Walker/Dragoon Loading Lever
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Russ T Frizzen
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Jax, are you experiencing the dreaded Walker lever drop? If so, try lightly filing the little ledge on the catch that holds the lever up. Just a little filing can make a lot of difference, so go easy.
I'm not at the moment, but I keep looking at the Uberti kits Dixie sells and thinking of making a pair. Guess maybe I'm looking for something a bit different, something to set them apart a little and still be historically accurate
Doc Arroyo
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On one of mine I cut a piece of leather that is sort of a figure 8. Large hole on the top goes over the barrel, and the smaller hole fits over the end of the loading lever.
Russ T Frizzen
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Hey Doc. Are those cylinders finished bright? I've been thinking of doing a couple of mine that way since it is thought the originals had unblued cylinders. I like the look too.
Doc Arroyo
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Russ T Frizzen said:
Yep, I took the blueing off of the cylinders. Just a quick soak in a 50/50 muriatic acid and water solution. Rinsed REALLY well, and then oiled up.
I did not try to remove the roller engraved scene...I don't think any Walkers had it, but I use it interpreting the importance of engraved advertising to a semi-literate society in the 1800's.
The Walkers DID come with the engraved scene, which was originally drawn out by Walker himself recounting a battle with the Comanches he participated in while riding with the Texas Rangers under Jack Hays. Colt initially started engraving cylinders on the Patersons as a means of thwarting counterfeiters, and continued the practice with all subsequent models up to the Model P.
The ole' falling rammer. :grin:
Ain't reliving history great?
There you are, with your Colt Walker. A short distance away, a small band of Indians are approaching knowing well that you only have one shot. You aim to surprise them with your new weapon.
One starts a zig-zag run at you and you drop him with the first shot. The remaining Indians jump up and charge you. You try to pull the hammer back for the next shot and....DAMN the cylinder's locked by the fallen loading ram...
zonie
Ain't reliving history great?
There you are, with your Colt Walker. A short distance away, a small band of Indians are approaching knowing well that you only have one shot. You aim to surprise them with your new weapon.
One starts a zig-zag run at you and you drop him with the first shot. The remaining Indians jump up and charge you. You try to pull the hammer back for the next shot and....DAMN the cylinder's locked by the fallen loading ram...
zonie
Zonie said:The ole' falling rammer. :grin:
Ain't reliving history great?
There you are, with your Colt Walker. A short distance away, a small band of Indians are approaching knowing well that you only have one shot. You aim to surprise them with your new weapon.
One starts a zig-zag run at you and you drop him with the first shot. The remaining Indians jump up and charge you. You try to pull the hammer back for the next shot and....DAMN the cylinder's locked by the fallen loading ram...
zonie
And that's why God invented rubberbands! :rotf:
Doc Arroyo
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While I know the legend and the story, I have only seen pictures of a couple of presentation Walkers with engraving. The 2 originals that I have examined and photos of the "working" guns show little sign of engraving. They were a wartime build, and a number of corners were cut.
Here is a shot of A company #53. By the way, this one is for sale, but I don't have $155,000 to spare.
Here is a shot of A company #53. By the way, this one is for sale, but I don't have $155,000 to spare.
Dave Rosenthal
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They used to make fun of me, now there just used to the gun being shot with a rubber band! I find that the flat side of a rubber band doesn't interfere with the sight picture.
And to the great Zonie: remember the story of Josey Wales? He had two Walkers and two or three other revolvers as well!
Make em smoke!
Dave
And to the great Zonie: remember the story of Josey Wales? He had two Walkers and two or three other revolvers as well!
Make em smoke!
Dave
I just flip my hand over and it goes back up, but when really shooting to hit something hard ( I still belive these out shoot any other Colt , well for me anyway) I just pull off the loading lever,use it just to load or have one of the hand gun loaders and leave the rammer off, it sure shoots better this way. Fred :hatsoff:
E company number 39 has just the ghost of the cylinder engraving visible. It doesn't show up in the pictures I took. According to RL Wilson there is only one factory walker that is fully engraved.
The squiggles here seem to be traces of the cylinder scene. the serial number is visible on cylinder and frame
The squiggles here seem to be traces of the cylinder scene. the serial number is visible on cylinder and frame
Take a look at this one to see the mod I am talking about:
[url] http://www.tgca.net/images/C-2.jpg[/url]
although in this case it looks like the original lever was modified. Is the Walker lever longer than the Dragoon lever?
[url] http://www.tgca.net/images/C-2.jpg[/url]
although in this case it looks like the original lever was modified. Is the Walker lever longer than the Dragoon lever?
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Here are some modifications on surviving walkers:
Variations
These are later modifications made to original Walkers.
D Company number 13 has a homemade loading lever with a front latch like the later Colts.
D Company number 81 has a rear sight installed at the rear of the barrel.
B Company number 4 has a rear sight in the same position as D 81.
D Company number 1, confiscated from a Confederate veteran, was converted into a shotgun.
C Company number 164 has a front-loading lever latch.B Company number 25 has a Paterson two-piece (?) rifle barrel installed. This is considered a period modification.
E Company number 22 is the only known originally engraved Walker.
From undated Texas Gun Collectors Magazine
Variations
These are later modifications made to original Walkers.
D Company number 13 has a homemade loading lever with a front latch like the later Colts.
D Company number 81 has a rear sight installed at the rear of the barrel.
B Company number 4 has a rear sight in the same position as D 81.
D Company number 1, confiscated from a Confederate veteran, was converted into a shotgun.
C Company number 164 has a front-loading lever latch.B Company number 25 has a Paterson two-piece (?) rifle barrel installed. This is considered a period modification.
E Company number 22 is the only known originally engraved Walker.
From undated Texas Gun Collectors Magazine
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