Confirm the date... 1974? Euroarms 1860 Army

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Chazz

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I just happened to find this in a pawnshop 2 weeks ago, what was cool about it there was blackpowder in the flask.. plus I never owned a Euroarms 1860 Army before and rarely do I see BP guns in my local pawnshop... so I had to get it... paid $165. The box and gun was much dirtier and fouled with blackpowder than what you see in the pictures when I bought it, I've shot it since with 777 and cleaned it up some, everything works great.

I want to confirm the date on it... I think it's 1974, there is XXX above the trigger guard, I'm assuming this is the date marks for it according to this pdf link https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/POWDER/MBPProofmarks.pdf

Also, would like to know if a newer cylinder would fit in this one, 'if its a 1974'... a extra one would be handy. If so, where would be a good place to get one on the net. Maybe find some spare parts would be nice to.

Chazz.

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I stuck some black foam in the box because the felt is soaked in BP... probably redo the box sometime.
 
Yep. XXX is 1974. No box around the code letters back then.

Buying a spare cylinder for a gun that old is essentially a crap shoot, but it can be made to fit by a competent gunsmith.

Excellent find.
 
Nice find, great price. 1974 - an oldie but a goodie. What charge of 777 do you use? I heard that it's 15% hotter than BP.
VTI is a good place for parts. I usually wait until somethnig breaks, then order what I need and a few of what I don't.
 
I'm not really worried about it breaking down, it's very likely to last a few generations, plus I know a little metallurgy if need be.. I'm just a spare parts kind of guy, it makes things so much easier to have things on hand.

Yeah thats a good ideal to keep the box original, I was kind of thinking that as well. I'll just keep the foam in there to protect it from the powder residue in the felt. I bet the #10 caps are from 1974, and they still work, I'm going to leave those alone too... This came with a tube of BEARE GREASE, I wonder if that is part of the cased set. Anyway, I'm some what surprised it's from 74.

pohill
I used 20 grains of 777 with pre-lubed pistol wads and .454 Hornady round balls, it had a soft kick to it.. I think .457 would work better because I didn't get a lead ring outside the cylinder, however I could see a lead ring inside the cylinder. May give that mold tool a try.. The flask shoots out 30 grains, using that load next go round with 777...

Everyone thanks for the advice and info....:)

Chazz.
 
I think .457 would work better because I didn't get a lead ring outside the cylinder, however I could see a lead ring inside the cylinder.
Click to expand...

Maybe the chamber mouths are chamferred (beveled).
I have a theory that Pryodex will not chainfire because it's not as tempermental as black powder, but what about 777? I've never used it and know little about it except that the name "777" came about because it was the 777th mixture they tried.
 
Thanks, it looks good as new, or at least the revolver does. Shoots like it's new, never thought of it this old when I first saw it. Cleaned up real good.. I've probably gave it's first bath, the barrel wedge was very tight and seemed to be never tampered with. Think I'm happy with it. :)

Maybe the chamber mouths are chamferred (beveled).
I have a theory that Pryodex will not chainfire because it's not as tempermental as black powder, but what about 777? I've never used it and know little about it except that the name "777" came about because it was the 777th mixture they tried.
Click to expand...

Good point, it could be chamfered, that would explain the lead ring inside the cylinder. Is that the way they used to design them?
The only reason I use 777 is because it's the only stuff they sell locally... never tried Pryodex, I did notice the powder that was in the flask was chunkier than the 777 fffg. By volume 777 maybe hotter, as it is pretty fine powder. Now you have me worried about chainfire lol.... I have 4 pounds of the stuff.

Though I've been into BP little over 2 years, never had a chainfire with 777.
 
That 'lead ring' inside the cylinder could well be the famous 777 crud ring. A lead deposit would not stay in the chamber unless there was a serious discontinuity, like you'd see on the forcing cone in the event of a misalignment. Can you remove the ring with a solvent soaked patch, or does it take a brush?

Pohill - 777 and Pyrodex both have higher ignition temperatures than real black powder, so in theory at least they (and any other substitute or synthetic black powder) would have a lower tendency to support a chainfire. However, what that really means is that the flame face would have to be slightly closer to the powder in the case of the synthetics; I suspect (purely a guess on my part) that the difference in ignition temps translates to fractions of an inch. Of course, that could well be enough....
 
Triple Seven is a good strong and dependable powder. I had no idea it was called that because it was their 777th attempt to get it right.
Well..They got it right....
 
I decided to to take some pics, maybe good eye candy lol. This is with 20 grains of 777, pre-lubed pistol wad and a .454 Hornady round ball. I took a soaked cloth but couldn't remove the ring, looks to be a lead ring. Glad I joined this site, the famous 777 crud ring is a new one for me, but I don't think that's it... Thanks for making me aware of it mykeal.

You guys have any thoughts on the pics.... Maybe a .457 ball would work better?

The ball seems a little small sitting on top
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The lever with no pressure on top of the ball
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close up
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/4521/66180961qu5.jpg

The lead ring inside the cylinder
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close up
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Can you tell if the chambers have in fact been chamferred?
I have a few guns in which the ball seats like that, with the ring inside. I don't see it as a problem unless the gun isn't accurate. I think the bigger balls put too much pressure on the loading lever.
Also, as I mentioned before, is 777 prone to chainfiring as is regular BP? If chainfiring isn't likely, and the gun is accurate, I'd stick with the .454.
Nice gun.
 
I have a few guns in which the ball seats like that, with the ring inside. I don't see it as a problem unless the gun isn't accurate.
Click to expand...
Shot 5 rounds today, your probably right I should just stick with .454 ball. it's pretty accurate at 15 yards...
Can you tell if the chambers have in fact been chamferred?
Click to expand...
How do I check to see if it's chamferred? Would poring a mold into the cylinder and using a caliper gauge on the mold work?
is 777 prone to chainfiring as is regular BP?
Click to expand...
I can't answer that, I had no chainfires with 777. I would think 777 is much cleaner than BP and would be less prone to chainfire as mykeal mentioned, 777 has a higher ignition temperature than BP.

Thanks pohill
 
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