[Dr. Peter Venkman]

One last problem with my Colt 1860 Army and I will be in the clear. Currently the retaining screw cannot fit into the screw hole with the wedge properly installed; the seller I bought this from (it's an older Pietta) had the wedge installed backwards. Is the retaining screw supposed to rest on top of the wedge (and depress the spring) or protrude to push back against wedge movement? The latter part describes how it was installed with the wedge backwards.

Should I just insert the wedge the way he had it before?

[Omnivore]

The retaining screw goes in first-- tightens up against the barrel. Then the wedge goes in from the same side-- past the screw. The screw is there to keep the wedge from coming all the way out. There's a little step on the wedge that stops against the screw as you pull the wedge out. That's the "retention" part-- you can leave the wedge in the barrel as you remove the barrel from the arbor, and it probably won't fall out because of the screw. To get the wedge all the way off (or back in) you compress the spring so it will fit past the screw.

[pohill]

On some of my guns, the wedge will not go in if the screw is in place. Remove the screw, insert he wedge spring-tip first (spring up), slide the wedge in a little, then put he screw back in. According to an old Colt patent, the spring was supposed to catch on the exit slot of the frame to keep it from moving back out, and the screw was a depth set or check to adjust the depth of the wedge.

[mykeal]

Is the retaining screw supposed to rest on top of the wedge (and depress the spring)
Yes.
the seller I bought this from (it's an older Pietta) had the wedge installed backwards...Should I just insert the wedge the way he had it before?
If by backwards you mean inserted in the slot from the right side (looking from the grip to the muzzle), then no. It will work that way, and as far as I can tell no damage will result, but it really should be installed properly. Omnivore's method of screw first, then wedge works better for me, although Pohill's method will work also. The trick with either is to depress the spring so it doesn't interfere with the screw head until the wedge and screw are both in place.

[pohill]

I have spent alot of time...too much time...with the wedge on my Pietta 1860 .44. I think I can claim it as a dependant. I have installed it upside down, backwards, backwards upside down. I have shimmed it from every side. Usually it works no matter how it goes in. Eventually I will have a small weld put in the arbor slot to make the wedge tighter, or I will get a bigger wedge and shave it down.
It's interesting to note that Colt's first revolver, the Paterson, did not have a spring on the wedge, nor did the last, the 1862 .36 Pocket Police. I think he thought it was a great idea at first, then he just got tired of it.
Does the 1862 Pocket Navy .36 have a spring on the wedge?

[JayC]

I don't thnk any of Uberti's small frame pistols have the wedge spring. Pietta uses the larger frame for the '62 Pocket Police, so uses the same wedge/spring parts.

[StrawHat]

If you need a fix for this problem, file a flat on the screw head that will allow the wedge to be inserted. Once in place turn the screw so the full portion of the head keeps it in place.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Tried doing this properly and the screw is not long enough.