1851 Pin appears stuck

Those "pins" (wedges) can be a real fight then first time I back the barrel up on a solid bench and hit them with a lead hammer I have just for that purpose The lead is soft enough not to damage any thing but gives a better dead blow than anything else. A bit of oil on things will help. The screw is only there to catch the wedge.on it's way out.

Lay it on the floor with some thing like a padded piece of wood (even a broom handle) to block up the barrel Then tape a lead bullet over the wedge and hit it with a regular hammer.

Does the cylinder turn ok?

Might have a short arbor, although I've only heard of (and experienced) that issue with Ubertis. Makes the edge come out a bit harder at first and can make the cylinder turn pretty hard (if at all).

Don’t forget the little flat locking spring has to be pushed up. The screw is only for catching the wedge when it comes out.

There is a document on Pietta’s web site that deals with a difficult wedge. Simply get a punch and hit it hard. My ‘51 had a extremely difficult wedge to remove.

Hello Orion8472,

Be sure to use a soft punch. Brass or Aluminum.

AntiqueSledMan.

Kroil on the wedge, both sides for a few hours. Then just hold it in the palm of one hand while you whack the wedge with a piece of wood, like a short piece of 2X4. That way you won't bugger either side of the gun. If that doesn't work, revert to one of the above suggestions. Good luck.

twarr1 said:

Don’t forget the little flat locking spring has to be pushed up

Click to expand...

^^^^^ THIS !!!! ^^^^^

This isn't rocket science. Just smack it hard with a plastic or nylon mallet. Don't have one? Go buy one. You'll need it in the future.

Orion8472 said:

So, when I got home from work, today, I read the new comments on here. Then I decided to get a hammer and a screwdriver with a hard plastic handle. I placed the handle on the wedge and gave the handle a couple of good smacks and it came out.

Thanks again for the replies!

Click to expand...

You’ll quickly mutilate that screwdriver handle like I did mine. I ordered a nice little gunsmithing hammer and I use the black rubber tip to avoid marking the gun. I treat it as expendable, since that tip gets chewed up bad when the wedge is properly tight and fully seated down.

You can also push the wedge out with a sight pushing tool. Or, you can improvise something with a C-clamp.

Or a hard plastic "Machinists hammer" which is what I've used forever!! Provides a good safe smack!! A rubber hammer has a little too much give.

Mike

I just use the impact side of my inertia hammer bullet puller.