Astra Regent

[herrwalther]

My neighbor handed over three gunsmith jobs. Two of them I can do in my sleep but the third I don't know enough about revolvers, let alone obscure revolvers. It is an Astra Regent in 22LR, made in Spain. No serial number so it was made sometime before 1968. Probably well before 1968. In double action the cylinder rotates, hammer goes back and falls. Just like it should. The hammer does not stay cocked when thumb cocked so I am thinking the hammer engagement at the sear is worn. I can't find any guides to take it apart to get into the guts. Anyone know of a guide or better yet a video to dissassembly?

The other repair for it is the front sight screw is gone. So if anyone knows a screw that would fit, that would help too.

 

[entropy]

If it doesn't have a conventional sideplate (screws for one could be under the grip), look for a pin above the front and/or back of the trigger guard. The sight screw is probably metric. The hammer not staying back could be a bad trigger spring also.

 

[herrwalther]

No screws for the sideplate. There are three visible pins: above the front of the trigger guard, between the barrel and forcing cone, and in front under the cylinder lug. There is a hidden pin under the grip. The super strange part (I am tinkering with it now) is if the grip screw is slightly loose, both modes work. If the grip screw is tight, the hammer doesn't lock back in single action. So I think it is fixed in that regard? Image is attempt to show the three visible pins in one shot.

I don't think the front sight screw is metric. The grip screw is a SAE 3/16" size.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Looks kinda like an H&R 22 revolver with that odd pinned together trigger guard. Does the revolver have a coil spring or a flat spring for the hammer? I think the grip is squishing the spring, decreasing the tension. It may need a spacer of some kind between the grip panels.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

When the hammer won't catch at full cock, are you sure it's rotating back far enough to catch? Perhaps the grips interfere with the hammer's range of motion.

 

[entropy]

Sounds like you fixed it, herrwalther. For future reference, the pin in front of the trigger guard and the one under the grip are probably the ones to get into the action. Very similar to an H&R revolver.

 

[NMexJim]

I don't know, neither of these look right, but I'll send the link anyway.

Astra Revolvers | Gun Parts

Shop for Astra Revolvers parts and accessories with Numrich Gun Parts, the world's largest supplier of gun parts.

www.gunpartscorp.com

 

[herrwalther]

Looks kinda like an H&R 22 revolver with that odd pinned together trigger guard. Does the revolver have a coil spring or a flat spring for the hammer? I think the grip is squishing the spring, decreasing the tension. It may need a spacer of some kind between the grip panels.

Can't tell what kind of spring it is. The mainspring is contained in a hammer strut that the grip screw threads into. The grip is one piece. I think if the screw is in too deep it is touching the mainspring, essentially disabling it. Literally a half turn on the screw makes it unfirable in single action. I am going to get a washer in there so the grip screw can't disable the thing.

Very similar to an H&R revolver.

It does have a lot of similarities to a 949 I had years ago. Once I can find a front sight screw and clean the rust off, this job is a done deal.

 

[herrwalther]

That was quite serendipitous. Same neighbor gave me a Marlin 336RC to work on. On a hunch, I took the loading gate spring screw from the Marlin and it was a perfect match for the Regent front sight.