1860 Loading Lever Question

[AdmiralB]

Is it normal for the loading levers on 1860 Colts to have a lot of play, when latched? I handled one today that latched properly, but it seemed as though the lever needed to be about 1/16 (maybe a little more) longer - it rattled like crazy when the pistol was moved with anything kind of rigor.

It's the only 1860 Army I've handled; the Remingtons I've seen have all latched up tight.

 

[pohill]

Some of the loading levers on my guns rattle, some don't. The lever on the Ruger Old Army is adjustable for length.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

1860 Loading Lever

AdmilB. The 10 yr old Pietta 1860 Army I have in my hand the Lever point goes right to the end of thr catch...with maybe .0004" play forward and back. Probly at the screw. If it stays up when shot it works ok... !/16" seems like alot.
SG

 

[K.A.T.]

That is not normal, I have a Pietta and a Colt, no movement. I have owned a couple of more 1860's in the past and they didn't rattle either.

 

[scrat]

Mine dont rattle but there is a slight amount of play where the bolt is in the center. if you take out the screw you will see the plunger has an oblonged hole. so it has a slight amount of normal play.

 

[Sagetown]

AdmiralB; went and got my old gun out and I'm checking it. It's a (94) Pietta 1860. The lever is rock solid. No play what-so-ever. And to think this was a gift.

Sage

 

[AdmiralB]

After thinking about it, I believe the lever itself was fine (and in today's CNC world, what are the odds of getting something *that* wrong)...I think the plunger at the end didn't extend far enough into the retainer on the barrel.

I wonder if maybe the notch in it wasn't cut deep enough...or maybe something was wedged in it.

 

[pohill]

I have a Remington .36 that has a little play in it's lever and an original Whitney with the same issue (I haven't gone through the rest of my collection in awhile but I know some of them have the same play in the lever). I never gave it much thought as far as being a problem - just one of those things. I'm sure it's easy enough to fix.

 

[Gunruner]

I have 2 Pietta 1860 armies. Both been shot alot and zero play at the loading lever. Both purchased mail order when Gander Mountain was totally mail order. My New Uberti 1858 Remington is rock solid also.......Mike