Colt Open Top Clones/Copies: What mods do you do/have done

[jaxenro]

Be interesting to develop master list of mods from simple like a dovetailed front site to hammer stops, tuned actions, cap shields, lapped barrels, arbor modifications, etc. Plus a description of each

What about cutting the forcing cone, chamfering or honing the chambers?

 

[savit260]

Finally put some better looking grips on the 1860 Just a set of ebay cheapies but far better looking than what was on there.

 

[IROCZ]

This thread is too good to die, Should be a sticky. Any how...Dragoon, what don't you like about the wire springs? I am assuming you mean the ones made by companies like Hienes?

 

[45 Dragoon]

IROCZ,
Thanks for the compliment!!
To me, the wire springs take away a lot of the feel you get with the flats. The best description i've seen so far is "mushy". It takes away the "snappy" if you will. I've used wires before, made my on before (for a long time actually) but always come back to the flats. Tuning the flat ones isn't hard to do and really allows more control of the feel and operation.
Likewise, coil and plunger hand set ups are nice but, the ability to adjust the hand action is taken away. With the coil you can increase/decrease tension. Too light and throw by can and will occur and, the tension set is constant. With a tuned flat hand spring, you can get all but a freewheeling cyl. but just enough tension at the last instant to thwart throw by. You just can't do that with a coil. I realize these are personal preferences but, most mods.are. After parts longevity, the S.A. can reflect the owner in it's modifications.

45 Dragoon

 

[45 Dragoon]

That last statement I made may seem odd but, you can set up your six gun for your particular type of shooting activity. Such as - target, fast action (cowboy action), reliability, fanning. Whatever you need, so it's poss. for the six gun to reflect it's owners likes/ needs.
45 Dragoon

 

[avatarshots]

@45 Dragoon, I SAW that ASM at my local gun shop yesterday!

 

[45 Dragoon]

Avatar, which ASM is that?

 

[sltm1]

Here's a Pietta i did some mods to. !st, a tuneup, then, shorten bbl, afix new front sight, contour the back strap, defarb bbl, make a plug for the lever and ram openings then pin it in place, reshape hammer, recrown bbl and change to 45lc. Also installed an anit-cap-jam pin for shooting as a percussion revolver...whew, long list

 

[tpelle]

I'm screwing up the nerve to de-farb the barrel on my two 1860s - I started on an old beater by burnishing the "BP Only" and "Pietta" rollmarks off of the barrel, which got rid of about 80% of the impression of those marks. Next step will be draw filing or otherwise polishing the barrel to get rid of the other 20%.

The other thing I want to do is to re-shape the rear of the barrel lug. On the Piettas that I have the sweeping contour at the rear of the lug comes to a sharp point, and I want it to be more gently curved like the originals.

I've had good luck with cold blue, so I may just refinish with that and go ahead and do an "antique" finish on them.

Just need some time and ambition.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Sltm1 , LIKE it !!!! That'd be a great carry gun for me !!! Also, what conversion do you use?

 

[sltm1]

45 Dragoon, it's a Howell 5 shot for several reasons. The 6 shot R&D's had slanted chambers to get all six in, this one has safety notches so you can carry it fully loaded safely and, when it comes right down to it, you can swap out cylnders much faster than you can unload and reload with a gated cylinder. Taylors has (had?) them for $200.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Yeah, not big on slanted chambers myself. I'm a little anal when it comes to tolerances and that kind of stuff. My '60 is a five shooter as well (kirst) but it's a perm. set up. What kind of bbl/cyl gap are you running?

 

[sltm1]

Now this is gonna sound way out of line, but, hammer down, none, widest gap while cocking, .021. This gun took a lot of fitting to get it to work, and it does, so i'm not gonna fool with it any more. I could change it some by shortening the hammer face and then some other stuff, but then it probably wouldn't shoot cap and ball style, not a big concern, but I might wanna some day.

 

[kBob]

sltm1,

I do like the Manhatten like extra safety knotches...... been thinking about trying to ad one to a revolver just for giggles. Is there an issue with timing going back and forth between a five shot .45 Colt cylinder and a .44 percussion cylinder?

-kBob

 

[sltm1]

Not at all, the ratchet is configured to give the hand a longer stroke (more engaged time) on the five shot cylinder

 

[Smokin'Joe]

kBob, I added a Manhattan style safety notch to a .44 cal. cylinder.



Here's how I did it:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=633020

 

[avatarshots]

I have a Belgian made 1960-1860 Centennial, which is probably the best 1860 ever made. The company began remaking them on the 100th anniversary of the 1860, under the same Colt license they held from the 1800's.
I've not made any mods because it's perfect as is.

 

[hartcreek]

I do not like that Manhattin safety. I prefer the single dowel pin method cus the hammer is sitting on a land and held in pplace by the piano wire dowel pin.

 

[Smokin'Joe]

I agree with what 45 Dragoon says about trigger springs:

To me, the wire springs take away a lot of the feel you get with the flats. The best description i've seen so far is "mushy". It takes away the "snappy" if you will. I've used wires before, made my on before (for a long time actually) but always come back to the flats. Tuning the flat ones isn't hard to do and really allows more control of the feel and operation.

However, I find that a wire bolt spring is superior in function and longevity to the original flat type. Check out my simple and inexpensive modification that is on the High Road Sticky list:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=623759

 

[WhispersGhost]

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