[Digger Odell]

Help! :(
Sometime back I became the owner of a Colt, Root model 1855 at an auction.
Some of the screws are the usual messed up. There are marks on the barrel as if somebody put the 3' stillson on it to no avail. ( slightly exaggerated )
But I am unable to cock the hammer. The cylinder will turn by hand if I pull the hammer back about 1/16 inch.
To disassemble, do I remove the 3 screws on the left side that appear to secure the approx 5/8 disk & the hammer screw? Will I open a surprise pkg under this?
It has a 4 digit s/n, 50% orig blue, Cyl is marked patented Sept 10th,1850.
Top of barrel is marked with a cross COLTS PAT. ADDRESS COL COLT (next line) 1855 HARTFORD CT. USA then a cross.
Do I stand a chance to make this function again? :confused:

[gb6491]

Don't know much about them myself, but the diagram on this page might be of some use to you: http://www.coltparts.com/pt_55root.html
Regards,
Greg

[rmfnla]

"Do I stand a chance to make this function again?"

That depends; do you have any experience working on revolvers?

[Digger Odell]

Hi gb6491 / Greg !! :)
Yes, thats the devil, I do have a copy of this & it does help.
Thanks,
Digger

[Digger Odell]

Hi rmfnla !! :)

Yes, just a little that a curious gun owner would have. I have been able to remove two of the retainer plate screws & the third is being real cantankerous about coming out. The screw for the trigger assembly came out in the shape of a 350 v8 crankshaft. This removal did free up the hammer a little but the hammer is still under a load & I will probably have to make a wrench to reinstall the hammer with the preload in the proper place. But before I go any further I have to track down replacement screws, minimum of 3 different ones. so goes the battle.
Thanks.
Digger

[Digger Odell]

Just an update.
I was able to make a couple of adjustments to the main spring & I can now half cock & full cock the hammer now . :)
I still haven't been able to remove the third screw from the retainer :banghead: so I still don't know if any thing under that is under spring tension.
Meanwhile I am still trying to locate the trigger spring screw.
But we're still tying.

[Jim K]

Rmfnla wrote, "That depends; do you have any experience working on revolvers?"

Believe me, that Root is NOT an ordinary revolver. I wish I could help but it has been 30 years since I had one of those apart (my shrink tells me I am recovering nicely and should stop shaking in a few years). I do seem to recall you can take the tension off the mainspring by backing out the screw in the butt, provided it is not frozen in place.

Supposedly that gun was actually designed by Sam Colt, but it is hard to see why. Its only advantage was a solid frame and that could have been achieved in a much easier way (and was, by Remington). It gives the impression of an idea that started down the wrong road and then the inventor was too stubborn to admit he was wrong and start over. I guess when your name is on the building, you don't have to admit mistakes.

Jim

[Digger Odell]

:)
Hi Jim!!
Thanks for your help. Thats exactly what I did was adjust the main spring & I was able to cock it. Perhaps you might recall if anything under the retainer is under any tension? Should I just leave well enough alone? I am not looking for anything particular unless the pin on the sear needs attention this is what I don't know.
The trigger spring fells good, the spring on the hammer side lines up & has good tension. The screws on the retainer concern me in the sense that the one for the trigger is really bent, it looked almost like a corkscrew when I removed & the head is really chewed up. The upper one for the cyl stop is the one that is being stubborn & the head on that is also chewed up really bad. The lowest one is the only one that is acceptable.
Again Jim thanks for your help. :):):)

Digger.

[Jim K]

Ordinarily, one would just replace the screws, even if they had to be drilled out. But on a Root? You will need to either make screws or find someone who will. The screws should not be hard to make, but I have no idea what the threads are; anyone making them will just have to measure. Incredibly, there is a repro Root, but it is made in Italy and it is almost certain that the threads are metric. (I can't believe that the Root and the Colt Lightning rifle, two of the biggest POS's Colt ever made - next to the Model 1877 - are being reproduced. They were all pains in the u-no-what then and I doubt reproducing them has improved them.)

To answer your question, there is nothing under the side plate that is under tension if the mainspring is relieved. That gun has a tumbler (the diagram calls it a sear) pretty much like a percussion rifle; one end protrudes on the right and is square so the hammer fits over it; the other end is supported by the sideplate. If you take off the sideplate without relieving mainspring tension, the tumbler shaft will be supported only at one end and can mess up the hole in the frame.

Lots of luck.

Jim

[Digger Odell]

Hi Jim!!! :)

Thanks for your keen insight!! You are right about it being a pain in the southern end.

I was able to take that bent screw out & measure. It is a #2x56 nc x 9x16 oal, so first I will try to locate & then ???? With your info regarding whats under the retainer there really isn't any need to take the retainer off so I'll just leave it alone. I was able to reset the preload on the hammer when I reinstalled it & adjusted the mainspring. I appreciate your help!!:):)

I have to go along with your thinking, why a root, now that I own it. This falls into that category never buy pig in a poke. I was at an auction paying my bill when this lot came up, all I heard was "Colt-Root" & the bid at the time so I jumped on board & the rest is history. :banghead: This ocurred a few years back. ... On one of those snowy days recently I dug it out & thats where I am today. Next time I WILL inspect before buying.

Again Jim, thanks for your info! :)

Digger.