Colt wedge question

[Lyle]

I've been shooting a Pietta '51 navy for a couple years. My understanding is that the wedge is supposed to be a snug fit not a tight fit. Tap it in with a small hammer or the end of your knife. I describe the wedge as disposable, meaning it is designed to fail so that the pistol is not damaged. The push/pull of firing the pistol will naturally damage the wedge after time. My question is, am I correct? Please let me know, my goal is to learn and enjoy this sport.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Tap it in as far as it can go!

If your using a uberti and you tap the wedge in as far as it can go this may lock up the cylinder due to the dreaded short Arbor.

If this happens the fix is easy and all over the boards.

Hope this helps brother.

 

[hawg]

You want a good solid fit. I used to seat mine with thumb pressure but I was quickly corrected.

 

[Dark Skies]

I have a little brass hammer in my range box - about the size of a toffee hammer. I just give it a light tap and it's good to go.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Yes, the wedge shouldn't be a "disposable" item. It should be "driven" in. You won't be able to do that with an Uberti, the arbor is short on those.

Mike

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

What more can be said? On the Pietta revolvers I've gotten in the habit of checking the fit of the wedge in the arbor slot, on occasion I find one that's too tight in the arbor slot and just barely pulls the two parts together before getting stuck. There should be around an eighth inch gap in both slots, with the gun apart, so the wedge is a loose fit. When the gun is assembled that gap gets taken up by both pieces as the wedge is driven in. With the short arbor problem the cylinder gets trapped between the two parts as the wedge pulls them together.