Colt Clyinder Not Rotating

[sveil]

I recently inherited a Colt Police Positive Special from a family member, I believe it was made in either '69 or '70 from the research I have done on the serial number.

When I dry fire it at home after the first time I fire it I can't cock the gun or pull the trigger a second time. This occurs both with the single and double action. The hammer will come back just a slight bit, but when the hammer reaches the point where the cylinders should rotate it just locks up.

I have done a good cleaning on the gun, so I have a hard time believing that there is something lodged up in the gun, espically b/c it rotates just fine with the first dry fire. But I'm not sure if this is something as simple as it not working b/c Im dry firing it without a snap cap and therefore the hammer is going too far or if there is a serious problem with the gun that requires a lot of fixing.

I don't intend to use this gun b/c of the sentimental value of it, but would like to know if it works or if there is a major problem with the gun and how excess the work would be before I get involved in having a gunsmith work on it.

If anyone has any ideas the help would be much appreciated.

 

[dfariswheel]

The old Colt action is very complicated.
Trying to diagnose problems is something that usually requires actually seeing the gun.

There might be a problem with the hand that advances the cylinder, or possibly the cylinder locking bolt is not resetting.
If the gun was made after the early 1950's Colt will still work on them, and that's right where I'd send it.

Very few of todays gunsmiths really understand the Colt action, and it's very common for a local gunsmith to make the problem even worse, costing even more to repair.
No one knows more about it then Colt and they have all the parts and special tools to work on them. Prices are competitive, and turn around is usually fast.

Read the repair info on the web site:

http://www.coltsmfg.com/

 

[windsor311]

+1 for what dfariswheel said. Send it to Colt and you will get it back the way it should be.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have encountered the problem before. Watch from the right side of the revolver, and I think you'll see that the first time you dry fire the cylinder bolt drops down out of the notch in the cylinder so that it can rotate. However the second time you try to cock the hammer or pull the trigger the bolt doesn't move and the still locked cylinder won't rotate. When the cylinder doesn't turn nothing else will either.

Another area of concern is where the cylinder latch pin can block the hammer block.

Neither of these issues are serious, but do require a skilled and experience "fixer." Follow the instructions in dfariswheel's post and return the gun to Colt, where it will compentently repaired.

 

[Jim Watson]

Will Colt mess with a gun 20 years discontinued?

 

[Jim K]

He can call and ask them. Also Cylinder and Slide will work on Colts, but they are usually horribly backlogged. Sometimes I wish I still had a license; I think I could make a fortune working on those old Colts.

Jim

 

[Deaf Smith]

Sounds like the hand is not reaching the rachets on the cylinder.

This could be caused by:

1) weak spring pushing the hand foward
2) broken hand
3) messed up rachet
4) frame streached so the hand cannot reach the cylinder rachets.

Need someone who can take apart your Colt and see just what is the matter.

Deaf

 

[dfariswheel]

Because the later 1980's Colt "D" frames were essentially the same as the 1950's guns, Colt will usually work on any Colt revolver made since about 1950.

Call them for full details.

 

[rogertc1]

Didn't Colt have a life time warenty too. So won't cost anything to have them fix it!!! Good deal.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Didn't Colt have a life time warenty too. So won't cost anything to have them fix it!!!

Not necessarily. If the gun has been tuned by a smith other than the Colt factory or abused the warranty is voided. At the worst you are out the shipping cost to Colt. They will contact you before performing any work not covered by the warranty.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/CustomerServices/RepairRefinish/LimitedLifetimeService.aspx

 

[TrakHack]

Looks like that lifetime warranty is fairly limited:

This agreement is not transferable; its benefits apply only to the original retail purchaser for firearms manufactured after 1996.

I hope I won't need to send either of mine in, but it's good to know Colt will still work on the older models. Cylinder & Slide is just down the road from me, but that doesn't get me to the front of the wait list.

 

[sansone]

absolutely send it to Colt. If the repair estimate is too high (doubt it) they will ship it back and you are only out shipping costs. The old gal deserves it.