[Dithsoer]

I've had several percussion revolvers and have never experienced the following problem. It’s a new Cimarron/Uberti 1851 Navy. The problem is that after every shot the cylinder will not turn by hammer action alone. I have to assist the turning. This is with a clean and lubed revolver. It acts as though the cylinder is being jammed, the way it does when a cap fragment gets stuck between it and the frame, but it’s not from the caps. I thought at first that this is what it was but I started pulling the hammer back slightly and pulling the spent caps off with needle-nose pliers. Didn't help. I have disassembled the gun and everything looks normal. The hand is fine and the action works normal at any other time, i.e. when it hasn't been fired. Once it cocks with assistance it returns to working normally. One other thing, if I push the cylinder back to the rear while cocking the hammer it functions. I wondered if maybe either the front of the cylinder or the rear of the barrel was off or something so I polished each square on a flat whet stone, then put a light touch of lube on the front of the cylinder. Didn't help. I also tried backing the wedge out more to offer more space between the cylinder/barrel gap. I can't figure out what the problem could be. Any help and/or ideas?

[Z71]

Sounds like it has too much cylinder gap/cylinder endplay if you have to push the cylinder back for it to work. Also a probable timing issue.

If it's new send it back.

I have a Pietta made 1851 Navy that came new with a similiar problem. Was a gift so I kept it and fixed it.

The revolver was poorly fitted up. Had a mile of cylinder gap! Cylinder would not properly rotate unless the cylinder was held forward! Made a thin shim to keep the cylinder to the back of the barrel, then reworked the hand to rotate the cylinder smoothly. Made a nice shooting pistol, but was a piece of junk out of the box!

[Snaggletooth]

I had one that I cured of the problem by lightly sandinc the cylinder pin. I took the barrel off and turned the cylinder on the pin. I could feel it binding. I was able to see marks on the spindle and used crocus cloth to smooth out a couple of places. Works fine now.

[Jim K]

Binding is usually the result of a too small barrel-cylinder gap, not too much, and is often caused in a Colt type revolver by driving the barrel wedge in too far so the barrel tilts back and binds on the cylinder. There are several ways to correct that problem, but I don't want to advise long distance because if the wrong thing is done, the gun could be damaged. Try to find someone with experience in percussion revolvers to look at the gun(s) and see what the exact problem is.

Jim

[mykeal]

Both of the above ideas are good ones. I'd also look into the interaction between the bolt and the hammer. I had a brand new Walker that the bolt leg was catching on the hammer cam instead of sliding as designed. Took a few minutes of polishing to clear up.

Get some good India stones (suggest Brownell's Colt Single Action Army polishing kit) and polish all the places where the small internal action parts come together.

[Dithsoer]

Well I did some more shooting with it and it just came out of it. Just a part of break in I guess. I fired a few cylinders of conicals with a full charge of powder and recoil or whatever must have solved the problem. I had originaly bought a pair but must sell the other one, which is still new. Thanks for all of the input though.

[timothy75]

Glad you got it figured out. Wheres the poi with those conicals? And what are you asking for the other?

[Dithsoer]

They shoot about six inches high, right on for windage. I'm using a Lee cast conical and am getting wonderful accuracy.
I've fired exactly one cylinder of round balls through the other one. I paid $330.00 for it, but since I fired it, I'm knocking $30.00 off for those six shots, so $300.00 plus shipping. It's a Cimarron/Uberti, round trigger guard and all steel. I have the box, all papers, warranty, etc. with it yet. I've only had it for a little over a week. It took me quite awhile to find one. I had been looking for ANY Cimarron Navy for about 6 months, not even Cimarron could get one. Something about Uberti mainly concentrating on cartridge guns and especially long arms lately. I was told to expect a rather large price increase when and if they ever did get another shipment in. I found someone who had two left in stock so I thought that I had better get them both, especially since I had always wanted a pair.
Well, at least I'll have one. . . :)