Colt Paterson Disassembly

[tscmmhk]

Does anyone know where I can find some information on disassembling a Pietta repro Colt paterson?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[pohill]

http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=76&cat=Pietta+Paterson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patersonbdsml.jpg

http://www.coltparts.com/pt_paterson.html

I'd take some pics as you disassemble it.
The Pietta is a little different internally from the Uberti.

 

[Berkley]

One more useful link: Paterson disassembly

 

[pohill]

The more info you can get before taking it apart, the better. The problem is that some parts can go in more than one way, and fit, but still not work. For what it's worth, the Piettas are slightly different from the Ubertis. Pics definitely help. I ended up using the original patent design in A HISTORY OF THE COLT REVOLVER by Haven & Belden.
I must have said a hundred times when trying to get it all back together the first time, "I can see why Sam went bankrupt with this gun."

 

[tscmmhk]

Thanks for the info. It looks like I'll be taking pictures when I have to take it apart. I have learned that if you want to shoot BP guns, you almost have to become a gunsmith.

Thanks again.

Tom

 

[72coupe]

One of the best quotes I have read on this site is "Italian repros should be considered preassembeled kits as they all need work of some sort."

I think if you look at them with this in mind you will be much happier with them.

 

[pohill]

Again, for what it's worth, when I shot mine, the cylinder would bind each two or three shots. The best lube that I found for that gun was the vegetable spray PAM. It worked great. The gun is really a good shooter.

 

[tscmmhk]

Picked up the Colt Paterson today from Cabelas and was disappointed with Pietta craftsmanship and quality control. When I tried to cock the hammer the cylinder would bind and not lock-up properly. Looked at the barrel cylinder gap first and that was OK. Removed the barrel and cylinder and found that the action was binding up for some reason. Instead of driving another 80 miles back to Cabelas, I decided to take it apart to try to do some troubleshooting. To make a long story short it looks like the hammer hand was not engaging the cylinder ratchet properly. Put it back together and now it seems to lock-up properly and function OK. Still a little rough but that should smooth out with use. Pohill you are right when you say "Now I know why Sam Colt went bankrupt". The gun is a challenge to work on for the first time.
By the way, everyones information helped.

 

[72coupe]

Wow! I didn't realize the Patersons were so different internally. Very interesting.

 

[pohill]

There's 17 more parts than later Colts.
Does your have the attached loading lever, or the separate loading tool? Mine had the tool.
I sold mine to someone who did not want to shoot it - he wanted to engrave it.

 

[tscmmhk]

Mine has the loading tool. Except for the nipple wrench, it's pretty much useless. I have a Colt Walker and 1860 Army so the Paterson was supposed to round out my collection Colt BP pistols. I can see some similiarities between the Paterson and later generation Colts but it's a different bird all together. It's amazing what a difference of 25 years made in weapon design back then. So far, the Walker is my favorite. What a hoot to shoot!!!

 

[72coupe]

The Texas Rangers got the Patersons in 1842 I think and they were glad to get them. I think it was the turning point in the westward expansion of the country. The Rangers could finally hold there own against the Commanches.

If I remember correctly the Rangers were issued 2 Patersons with 2 or 3 extra cylinders per gun.

 

[pohill]

I liked using the loading tool once I figured it out. Remove the barrel, leave the cylinder on the arbor/pin, put the tip of the tool in the arbor slot, then use it like a regular loading lever.

 

[tscmmhk]

One last report on the Colt Paterson and then I'll rest. I still wasn't satisfied with this thing and I came very close to sending it back to Cabelas. But.........I took it completely apart and found that most of the issues I was having was that the sear, hammer cam, hand, main spring, cylinder locking bolt, and breech alignment needed some seroius tuning. The tuning I'm talking about boils down to stoning the various parts and polishing them where necessary. The internals on this piece were very rough. I'm still going to write Cabelas and tell them that a gun that costs this much should work perfect out of the box. The main spring on the Paterson is pretty stiff so cocking the pistol takes a little more effort than a 1860 Army for example. The good news is that now it operates like a well oiled sewing machine. I'm finally done with it. Now I have to take it out and shoot it.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

How about a photo or two...

 

[tscmmhk]

No internal pictures because I had already put it back together. But here it is: