never does or recommends anything unsafe. Mostly he shares what he knows about the history, how he makes small modifications, antiques some of them, cleaning, breakdowns, etc... I've never heard him claim to be a gunsmith or expert or anything like that. As far as using files or a Dremel, I've only seen him use that to make small notches in a hammer. It's an informative series that is very helpful to new shooters, and in my opinion nothing he says will steer anyone wrong, get them hurt, or make them screw up their gun.

Likewise. I got my first BP revolver (Pietta steel bodied Remington) after exhaustively watching his material. He has also been gracious enough to answer me directly when I've had queries.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Please understand I have no ax to grind with Blackie.. I agree with a lot of his material and watch him from time to time.
He does a lot of shooting and working to improve his guns. Good for him.
I do disagree with using a file on anything but roughing out a part. Metal once gone is gone forever. My preference is stones to polish not remove.
Also Blackie is definitely from the South East area either Alabama , Georgia, or South Carolina. he has that
"Magnolia in his mouth "accent and I love it.
Respectfully
Bunk.

Central Alabama.

 

[45D]

Likewise. I got my first BP revolver (Pietta steel bodied Remington) after exhaustively watching his material. He has also been gracious enough to answer me directly when I've had queries.

At least you didn't watch a guy from Cali!!

Mike

 

[Griff093]

At least you didn't watch a guy from Cali!!

Mike

Wait a sec... are you saying they don't know anything about cap guns? 'Cause my 1st four cap guns were set up by an exceptional gunsmith out of CA. And they're first rate.

 

[azmntman]

Was just a cali joke. Those of us not sentenced for our wrongdoings to live there understand.

 

[TDM]

I certainly understand.

 

[45D]

Wait a sec... are you saying they don't know anything about cap guns? 'Cause my 1st four cap guns were set up by an exceptional gunsmith out of CA. And they're first rate.

No, I was suggesting that "hopefully" S.B.H. hadn't been influenced by another "prolific" YouTube "self-taught gunsmith " that would basically teach him how to ruin his revolvers. At least the YouTuber says to buy "lots of spare parts" . . . if you follow his advice, you'll definitely need them !!!

Mike

 

[OldRust]

I have an Uberti 1858 Remington new model army that that needed help when it was new out of the box. I'm probally around 300 rounds now without a misfire or a jam after a tune up.

Thanks
O.R.

 

[TDM]

I have an Uberti 1858 Remington new model army that that needed help when it was new out of the box. I'm probally around 300 rounds now without a misfire or a jam after a tune up.

Thanks
O.R.

A good tune up sure makes a difference.

 

[45D]

A good tune up sure makes a difference.

Yes, not to mention if you convert the flat action springs to coils, you end up with a 19th century version of a Ruger ( which I've done for years) but especially with the main spring converted to the Ruger coil and strut like this!!

Mike

 

[OldRust]

A good tune up sure makes a difference.

It certainly did. The cap pistols aren't my wheelhouse so I put in a box and mailed it to that fellar at Goons gun shop. It's been flawless since.

Thanks
O.R.

 

[TDM]

It certainly did. The cap pistols aren't my wheelhouse so I put in a box and mailed it to that fellar at Goons gun shop. It's been flawless since.

Thanks
O.R.

Mike does amazing work for sure.

 

[TDM]

Yes, not to mention if you convert the flat action springs to coils, you end up with a 19th century version of a Ruger ( which I've done for years) but especially with the main spring converted to the Ruger coil and strut like this!!

View attachment 222392

Mike

Mike, one of these days before we leave this earth, I’m going to send you a couple of my revolvers so you can work your magic.

 

[45D]

Mike, one of these days before we leave this earth, I’m going to send you a couple of my revolvers so you can work your magic.

Wow thanks!! I'd be glad to!

It certainly did. The cap pistols aren't my wheelhouse so I put in a box and mailed it to that fellar at Goons gun shop. It's been flawless since.

Thanks
O.R.

Thank you sir!!! I appreciate that!

Mike

 

[Johnny Tremain]

a perfectly functional gun into a paperweight

They come that way from Pietta.
Ive owned two, neither worked when I got them.

and yes you can go overboard. See everything, choose what you want to do carefully.
I bought a spring kit, 10 springs. Ive used 2 of them so far.